 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Laestadian Lutheran Church" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Part of a series on |
| Lutheranism in the United States |
|---|
 |
Heritage of theSynodical Conference of North America |
| Part ofa series on |
| Laestadianism |
|---|
Events |
TheLaestadian Lutheran Church (LLC) is a religiousChristian movement, with teachings based from theBible and theLutheran Confessions. When it was reorganized, from the Heidemanians, on June 9, 1973, the organisation was named theAssociation of American Laestadian Congregations (AALC). The association then changed its name in 1994 in order better to convey its spiritual heritage. As of 2025[update], the Laestadian Lutheran Church has 30 member congregations[1] in the United States and Canada, with highest concentrations of members inMinnesota,Washington,Arizona,Michigan in the United States and inSaskatchewan, Canada; the congregations are served by about 90 ministers,[2] nearly all of themlay preachers.
In Northern Europe, the association's sister organizations are theConservative Laestadians'Central Association of the Finnish Associations of Peace (Suomen rauhanyhdistysten keskusyhdistys) inFinland, theSveriges fridsföreningarnas centralorganisation in Sweden,[3] and theEstonian Lutheran Association of Peace (Eesti Luterlik Rahuühendus).
The main teaching among them is ofJesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. The work of Jesus Christ continues in this world by theHoly Spirit, through whom Luthern Laestadians preach forgiveness. Laestadians believe both lay congregants or pastors can preach forgiveness,[4] often uttering "All sins are forgiven in Jesus name and precious/holy blood." The Laestadian Lutheran Church teaches of God's kingdom and the need for repentance and the forgiveness of sins. The church holds, in accord with the Lutheran Confessions, that the Bible is the highest guide and authority for Christian faith, doctrine, and life. The norms in the congregation such as refraining from birth control, makeup, and dancing, are some of the things members do not feel are right to do as a child of God.
The Laestadian Lutheran Church takes its name fromMartin Luther andLars Levi Laestadius. Laestadius was aLutheran pastor who served in northern Sweden from 1825 to 1861. The movement reachedNorth America withFinnish immigrants in the 1860s. Congregations were first formally organized inCokato, Minnesota, in 1872 andCalumet, Michigan, in 1873. The Laestadian movement in North America has suffered a number ofschisms since 1890. The subjects of disagreement have mainly been the understanding ofjustification, God's congregation, and thesacraments. The last division occurred in 1973 and resulted in the establishment of the Laestadian Lutheran Church, and the First Apostolic Lutheran Church.
Luthern Laestadians have two main forms of publishing articles and testimonies within their church. A website, Kingdom of Peace,[5] and a newsletter called the Voice of Zion. Testimonials are often written by new believers and existing believers who are living away from the community.
Kingdom of Peace is a website that has testimonials of new believers, archived sermons from churches around the US, articles, and a mission statement. In 2025, articles have been published around 3-4 times a month, an increased amount from previous year.
Voice of Zion has monthly issues in paper format and features prominent articles on their website.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
