Religions in Canada

Religions in Canada

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Lutheran Church

Description

The Lutheran Church began in 1517 under the leadership of Martin Luther, a Catholic priest in Wittenberg, Germany. “The 95 Theses,” in which he set down his points of dissent with the doctrine, rituals and government of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as his Small and Large Catechisms, among other writings, formed the basis for the Lutheran Church’s doctrinal approach to Christianity. Luther’s act of protest against the Roman Catholic Church is generally regarded as the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.

It was Luther’s intention to bring about reform in the Roman Catholic Church, not necessarily to start a new Church. That proved impossible in the tide of popular dissent against Rome that swept through Europe in that period. Initially, at least, Luther remained a Catholic in spirit, if not in doctrinal belief, and the Church he began retains much liturgy in common with the Roman Catholic Church. Lutheran doctrine then, as today, differed in significant ways from Catholic doctrine. The two Churches have explored ways to reach ecumenism for decades, though little formal agreement has been achieved. Lutherans share with most Christians the belief in the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They also share a belief in the sacraments initiated by Jesus Christ: baptism and Holy Communion. They believe that salvation is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ and not through good works.

There are subdivisions within the Lutheran family in Canada. The largest denomination, comprising 2 percent of the Canadian population, is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. This section of the document primarily considers the organization and published doctrine of that Church. Other groupings include the Lutheran Church – Canada and the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations of Canada.

Religious Elements

Scriptural and Doctrinal Sources

  • Old and New Testaments (recognized as the written Word of God).

  • Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (the Lutheran Confessions, also considered the true and unadulterated Word of God).

  • Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed and Athanasian Creed.

  • Small Catechism of Luther.

  • Large Catechism of Luther.

  • Unaltered Augsburg Confession.

  • Apology for the Augsburg Confession.

  • Smalcald Articles with the Treatise.

  • Formula of Concord.

Sacraments

  • Holy Communion: This sacrament is celebrated every Sunday and can be celebrated on special occasions, such as marriages and funerals.

  • Baptism: A person can be baptized only once. Christians live and affirm their baptism through daily repentance, receiving forgiveness and renewal in the Holy Spirit. Baptism is a daily dying to sin and rising to newness of life. In the baptismal celebration water is used generously. A variety of modes are used; pouring and immersion are rich symbols of the nature of baptism.

  • Though not regarded as sacraments, additional rites are practised:

    • Private confession
    • Confirmation
    • Marriage
    • Ordination
    • Commendation of the dying
    • Burial of the dead.

Moral Code

  • Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, particularly His commandment to “love one another.”

Houses of Worship

  • Houses of worship vary in architectural style from early Canadian wood structures to neo-Gothic and modern buildings of stone and brick. The interior layout is patterned on that of the modified Roman basilica of Europe and North America and consists of a narthex (vestibule); a nave (large space for the congregation); and a chancel, or sanctuary (elevated space around the altar for clergy, choir, acolytes), which is separated from the nave by a rood screen or railing. The size of the building generally reflects the size of the congregation. Churches commonly have a bell tower or a steeple bearing a cross.

Devotional Practices and Services

  • The worship service has a format similar to those of the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches: principally, a celebration of the Eucharist, preceded by prayers of introduction, scriptural readings and a sermon.

  • Many hymns are traditional; however, modern music is gaining favour in some congregations.

  • Prayer is given to celebrate the Word of God.

  • Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday.

Clergy, Organization and Government

  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

    • Local congregations are grouped in Conferences.
    • Conferences are grouped in Synods that are organized along regional lines across Canada.
    • Congregations, Conferences and Synods are led by elected councils.
    • Synods meet in the National Church Council.
    • Clergy are bishops, who lead Synods, and pastors and deacons, who lead congregations.
    • A national bishop is elected by Synods to lead the National Church Council.

  • Lutheran Church – Canada

    • Local congregations are grouped under one of three regional Conferences.
    • Conferences are grouped under a national Synod.
    • Representatives are elected at each level.
    • Clergy are pastors and deacons.

  • Association of Free Lutheran Churches of Canada

    • Congregations are independent, maintaining the national association for coordination and information dissemination.
    • Clergy are pastors of congregations.

Major Celebrations and Observances

Dates on which events are celebrated may vary from year to year according to variations in the liturgical calendar.

Days of Regular Observance

  • Every Sunday (day of rest and worship).

  • Advent (preparation for Christmas): begins four Sundays before Christmas Day.

  • Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: 24 and 25 December.

  • Epiphany (manifestation of Jesus; visit by the Magi): 6 January.

  • Baptism of the Lord: third Sunday after Christmas.

  • Transfiguration of the Lord.

  • Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent).

  • Lent (period of fasting): 40 weekdays.

  • Palm Sunday (Jesus enters Jerusalem): Sunday before Easter.

  • Holy Thursday (the Last Supper).

  • Good Friday (Jesus’ crucifixion).

  • Easter Vigil (first service of Easter).

  • Easter Sunday (Jesus’ resurrection): first Sunday of the first full moon after the vernal equinox.

  • Ascension Thursday (Jesus’ ascension).

  • Pentecost (birth of the Christian Church).

  • Holy Trinity Sunday.

  • All Saints’ Day: 1 November.

  • Christ the King (or Reign of Christ).

Special Observances

  • Reformation Sunday: 31 October or Sunday preceding that date.

Dress Requirements

  • None.

Dietary Requirements

  • None prescribed.

  • Lutherans may choose to observe a fast during the season of Lent.

Medical and Health Requirements

  • In cases of illness or confinement, Holy Communion may be provided outside the church. If an ordained person is not available to provide it, trained and designated lay members may do so.

  • The decision to donate organs is personal, yet it can be informed by faith.

  • The Church has no doctrinal objections to abortion and views the rights of the baptized parents as superseding those of the unbaptized fetus. The fetus is considered the organic beginning of human life. Termination of pregnancy is nevertheless seen as a serious matter, and the Church strongly urges parents considering abortion to consult medical and spiritual counsellors.

Death and Burial

  • Pastors conduct funeral and burial rites.

  • The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada has no formally approved teaching document regarding funeral practices, although the Lutheran Book of Worship provides guidance in this matter in the form of liturgical texts, directions and “Notes on the Liturgy,” found in the Minister’s Edition. The notes also guide the conduct of the service and the committal, whether the body is to be buried in the ground, entombed above ground, commended to the sea, cremated, or used for medical research or organ donation. The church regards all of these methods of disposition of the body as acceptable for the Christian.

  • The Church does not allow social or fraternal societies to introduce funeral or burial rites or ceremonies into its liturgy. For example, military honours and fraternal tributes and rites should be kept separate from the funeral and committal services of the Church.

  • The casket is always closed for the liturgy, whether it is celebrated in church or in some other setting. The cremated ashes, with suitable adaptations, can be treated the same way when they are present for the liturgy.

Other

  • In 2001, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Anglican Church of Canada established “full communion” by signing the Waterloo Declaration. By signing this document, the two churches recognized the legitimacy and apostolic authority of each other’s bishops and acknowledged the legitimacy of ordination of the pastors and priests of the two Churches. Sharing of the Eucharist had been agreed to in 1989. The two Churches undertook to continue working toward full, visible unity of “the whole Church of God.”

Sources of Additional Information

http://www.lutheranchurch-canada.ca/ CTCR/LCC-ELCIC.pdf — website discussing where Canada’s Lutherans stand.

http://www.worship.ca/docs/sp_stmt.html — statement on sacramental practices of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

http://www.elcic.ca/ — website of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
302–393 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3B 3H6
Phone: (204) 984-9150, or toll free at 1-888-786-6707

http://www.lutheranchurch-canada.ca/frames1.html — website of the Lutheran Church – Canada.

Lutheran Church – Canada
3074 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, MB R3K 0Y2
Phone: (204) 895-3433, or toll free at 1-800-588-4226

http://www.aflc.ca/ — website of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.

Association of Free Lutheran Congregations
Office of the President
Box 161
Outlook, SK S0L 2N0
Phone: (306) 867-8785

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