Central Lutheran Church

Central Lutheran Church was originally established
in 1925 as a Norwegian speaking congregation.
It is rooted in traditional Lutheran theology and
continues to be a vital part of the Tacoma
community. We have a rich musical heritage
and background including a magnificent pipe
organ built by Malcolm and Vaughan which is
a highlight of the weekly worship service.

WE CONFESS THE HISTORICAL CHRISTIAN CREEDS.
This congregation accepts the Apostle's, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds as true declaration of the faith of the congregation.

WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS LORD.
Matthew 22:34-40; John 14:6; Philippians 2:9-11.
Jesus is the head of the church. Unity among the various expressions of the body of Christ is achieved through focusing on Jesus, who alone is able to draw all people to Himself. Jesus is the complete and ultimate expression of God and is a person of the Divine Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

WE STAND ON THE WORD OF GOD.
John 1:1, 1:14; II Timothy 3:16-17; Romans 15:4; Psalm 1.
The Bible is our authority and sole guide for life and faith. We accept on faith that all of the Scripture is inspired and is without error; however not all interpretation is without error. Therefore we support and encourage the study of the original manuscripts, recognizing the original audiences and purposes of a text, and allowing the Bible to interpret itself. For the Scriptures are a living Word that are always relevant and revealing God's purpose for all of creation.

WE DESIRE GENUINE WORSHIP.
I Peter 2:9; John 4:23-24; Psalm 98:4-9; Psalm 105:1-4.
Worship establishes and encourages a right relationship between God and His people - God is the audience. Worship is essential for the believer and central to the life of the church. In it we cast our eyes to the cross, we come under the instruction of God's Word, we are strengthened by the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, bound together as Christ's body. Worship involves the whole person - body, mind, heart and spirit.

WE ARE CALLED BY GOD.
Matthew 4:19; I Corinthians 12:12 & 27; Ephesians 4:11-16.
We believe in "the priesthood of all believers" (I Peter 2:4-10). All of God's people are called to ministry and the body of Christ must recognize and affirm that call. God has gifted every believer through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to serve the cause of Christ Jesus in the world.

WE ARE FREE IN CHRIST.
Romans 8:1-2; Galatians 5:1; John 8: 31-36.
Because of what Jesus has done for us we are free. We are free to serve God as the Lord leads us and not out of guilt, obligation or duty. We serve God in response to what the Lord has already done for us - we serve Him joyfully.

WE WILL "GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES."
Matthew 28:18-20; Matthew 4: 18-20; Luke 19:10; Acts 1:8.
Jesus gave his disciples this command - "Go and make disciples of all nations." Our focus is discipleship by acting as God's hands and feet in order to spread the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ - inviting every person to consider a living and personal relationship with Him, for He is the only way to salvation and eternal life. We are called not to only spread His word, but continue to help cultivate His word in lives of those who have come to believe.

WE CELEBRATE THAT GOD IS CHANGING LIVES.
John 8:1-11; II Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:15.
We believe that God changes lives and that He alone has the transforming power of the Holy Spirit to create faith and help us live lives that are pleasing to Him. As believers, we accept that there is nothing in this world that ever stays the same except the solid rock of our Salvation. We can, therefore learn to adjust and adapt to our changing surroundings. We worship Jesus our Lord, not our tradition, not our history and not ourselves.

WE BELIEVE THAT, IN BAPTISM, THE LORD CLEANSES US FROM OUR SIN AND GIVES US THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Mark 1:4-5; Acts 2:37-41; Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4.
God has commanded those who seek eternal life to be baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is an outward sign of the inner rebirth within the believer. Without faith, Baptism alone has no promise of Salvation.

WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS PRESENT IN THE LORD'S SUPPER.
I Corinthians 11:23-29; John 6:32-58.
When we take the Lord's Supper with a repentant heart, we are assured that our sins are forgiven and that we have new life in Christ. By the Supper, inwardly, His people receive the inheritance He leaves for them-His body and blood, forgiveness of sins, life and salvation; and outwardly, the purpose of the Lord's Supper is to recall and proclaim Jesus' death on the cross for the sins of the world.

WE AFFIRM THAT GOD ESTABLISHED THE SACRED COVENANT OF MARRIAGE.
Genesis 2:24-25; Matthew 19:4-6.
God created us male and female, and it is His will and intention that human sexual expression and fulfillment take place only within the boundaries of marriage between one man and one woman.