Dr. C. F. W. Walther, the founding father of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, once stated, "We Missourians do not consider ourselves to be perfect Lutherans, but we would fervently like to become perfect Lutherans." ย So, too, our congregation would also like to be and remain a truly Lutheran congregation; that is:
"confessional" - professing "that Jesus is Lord" (Philippians 2:11) by remaining faithful to the ancient Creeds and the Lutheran Confessions;
"evangelical" - proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ that is "by grace you have been saved through faith. ย And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works" (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"catholic" - teaching and abiding by "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3); and
"orthodox" - worshiping and teaching aright by letting "the Word or Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16).