The '''Evangelical Lutheran Free Church''' (''Evangelisch Lutherische Freikirche'') is a small confessional Lutheran denomination based in Germany and western Austria. It currently consists of over 1600 members in 15 congregations. It also maintains a seminary for the training of pastors in the city of Leipzig. It is independent of the Evangelical_Church_in_Germany and can be classified as a Free_church in that it is an independent denomination and not under the umbrella of the German state church. Historically, it is said to have formed in reaction to the perceived deviations from scripture by the German state church. ==Beliefs== The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church teaches that the Bible is the only authoritative source for doctrine. It subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions (the Book of Concord, 1580) as accurate presentations of what Scripture teaches, that Jesus is the center of Scripture and the only way to eternal salvation, and that the Holy Spirit uses the gospel alone in Word and Sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) to bring people to faith in Jesus as Savior and keep them in that faith, strengthening them in their daily life of sanctification. ==Ecumenical Relations== Fellowship between the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church and other church groups is established only upon investigation and confirmation that both church groups hold complete unity in scriptural doctrine and practice. The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church is in fellowship with the members of the Confessional_Evangelical_Lutheran_Conference, all of which meet this requirement. It is also a member of said organization. ==Internet Links== *Info page for the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church from the CELC website *Website of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (in German) Category:Lutheranism Category:Christian_evangelicalism {{Lutheran-stub}} De:Evangelisch-Lutherische_Freikirche