Denominational Affiliation

Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC)

St. Michael Lutheran Church was founded in 1867 in Whiteford Center, Monroe County, Michigan. It has been located at its current location since 1888. The congregation was for many years a member of the American Lutheran Church (ALC). In 1988, the ALC and St. Michael merged with several other Lutheran synods to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

However, during the 1990’s, the people of St. Michael became increasingly concerned with the ELCA’s theological drift away from a solid and traditional interpretation of both the Holy Scriptures and the historic Lutheran Confessions. Several events precipitated St. Michael’s re-evaluation of its membership in the ELCA:

• In the late 1990’s, the ELCA entered into a full-communion agreement with the U.S. Episcopal Church, accepting terms that clearly violated Article 7 of the Augsburg Confession.

• Shortly thereafter, the ELCA Southeast Michigan Synod adopted Proposal Three, which gave congregations permission to bless same-sex marriages, if they so desired.

• Finally, in 2001, the ELCA embarked on a mammoth “study” of the issue of homosexuality, with the express intent to determine if the ELCA should accept, as a church-wide policy, the ordination of clergy candidates living in homosexual relationships and the blessing of same-sex unions. (These policies were eventually adopted by the ELCA at its 2009 Church wide Assembly.)

These events (and several other concerns, as well) led St. Michael to join with 24 other ELCA congregations in March, 2001 to form a new association of churches, the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC). As of January 1, 2010, there are 410 U.S. and 45 international congregations in LCMC.

This association is dedicated to walking faithfully as the people of God and proclaiming the Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ. We believe that God’s Word, as revealed in Holy Scripture, has the power to transform the lives of human beings, freeing us from the power of sin and empowering us to live faithful, obedient lives before God. St. Michael Lutheran Church is 100% committed to the vision and goals of the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ. Additional information about the LCMC is available at our information center (located in the Gathering Room) and at the LCMC website. website (www.LCMC.net).