| American Association of Lutheran Churches | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | AALC |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Lutheran |
| Theology | Confessional Lutheran |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| Presiding Pastor | Cary G. Larson |
| Associations | International Lutheran Council |
| Headquarters | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| Origin | November 7, 1987 |
| Separated from | American Lutheran Church |
| Congregations | 59 (2020) |
| Members | 16,000 (2008) |
| Official website | www.taalc.org |
The American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC, also known asThe AALC orTAALC) is aLutheran church body based in the United States. It was formed on November 7, 1987, as a continuation of theAmerican Lutheran Church denomination, the majority of which merged with theLutheran Church in America and theAssociation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches to form theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America.[1] The AALC offices were originally inBloomington, Minnesota. The national office moved toFort Wayne, Indiana, in 2007, and toSaint Paul, Minnesota, in 2022. In 2008, it had 67 congregations, with about 16,000 members.[2] In 2020, the denomination listed 59 congregations.[3] Its current Presiding Pastor is the Rev. Dr. Cary G. Larson.
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The AALC began with 12 congregations and had, as of 2008, grown to 70 congregations spread across 23 states. The AALC sees itself as a confessional Lutheran church body in the United States. At its beginning, the AALC defined itself by what it saw as maintaining a commitment to the authority of Holy Scripture and the teaching of the Lutheran confessions by way of retaining the Confession of Faith of the American Lutheran Church.
The AALC operates its own seminary, theAmerican Lutheran Theological Seminary, originally located inSaint Paul, Minnesota. In fall 2005, the seminary relocated toFort Wayne, Indiana, and is hosted byConcordia Theological Seminary of theLutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS).
The AALC holds to theinerrancy of scripture. It does not ordain women as pastors. However, women may serve as deaconesses. In addition to serving in congregations, its rostered pastors also serve as chaplains in the U.S. Armed Services, hospitals, correctional facilities, law enforcement, hospice, and a host of other specialized ministries.[citation needed][4]
Some well known confessional Lutheran theologians of the AALC include: Jordan B. Cooper, anauthor, conference speaker, and host of the Just and Sinner podcast and video channel;[5][6][7][8] Curtis E. Leins, a professor and host of the seminary's video channel;[9] and Chris Rosebrough, a conference speaker and host of Pirate Christian Radio and the Fighting for the Faith video channel.[10][11]
Starting in 1989, representatives of the AALC and theLutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) met in a series of official and unofficial talks. After six official meetings, at which various doctrinal papers were submitted, representatives of both the AALC and the LCMS recommended to their respective church bodies that they enter intoaltar and pulpit fellowship with one another. The proposal was brought before theology/doctrine commissions of each church body before being presented at their respective national conventions. During the June 20–23, 2007, AALC National Convention, the AALC declared fellowship with the LCMS; and voted to join theInternational Lutheran Council. On July 16, 2007, the LCMS declared fellowship with the AALC during the LCMS 63rd Regular Convention.