CALC

 

CALC was birthed in the early 1990s out of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) by lay people and clergy who were uncomfortable with the liberal theological trends, particularly a departure from the authority of Scripture, which were already evident in the ELCIC so soon after its creation in 1986. The founders saw CALC as occupying the center ground previously held by the Evangelical Lutheran Church Canada (ELCC) and much of CALC’s constitution is drawn from the ELCC constitution. CALC’s original purpose was to offer a “new home” to congregations and pastors troubled by such liberal trends within the ELCIC. Today, as then, CALC provides a “home” for Biblically-faithful Canadian Lutherans who feel they no longer have a home in the ELCIC.

The Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations (CALC) is a federally-chartered Canadian church body formed to unite, serve, equip, encourage and empower congregations and individuals who share a common belief that:

+ The Holy Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God

+ Our faith and life is rooted in and is shaped by the Holy Bible and our Lutheran Confessions.

+ Our mission is found in Christ’s Great Commission: His call to us to be His disciples and make others His disciples.

With God’s help and through the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, CALC will set sail to reclaim, renew, reform and rebuild a Lutheran church body in Canada for future generations.

+ Reclaiming the centrality of the theology of the Cross

+ Renewing our anchoring on the authority of Scripture

+ Reforming the church by stepping out in faith

+ Rebuilding a foundation of strong Shepherds

CALC encourages greater networking/partnering between congregations to share beneficial ministry and best practices ideas – churches working together! It also supports and strengthens the faith of families and youth and minimizes the denominational constraints placed upon a congregation’s fundamental right and freedom to call, choose and ordain ministers while at the same time balancing that freedom with mechanisms in place, such as a Pastoral Review Panel, to help congregations find Scripturally-grounded, solidly-Lutheran pastors who are held accountable to uphold CALC’s Confession of Faith. CALC will work to pass on our heritage rooted in the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions undiminished to the next generation.

CALC is building an Evangelical, Confessional Lutheran Future in Canada.

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It was an historic day in the life of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Sullivan.

On Sunday, June 9, 2013, St. Peter’s members voted strongly in favour of leaving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Our sister congregation in the Sullivan-Williamsford Lutheran Church, St. James’ Lutheran Church, Williamsford  decided to stay with the ELCIC and so the vote result meant an end to the Sullivan-Williamsford Lutheran Parish as it had been known for 126 years.

Two weeks later, on Sunday, June 23, 2013, St. Peter’s members voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining CALC – the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations. Formal acceptance of St. Peter’s membership into CALC occurred at CALC’s annual convention in Stony Plain, Alberta in November 2013.

 

(Information source: CALC website www.calc.ca and from Sherland Chhangar, a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Toronto and also a member of the Board of Elders, part of CALC’s National Council)