What are CALC's Distinctives?

God's New Creation of Lutheranism in North America for the 21st century. God has created us, He sustains us and He redeems us. God creates us anew, through his Word, into the image of Jesus Christ our Savior, by us experiencing the cross in our lives.

the authority, not merely authoritative. The Scriptures are the Word of God not merely words about God but the Word from God. Scripture is clear and there is an internal clarity to Scripture. Any ambiguity or contradictions that one may find in Scripture is not the fault of Scripture but is our fault. No one understands one thing of what is in the Scriptures unless he has the Spirit of God. All people have a darkened heart. Scripture interprets us.

what defines us as Lutherans. CALC is deeply rooted in the Book of Concord

is an active Word. It does what it says it does. As Paul says in 2 Cor: 3:6 "The written code kills but the Spirit gives life". The works of God are so deeply hidden that they only appear under "the opposite form." The Word is expressed as law and Gospel.

our theology and the wisdom of the cross, alone, is our Doctrine. Jesus is the Truth. The Holy Spirit, through the Word, reveals the truth to us and creates certainty in our hearts.

the central message of Scripture. On this article rests all that we teach and practice. Martin Luther says: "The first and chief article is this, that Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, "was put to death for our trespasses and raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25). He alone is "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). "God has laid upon him the iniquities of us all" (Isa. 53:6). Moreover, "all have sinned," and "they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, by his blood" (Rom. 3:23-25).

Inasmuch as this must be believed and cannot be obtained or apprehended by any work, law, or merit, it is clear and certain that such faith alone justifies us, as St. P aul says in Romans 3, "For we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law" (Rom. 3:28), and again, "that he [God] himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus" (Rom. 3:26)"

by hearing and hearing through the word of the cross being proclaimed. God gathers us, through word and sacrament, into community (congregations) and then gathers us into An Assembly of Hearts in One Faith (CALC). Monitoring doctrine, roll of pastors, training and church planting is assigned to CALC. The true Church is hidden and invisible, as faith is the evidence of things not seen. We belong to the true church only in hope and prayer.

the same as to status, irrespective of office, all are sinners and all are justified by faith.

after the fall exists in name only, and as long as it does what it is able to do, it commits a mortal sin. Christ is the end, that is, both goal and cessation of the law to those who have faith, freedom of faith for which Christ has set us free is the liberation of the conscience from the power of the law, sin and death. The Gospel is offensive in two ways: it liberates us who are captives and it creates a new creation and a new age. Freedom means a life of service. In those matters below us, our congregations have total freedom over their own affairs: owning of property, calling and choosing of Pastors, coming and leaving CALC and selecting delegates to our annual National Convention.

a baptized member who confesses Jesus is the Christ. With our election comes the task of proclaiming Jesus into the world.

quality training for our Pastors. CALC is a designated training center for the Institute of Lutheran Theology. We are developing innovative ways of training Priests, future Pastors and leaders as servants of the Kingdom to start in 2009.

subordinated to the Word. The Pastor, on behalf of the congregation, has the authority to preach the Word and to distribute the Sacraments. The Pastor has no power/authority over other people. The duties are to comfort the mourning, to console the depressed, to bring the promise of redemption to those who seek redemption, and to carry forth into the world the Word of the merciful God with its promise of salvation. Also, the duty is through the Word to equip the Priests for ministry. God calls our Pastors to a life of service.

are hidden in Christ, a life of prayer, meditation and suffering. We boast of the Grace of God. Humility and fear of God are our "eternal merits". The Holy Spirit instructs us in His own school. He uses experience to affect the whole person. Faith is not experience but it is experienced.

to us "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". We do not give lip service to His Great Commission. Each of us is accountable to God.