2 Corinthians 3:17 - “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

     This verse is the theme verse for the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations and the foundation for our teachings on the place of the local congregation. The Association is to be a Holy Spirit led church body, as is the local congregation. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

     Sometimes we hear people say that the local congregation is free to do what it pleases. This is not true. It cannot be true. The local congregation is to be led by the Holy Spirit as He ministers and leads through the Word of God. Otherwise, there is no freedom for the congregation nor is there freedom for the church body that we call the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations.

     The AFLC began in Thief River Falls, Minnesota in 1962. There were a goodly number of Pastors and lay persons present, each representing a congregation, all agreeing to form the AFLC. You see, a court in Roseau, Minnesota, had ruled that this new group could not use the name “Lutheran Free Church” because the LFC had merged with others into the American Lutheran Church. Now these congregations are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

     So, the name of our “Free Lutheran” church body became The Association of Free Lutheran Congregations because of a judge, yet our name very adequately describes the way we operate and conduct ourselves. Every congregation is not a “member” nor do our congregations send “delegates” to the annual conferences, but each congregation “associates” itself with the church body. Thereby, each congregation remains an “independent” congregation. Thus we maintain our freedom as individual congregations.

     The AFLC came about because of the leadership of men like Georg Sverdrup and Sven Oftedahl who came from Norway and were led by the Holy Spirit to begin a church body in the United States in 1897. This newly formed church body, called the Lutheran Free Church, would not be connected to the government and it would be modeled after the church in the New Testament. The LFC was not organized as a synod, nor was its successor the AFLC ever a synod.

     In a synod, the decisions made in conventions become binding on all local congregations. In the AFLC the decisions made at the annual conferences are not binding on any local congregation. The decisions are suggestions only. This makes a big difference between us and most other Lutheran Church bodies!

     Recognize that the judge in Roseau, Minnesota, decided that the Lutheran Free Church was not conducting its business as an association of independent congregations. It was, in fact, according to his judgment operating as a synod. It was using the delegate system. The AFLC has never used delegates. In our AFLC any member of one of our congregations may attend. Everyone is encouraged to attend the conferences and get involved. The AFLC never has “conventions.” It has “conferences.” Conferences are spiritual gatherings of worship and prayer and not just business meetings.

     Think about organization for a minute. The AFLC is not a corporation. In fact, according to law, it does not exist. It is simply various congregations supporting each other in the work of the Lord. The AFLC does not own land nor do we own buildings. The buildings of our local congregations are not the property of the church body. In the various Lutheran synods, the buildings and property of various congregations may very well be the synods’ property. Member congregations therefore cannot sell or buy. This is especially true if a congregation was historically part of the Lutheran Church in America.

     So, if the AFLC does not control buildings and properties of congregations or for that matter, Bible Camps like Galilee, where does ownership reside? The AFLC property like the headquarters is owned by various independent corporations. These corporations are autonomous. They make their decisions without consulting the annual conference, the officers of the AFLC, or what is known as the Coordinating Committee of the AFLC. There does exist however, a gentlemen’s agreement that they should not go against the desires of the annual conference which is the voice of the local congregations. Resolutions passed by the conferences are to be prayerfully considered by all corporations, all congregations, and all officers of the AFLC and the Coordinating Committee.

     The task of the Coordinating Committee is to carry on the work of the annual conference. It is to direct the affairs of the officers and implement the guidelines of the ALFC. All its business is conducted in the name of the annual conferences. The annual conference, of course, cannot micro-manage the corporations. It hardly can conduct business for them. The conference makes its input as suggestions. This does not mean that the Coordinating Committee does not have its input into the business of these corporations, but input is given when it is asked.

     Remember the issue of own- ership of property? The Coordinating Committee owns the property where the AFLC headquarters building is located. The Schools Corporation owns the other properties adjacent to the headquarters building. The Association Retreat Center owns its own property as do Bible Camps such as Galilee, Bethany, and Pickeral Lake Camp in South Dakota.

     You can see that the Coordinating Committee has very little power, but it does maintain the AFLC Clergy and the congregation rosters. It interviews men for the pastorate, including new graduates of our Free Lutheran Seminary. It works with what is called the Budget Analysis Committee to which all of our corporations must submit their budgets. It in turn makes recommendations to the corporation.

     Another AFLC corporation is the Missions Corporation comprised of 50 members. It owns no property. It calls a man to serve as World Missions Director and Home Missions Director. This corporation supervises the work of missions in such places as Mexico, Brazil, India, and Africa. It also has the responsibility for the calling missionaries to ministry.

     The AFLC Schools Corporation is a 50 member corporation in charge of the Seminary and the Bible School. It is joined by other corporations which work in conjunction with the broader AFLC, e.g., the Association Retreat Center, the Free Lutheran Pilots Supporters Corporation, and the Partners in Mission Outreach.

     Here’s where your AFLC is in December of 2004: The AFLC is composed of individuals, congregations, and pastors from various Lutheran groups. Remember back, at the time of the various Lutheran mergers there were many who felt that for the sake of conscience they would remain with the Lutheran teachings and the Lutheran emphasis of the past. They wanted to continue the strong emphasis on the Scripture as the inerrant Word of God. They wanted to emphasize holy living or piety and they wanted to continue to give the congregation the freedom they needed to be truly led by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. They did not want any human authority over them. Also, they wanted to have a Seminary which trained men in the Word of God. They wanted a Bible School to train youth in the Word of God. (That AFLC Bible School is now the largest Lutheran Bible School in the world.) Also, they felt it wise to remain outside of the National and World Council of Churches.

     The AFLC believes in Free and Living Congregations. Freedom from the bondage of sin comes through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and life comes from living in Jesus as the Holy Spirit leads and directs through the Word of God. It is through faithful preaching of the Word of God and the right administration of the Sacraments that free and living congregations come into being. It is also through faithful preaching of the Word of God that congregations can maintain this freedom.

     In matters of doctrine, the AFLC believes that the Lutheran Church embodies the doctrine taught in the Bible. It believes that the Creeds of the Lutheran Church: the Apostles, the Nicene, the Athanasian, Luther’s Small Catechism, and the unaltered Augsburg Confession, represent Lutheranism and a Biblical perspective on freedom and life.

     Do you see why we in the AFLC believe that the local congregations are the right form of the Kingdom of God? Local congregations can establish their own programs and ways of doing things. Local congregations call pastors and make the final decisions on who shall be their pastors. These congregations support the projects they have been led to support. You do not find the AFLC demanding that a certain pastor serve a congregation. Nor do you find the AFLC asking a pastor to leave a congregation. The call to serve a congregation depends on the pastor and the congregation. Yes, the pastor is a preacher of the Word of God. He is a servant of the congregation. He is not the director nor is he the physical plant manager or financial administrator of the congregation. These responsibilities belong to the members of the congregation. This does not mean the pastor is to be totally silent in these matters. Rather, he is part of the team and therefore can and should make his two cents known!

     There are big shoes to wear on the local congregation level. The major responsibility for church operation falls upon the lay people of the congregation. They, as all believers, are responsible to the Lord to do what the Holy Spirit leads in accord with the Word of God.

     The AFLC follows what is called the “Fundamental Principles.” These principles are as follows:

1. According to the Word of God, the congregation is the right form of the kingdom of God on earth.
   
   
2. The congregation consists of believers who, by the using of the means of grace and the Spiritual gifts as directed by the Word of God, seek salvation and eternal blessings for themselves and for their fellow men.
   
   
3. According to the New Testament, the congregation needs an external organization with membership roll, election of officers, stated times and places for its gatherings, and similar other provisions.
   
   
4. Members of the organized congregation are not, in every instance believers, and such members often derive false hope from their external connection with the congregation. It is therefore the sacred obligation of the congregation to purify itself through the quickening preaching of the Word of God, by earnest admonition and exhortation, and by expelling the openly sinful and perverse.
   
   
5. The congregation directs its own affairs, subject to the authority of the Word and Spirit of God, and acknowledges no other ecclesiastical authority of government above itself.
   
   
6. A free congregation esteems and cherishes all the spiritual gifts which the Lord gives for its edification, and seeks to stimulate and encourage their use.
   
   
7. A free congregation gladly accepts the mutual assistance which congregations can give one another in the work of advancement of the Kingdom of God.
   
   
8. Such assistance consists partly of the mutual sharing of spiritual gifts among the congregations through conferences, exchange visits, lay activities, etc. whereby congregations are mutually edified, and partly in the voluntary and Sprit prompted cooperation for the accomplishing of such tasks that exceed the ability of the individual congregation.
   
   
9. Among such tasks may be mentioned specifically the training of pastors, distribution of Bibles and other literature, home missions, foreign missions, deaconess homes, children’s homes and other works of mercy.
   
   
10. Free congregations have no right to demand that other congregations shall submit to their opinion, will, judgment, or decision; therefore, dominion by the majority of congregations over a minority is to be rejected.
    
    
11. Agencies found desirable for conducting the joint activities of congregations, committees, officers, etc. cannot in a Lutheran Free Church, impose any obligations or restrictions, exert any compulsions, or lay any burden upon the individual congregation, but have the right only to make recommendations to, and requests of congregations and individuals.
    
    
12. Every congregation, as well as every individual believer, is constrained by the Spirit of God and the privilege of Christian love to do good and to work for the salvation of souls and the quickening of spiritual life, as far as its abilities and power permit. Such free spiritual activity is limited neither by parish nor by synodical bounds.

     Do you see how we as members of an AFLC congregation can praise the Lord of the Church as we begin Zion’s 100th year?

     Zion will feature a Choir again this year for our Christmas Eve service. The choir is open to anyone who wishes to join. We will be singing A familiar Christmas carol.

     Two short rehearsals will be held on Sunday Dec. 19 and Friday Dec. 24 in the Fellowship Hall, 20 minutes before the service.

    This will be a good time for friends and members to join together and praise the Lord!

     Join us on Saturday, December 18 at 10:00 a.m. for a Women's Christmas Tea. All women, members or friends of Zion are invited to attend and celebrate this Christmas holiday. Come prepared to enjoy yourself with music and fellowship. You are welcome to bring a food item for our table. Take time this busy holiday season to be with others and celebrate!

     A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father. When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed. The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

     "I guess you were expecting me," he said.

     "No, who are you?" said the father. The minister told him his name and then remarked, "I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up,"

     "Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?"

     Puzzled, the minister shut the door.

     "I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head. "I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued, "until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me, "Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest."

     "Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always.'"

     "Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now."

     "So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm."

     The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey.

     Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church.

     Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.

     "Did he die in peace?" he asked.

     "Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was something strange about his death."

     "Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?"

     The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."