Lutheran churches

Where it came from

Began when Martin Luther published his Ninety-five Theses in 1517. The Augsburg Confession (1530) remains its basic statement of faith. Lutheranism shaped Germany and the Nordic countries, and spread to North America, Africa and Asia through migration and mission.

What it holds

• Authority: Scripture alone
• Salvation: by grace alone through faith alone — Luther's central claim
• Baptism: infants are baptised; baptism itself is a means of grace
• Communion: Christ's body and blood are truly present in, with and under the bread and wine
• Governance: varies by region — some with bishops, some by synod
• A strong distinction between law and gospel

What a service is like

Liturgical, with a shape recognisable to Anglicans and Catholics, but with greater weight on preaching. Congregational singing is a deep tradition — Luther himself wrote hymns. Dignified without being elaborate.

How it relates to others

Among the Protestant traditions most engaged in dialogue with Rome; in 1999 both signed a joint declaration on justification. Shares Reformation roots with the Reformed tradition, though the two differed sharply on communion.

Common questions