Lutheranism: It began with a monk and his mission

Mass appeal » In light of the anniversary of the Reformation, a look at what its founding father brought to bear.

< Previous Page

What is the denomination’s future?

Here’s what Nichols, the Salt Lake City pastor, says: "Luther dared to stand before the powers of his day and ask ‘why?’ He questioned the assumptions of those who called for blind submission to both religious and political authority. He empowered the masses of his time to read for themselves, seek the equality that liberated their lives, and work for the common good."

This band of believers will "strive to continue this reforming spirit in our mission and in our community," Nichols writes. "We aspire to embody the Lutheran values of equality, inclusivity and critical reflection in our life together."

Sources: Lutheran World Federation; ELCA.org, http://usalutherans.tripod.com; U.S. Religion Census: Religious Congregations and Membership 2010; http://christianity.about.com/od/denominations/a/lutheran.htm.

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

About Reader Comments

---

Reader comments on sltrib.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Salt Lake Tribune. We will delete comments containing obscenities, personal attacks and inappropriate or offensive remarks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. If you see an objectionable comment, please alert us by clicking the arrow on the upper right side of the comment and selecting "Flag comment as inappropriate". If you've recently registered with Disqus or aren't seeing your comments immediately, you may need to verify your email address. To do so, visit disqus.com/account.
See more about comments here.