History

Biblical and Historical Background

1. There is in one holy Christian Church: the communion of saints. 'For God so loved

the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish

but have eternal life'. John 3:16

'There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism: one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

2. The Church is a living organism-not an organization. 'And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way'. Ephesians 1:22,23

'Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is part of it.' 1 Corinthians 12:27

'Speaking the truth in love, we grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work'. Ephesians 4:15,16

3. Believers gather together around the word and sacraments. 'They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer'. Acts 2:42

'Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We shall turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.' Acts 6:34

4. Our congregation formed in Forest Hills in 1933. The government sees only an organization. Our constitution expresses our purpose as part of the body of Christ, to glorify God and to love each other in our worship, education, fellowship, witness and service.

Our bylaws express our method of working together: the Voters' Assembly, the Council, Officers, Elders, Trustees, and Committees for Education, Outreach, Financial Planning and Stewardship, etc.

5. Our congregation is a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. We are located in the Eastern District of LC-MS, Pittsburgh Region. We have been placed in the Pittsburgh Southeast Circuit of ED. This is not a hierarchy - each level was formed to help its members (congregations and pastors) in appropriate ways.

6. Our congregation subscribes to the historical Lutheran Confessions. 'We teach that men cannot be justified before God by their own strength, merits, or works, but are freely justified for Christ's sake, through faith, when they believe that they are received into favor, and that their sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who, by his death, has made satisfaction for our sins. This faith God imputes for righteousness in His sight'. Augsburg Confession, 1530.

'We believe, teach, and confess that the sole rule and standard according

to which all dogmas together with all teachers should be estimated and

judged are the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures of the Old and New

Testaments alone.' Formula of Concord, 1580.