An Invitation to Congregations to Affiliate With
Call to Faithfulness

Definition and Purpose

Call to Faithfulness is a reforming movement of congregations, pastors, and laity in the Northeastern Iowa Synod and neighboring synods.  Call to Faithfulness is committed to Biblical and confessional Lutheran orthodoxy within the ELCA. Call to Faithfulness is a voluntary association within the ELCA, working to uphold our constitutional commitment to Biblical truth and confessional principles.

National/Church-wide Affiliation

Call to Faithfulness is affiliated with the Lutheran CORE, an ELCA-wide national coalition of reform and renewal movements, groups, congregations, and individuals. Call to Faithfulness accepts the Common Confession as a summary of important teachings affirmed in the Confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Principles and Commitments

As a reforming movement within the ELCA, Call to Faithfulness commits itself to faithful adherence to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions (in accordance with the ELCA’s Confession of Faith) by congregations, pastors, synods, bishops, and churchwide structures.

This commitment affirms:

• That the primary mission of the Church is the confession of Jesus as Lord and Savior and the proclamation of salvation in no other Name.

• That God’s Word reveals His purpose for the Church and God’s Word is the source and norm of our faith.
• That the Christian Church’s historic and orthodox Trinitarian naming of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the proclamation, worship, and teaching of and by congregations, pastors, seminaries, synodical, churchwide offices and affiliated institutions of the ELCA is to be maintained.Therefore Call to Faithfulness is committed to work for:

• The Biblical and confessional renewal and revitalization of congregational, pastoral, synodical, and churchwide ministries through mutual encouragement, accountability, and cooperation.

• The election and appointment of Biblically and confessionally orthodox Lutherans to leadership positions at all levels of the ELCA: congregation, conference, synod, region, and churchwide. We seek those who are committed to uphold, oversee, and teach the orthodox Lutheran faith in accordance with the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.
• The uniform and consistent implementation of Vision and Expectations and Guidelines for Discipline throughout the ELCA, providing fair and consistent discipline for pastors, bishops, all other rostered persons, congregations, and synods so that the integrity of the Church’s witness may be preserved.

Opportunities for Member Congregations of Call to Faithfulness

Member Congregations of Call to Faithfulness shall be those ELCA congregations that have voted at a congregational meeting to formally join and have contributed a $100 affiliation commitment. This affiliation means the public affirmation and acceptance of the Definition and Purpose, National/Churchwide Affiliation, and Principles and Commitments as stated above.
Please stand with Call to Faithfulness through:

• Congregational and pastoral renewal of their commitment to the authority of Scripture.

• Shaping congregational and pastoral witness and practice in the light of the Scriptures and Lutheran Confessions.

• Supporting the work of Call to Faithfulness through the prayers of the faithful.
• Sending representatives to Member Congregation Meetings of Call to Faithfulness.
• Supporting the work of Call to Faithfulness financially.
• Supporting the work of Call to Faithfulness through encouraging the time and effort of the congregation’s pastor(s) and lay leaders as they work in the reform and renewal of the larger church.

• Working with other Call to Faithfulness congregations in lifting up, nominating, and electing leaders for conference, synod, and national offices who are orthodox Lutheran in their Biblical and confessional beliefs and practice.

Affiliated Congregations:
St. Timothy Lutheran – Hudson, IA
St. Peter Lutheran – Greene, IA
Zion Lutheran – Hudson, IA
Old East Paint Creek Lutheran – Waterville, IA
Old West Paint Creek Lutheran – Waukon, IA
Norway Lutheran – St. Olaf, IA
Marion Lutheran – Gunder, IA
St. John Lutheran - Luana, IA
St. John Lutheran – Plainfield, IA
First Lutheran – St. Ansgar, IA
St. John Vilmar Lutheran - Greene, IA
Prince of Peace Lutheran – Evansdale, IA

Congregations desiring to affiliate with Call to Faithfulness may contact Pr. Gary Hatcher at ggh@omnitelcom.com