[et_pb_section fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off”][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/420\/2015\/01\/Screen-Shot-2015-01-28-at-1.24.24-PM5.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left”]<\/p>\n
Lime Creek Church prior to 1927<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/420\/2015\/01\/Screen-Shot-2015-01-28-at-1.29.26-PM1.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left”]<\/p>\n
Bethany Lutheran College 1927<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Image” src=”https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/420\/2015\/01\/Screen-Shot-2015-01-27-at-9.56.07-AM.png” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” animation=”left” sticky=”off” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left”]<\/p>\n
Lime Creek Church Today<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text: Central, KC” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left”]<\/p>\n
Lime Creek Evangelical Lutheran Church is located just South of the Minnesota-Iowa border in Lake Mills, Iowa. Founded in 1859 and known as \u201cThe Mother Church\u201d of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, Lime Creek is best known as the site where a group decided to split from the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America in 1918 and become the \u201cLittle Norwegian Synod\u201d later known as the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Lime Creek\u00a0and the ELS has always held to the Bible as authority and looks to cooperate with those who share their same beliefs.<\/p>\n
Early in its history, Lime Creek underwent frequent splits and mergers and demonstrated a commitment to maintaining their congregation\u2019s core beliefs. \u00a0In 1859, Lime Creek Evangelical Church split from a four congregation organization and became a church body belonging to the Norwegian Synod. In 1906, Lime Creek separated from Silver Lake and Concordia to join the Lake Mills congregation, while still a part of the Norwegian Synod. \u00a0In 1917, the Norwegian Synod merged with two other groups to form the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America (later named the Evangelical Lutheran Church). \u00a0A group within the Norwegian Synod refused to become part of the NLCA on the grounds that salvation does not depend upon a person\u2019s acceptance of God\u2019s grace. In 1918, this group split into the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (NSAELC) at Lime Creek Evangelical Lutheran Church. The NSAELC later became the ELS but is also referred to as the \u201cLittle Norwegian\u201d Synod. This tendency to reject a merger and divide is common among Lutheran churches according to Mark Granquist\u2019s \u201cWays to be Lutheran.\u201d This piece of American Lutheran history in the Midwest is central to Lime Creek’s identity of holding firm to the church\u2019s doctrine. \u00a0Lime Creek experienced several divisions and mergers from its foundation to the notable 1918 split, while still holding strong to its doctrine.<\/p>\n
The church’s website affirms that several members left the Church immediately following the 1918 split but that the remaining group refocused on “peace and unity of the doctrine.” \u00a0After 1918, the ELS continued to demonstrate Mark Granquist\u2019s theory of organizational change and fluidity within Lutheranism. \u00a0For example, the ELS severed ties with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1955 but chose to continue in fellowship with Wisconsin\u2019s synod, the WELS. \u00a0The ELS cited irreconcilable doctrinal differences with the LCMS as its reason for leaving, again standing strong to the Synod\u2019s doctrine. \u00a0In 1927, the ELS purchased Bethany Ladies College and formed it into a Bethany Lutheran College, then a small co-ed junior college in Mankato, Minnesota. \u00a0Just 19 years later, the college opened Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary; first as a department in 1946 which then became its own institution in 1975. \u00a0Lutheranism\u2019s role in higher education is something that traces back to Martin Luther and is also held up as a central part of the Lutheran tradition by Lutheran Pastor and Historian Richard Solberg.<\/p>\n
Today, Lime Creek has retained enough members to become a part of the \u201cFive Point Parish\u201d with the congregations of First Shell Rock, Immanuel, Lake Mills, and Somber. Lime Creek remains a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod who identify themselves as \u201corthodox, confessional Lutherans.\u201d In other words, the ELS continues to remain rooted to its doctrine and teaches that good works are necessary for sanctification but not justification. For example, Lime Creek and the ELS are traditional in their views on sexuality being between a man and woman and on the State\u2019s freedom to wage just war and administer capital punishment. \u00a0The synod maintains focus on cooperation and education, still working with the WELS and operating Bethany Lutheran College. \u00a0The college continues to fulfill Richard Solberg\u2019s theme of Lutherans\u2019 role in higher education: Bethany moved to become a four-year institution in 1996 and granted its first baccalaureate degrees in 2001. \u00a0Nowadays, Pastor Erich Hoeft has been serving at all Five Point Parishes since 2009. \u00a0A Wisconsin native, Pastor Hoeft received his Masters of Divinity from Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in 2004 and began public ministry with the ELS immediately afterwards. \u00a0Lime Creek still mirrors the spirit of the congregation\u2019s first members in that both are willing to separate and merge as long as they hold firm to doctrine.<\/p>\n
Charles Finley<\/p>\n Stefan Shover<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bibliography<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.blc.edu\/our-mission<\/a> : Bethany College History<\/p>\n http:\/\/fivepointparish.com\/about-us\/five-congregations\/lime-creek<\/a> : Lime Creek 5 point Parish<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>William Harens<\/p>\n