North American Lutheran Church – Hope Lutheran Church is a member of the NALC. The NALC describes itself this way: “The NALC has embraced four core values which shape our common life: Christ-Centered, Mission-Driven, Traditionally-Grounded, and Congregationally-Focused. We are a church centered on the unique Gospel of Jesus Christ, animated by missions and evangelism, grounded in the 2,000 year tradition of Christian faith, and organized chiefly to serve our congregations.”
This is a Lutheran denomination that is relatively conservative, but not extremely so. Our Commission on Doctrine and Theology is made up of a group of PhD theologians who are there to carefully test all questions against scripture and to make clear statements on their findings. We are a lean organization with a small office to keep overhead low, and have Mission Districts headed by unpaid Deans who are there to help local congregations in a variety of ways. Deans, in most cases, are currently active pastors in their respective congregations and are elected by their peers, not assigned. We are structured to support rather than to manage our congregations. In other words, the NALC is not a top down organization.
Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ – Hope Lutheran Church is also a member of the LCMC, which is not a denomination, but an association of churches. Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ is an association of congregations and individuals who are: free in Christ; accountable to one another; rooted in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; and working together to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.