Where are you located? Our General Conference Office is located in Cayce, West Columbia SC. USA We have churches and ministries in many States in the US but not all. We have churches/ministries in Spain, Nigeria, Canada, Kenya, The Congo, Algeria and Trinidad.

Do you ordain women to the ministry? Yes, we do. Scripture has many examples of women in ministry.

What sacraments do you observe? Baptism and Holy Communion.

Does a person have to be a member of your church to take communion with you? No. All believers are welcome to partake at the Lord’s Table.

Are you missions oriented? Yes. We are. We believe in training indigenous ministers to reach their own people. We have Concordia Theologica Kenya for example which is headed by our Kenyan Bishop. We also accept ministry credits from a school in Nigeria for ordaining ministers there. We also have Concordia Espana for Spanish-speaking ministry candidates and ministers. We have ministers in Kenya, Algeria, the Congo, and Nigeria.

What is Concordia Theologica? Concordia Theologica is our Bible Institute. Occasionally we will have someone who is called to ministry but has no educational or theological background. We provide this training and ten core courses for 30 credit hours (3 s.h.x10) to help them meet our educational requirements. This is for those who are committed to the LEPC/GCEPC for ministry with us and is given at no charge. We also by agreement with some other faith communities will train their ministers in the same fashion for ministry.

Do you ordain homosexuals? No. We will not knowingly ordain practicing homosexuals.

What is Apostolic Succession? Apostolic Succession is the consecration into a valid historic lineage dating back to the early Apostles. This is done by the laying on of hands during our ordination services of Word and Sacrament.

Are you an endorsing agent for Military Chaplaincy? We have all of our paperwork filed with the Department of Defense. We are in process and ready to go when applicants are ready. We have a Bishop of Chaplaincy that handles these matters. Let us know how we can assist you.

I am called to ministry but not to pastoring a church. I would like to start a crisis care ministry. Can you help with this? Yes, we can. We will be happy to talk to you about your ministry plans and vision.

Do you have to plant a church to be a part of the LEPC/GCEPC? No. While we do have those ministers who pastor and plant churches we have a number of other diverse ministries also. We will be happy to talk to you about your ministry plans and vision.

Do you require wine to be served for communion? We usually use wine but we are aware that there are circumstances where grape juice is preferred. The answer is no; we consider the situation, the culture and the people. The Lord will bless his Body and Blood for his purposes and look on the hearts of those involved.

If I am a part of the LEPC/GCEPC can I still be involved/participate in other Christian faith community activities such as weddings, ordinations, funerals etc? You are free to attend gatherings, ordinations or any activity you choose keeping in mind the requirements of scripture and civil law. We are one body, one faith, one baptism with one Lord and Father in Heaven as a part of the Church catholic (universal).

What is your organizational structure? We have a Board of Governors for the nonprofit corporation. The Presiding Bishop serves as president of this corporation. We have an Executive Board that handles the every day administrative affairs of the Community, a Board of Advisors and a Council of Bishops. The Presiding Bishop is the chief Executive Officer and chief under shepherd under the Chief Shepherd Jesus Christ. We have regional/synod bishops. Please see our constitution and by-laws online at www.lutheranepc.com .

How do you keep in touch with one another since you are spread out? We have an online group that all of our ministers subscribe to (no cost) that we use for communication across the community worldwide. We also email, use phone calls, have conference calls and we meet at least once if not several times a year for fellowship.

Do you allow house churches? Yes. We are very interested in the house church movement especially as the economy has shifted. This is very much a New Testament Model.

Are you evangelistic? Yes, we are. Our focus is to the lost. We have noticed a decline in new converts across Christendom. Many people move back and forth between churches and some have “dropped out” all together. We are interested in the lost and the unchurched.

What is meant by “evangelical”? It means that we place emphasis on a personal faith in Jesus Christ and in the authority of scripture or orthodoxy. Orthodoxy means adhering to the accepted or traditional and established faith, true opinion, right thinking, true or right praise in this case to God.

What are the backgrounds of your ministers? We have people from Lutheran, Lutheran Brethren, Methodist, Pentecostal, Baptist, Episcopalian, Non-denominational, Catholic, Charismatic, Gospel Deliverance, Messianic and other backgrounds. We have a diversity of peoples and ministries. We endeavor to promote “In the essentials unity, in the non-essentials liberty and in all things charity.” We work to promote the unity of the Body of Christ when at all possible.

If I cannot send in or forget to send in my offering will I be penalized? No. We will send out reminders across the community from time to time but we will not “track down” an individual to force them to pay tithes or offerings (we know some religious organizations practice this model) after all these are really between them and the Lord regarding their vows though it comes to the GCEPC/LEPC and we of course welcome it for the running of our budget. If a vow or commitment is made however it should be kept as a matter of practice. Letting us know of any difficulty that a minister could be facing would allow us to try to assist or understand the situation.

How do you treat reports of child abuse? We are mandatory reporters. Such information will be given to the proper authorities.

How do I begin the process of making application to the LEPC/GCEPC? Our application packets are online at www.lutheranepc.com. The information that you need is in that packet with instructions. Follow the directions and complete the packet as stated. If you are unable to download the packet please contact us and we will make arrangements to get a packet to you. If you have any questions, please email us at generalconference@lutheranepc.com. We take every application on an individual basis. Once we have your packet if further clarity is needed we will contact you. Further along in the process a member of our Candidate Selection Committee will contact you.

Our Church/ministry needs an umbrella/oversight because we are not able to stay where we are. Can we transfer as a group to the GCEPC/LEPC? Yes, we make different arrangements in the transfer of units or groups that are already established and have a little different application process. Usually we are able to take the group as a whole but we still require information for each ordained minister in the group/unit for our files and they will come under Minister Expectations. Minister Expectations is the norm and practice for GCEPC/LEPC ministers.

I am in a country where little money is found but I want to be a minister can I still apply for ordination with your Community? Yes. Please do not let money hold you back from sending an application to the GCEPC/LEPC. If you truly have a financial difficulty we will work with you in your application process. We are here to get the gospel out and we will not keep you back from God’s call because of finances. We are here to help.

I have been involved in a church split and my credentials were removed. Does this mean you will not consider my application? We are aware that the Body of Christ is full of schisms of various natures. We are aware that there are some very authoritarian religious communities out there. It will depend on the situation. We take each application individually and consider each circumstance separately. We are interested in the restoration and healing of God’s servants and wounded warriors. If we can help you, we will.

I am non-denominational but I want to be with a faith community. Do I have to be Lutheran to join your Community? We have a unique situation. When our community voted to add “Lutheran” to our name it was for clarity regarding the Evangelical Protestant Church but we kept the caveat that those members who desire to remain and use only “Evangelical Protestant” could do so as even Luther did not want his name placed on a denomination. This practice remains until today. Short answer-you can be Evangelical Protestant and be part of our faith community as long as you agree and adhere with our Statement of Faith and Core Beliefs.

I believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and consider myself charismatic. Will I be welcome in your Church? Yes, you will be welcome. We are a diverse group. We do not call ourselves charismatic but we believe in the present day work of the Holy Spirit and the ministries that Jesus placed in his Church.

What form of liturgy do you use? We have a broad spectrum of worship; some high church, some low church, traditional, some contemporary depending on the locale and culture of those being served. The various Lutheran books of worship may be used according to ministerial or congregational preference. The point is to serve God, worship and exalt him as he desires and directs by his Holy Spirit in the region. What is best in one region may not be best in another. God will lead. He knows his people and his ministers and how he wants them to participate in his worship.

I notice that you talk a lot about the Holy Spirit leading. I come from a background where I have always been told what to do and what I am to believe. How do I participate? That is a good question. Yes. We do fully believe that the Holy Spirit will lead regarding his Church. We just have to trust that he will do that. A relationship has to be cultivated in prayer, worship, study and daily walk. It is a practicing of his Presence. Yes. It is an adventure and it might seem a little scary or unsure or even irresponsible if this is not what you are use to but it is scriptural and God honors his Word. This is how Jesus ran his ministry and the Apostles after him. We will assist you as you launch into this new but old and Christ centered way of ministry.

Do you support same sex marriage? No, we do not. We believe scripture states that marriage is between a man and a woman and that they are to be fruitful and multiply and have dominion together over the earth and its occupants.

What translation of the Bible do you endorse? We do not endorse a particular translation but to keep as close to the original Greek and Hebrew.

Do I have to wear a clerical collar? You don’t have to but you get to. The collar does make you recognizable as a minister and once you learn the significance spiritually of clerical garments and vestments you may decide that you like using them but it is your choice. Again this is a matter of choice of congregation and ministry or culture and how it assists in getting the gospel out and promoting ministry. Most of our ministers wear collars at some point but it is their choice for the situation. There are some celebratory events where a clerical collar or vestment might be required. A stole is required for ordination as it signifies the Lord’s yoke.

Do you subscribe to the Book of Concord and the Augsburg Confession? We do but following Luther's example and good doctrine “…in so far as they meet in the teachings of the Holy Scriptures and in the common confessions of all Christendom.”

Have a question? Please contact us. We will answer as soon as possible.

(c)GCEPC 2009