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(please read both this description and the revised extended description before making a final judgement)
About Us We welcome you to the United Ecumenical Lutheran Synod (UELS or UELSTX), a unique and inclusive faith community committed to the rich traditions of high church Lutheranism. Rooted in Martin Luther's vision of reform and inspired by the unity of historic Christianity, we seek to build bridges through ecumenical outreach while maintaining the beauty and reverence of Lutheran worship. Our mission is to share the grace of Jesus Christ with everyone, no matter where they are—reaching the elderly, the disabled, those in quarantine, and the tech-savvy generations of today. We also extend free assistance to Lutheran and other Christian parishes in need of support, fostering collaboration and mutual respect. Some of our members are in communion with the Catholic church and some of our members are High Church Lutherans. This Synod is in full communion with the other High Church Lutheran synods whilst also being in partial communion with the Holy See. What we try to do and what we are actively accomplishing in some sense is the non-divisive Reformation that Martin Luther truly wanted, and we see this as possible with the 2nd Vatican Council, therefore the formation of this synod from former Catholic theologians who have become High Church Lutherans and from current Catholic theologians and lay-missionaries, as well as current High Church Lutherans and former High Church Lutherans who have become Catholic. Not only are we serving God as an organization, but a bridge between Lutheranism to Catholicism. This original teaching of Martin Luther was originally called Evangelical Catholicism, and we High Church Lutherans refer to ourselves as Evangelical Catholics.
Who We Are The United Ecumenical Lutheran Synod is a Lutheran synod located in Houston TX dedicated to preserving and promoting the sacred traditions of high church Lutheranism. We celebrate the beauty of Lutheran liturgies and doctrines while seeking ecumenical dialogue with other Christian traditions, including partial communion with the Catholic Church. Our synod operates with an episcopal structure, reflecting the historic model of church governance through bishops who provide spiritual leadership and oversight. Guided by ordained clergy—including pastors, priests, & bishops—alongside dedicated laypersons, ascetics, theologians, and liturgical practitioners, we are passionate about serving Christ and His Church. Our mission is to foster spiritual growth, ecumenical unity, and vibrant liturgical worship. Our political ideology is centrism, with some of our bishops being left-leaning and some being right-leaning.
Our Location Though we are a global organization, our offices are based in Texas and Pennsylvania. The majority of our activities take place online, utilizing platforms such as Discord and Roblox, but we are expanding into public preaching and in-person community events to broaden our reach and engage directly with our faithful.
Access Our Services
To Serve: Join our Discord server or Roblox group to explore opportunities for teaching, preaching, or offering liturgical assistance.
To Receive Assistance: Join our Discord to request any of the following services we provide:
Liturgical support for small Lutheran parishes.
Bible study and theological discussion groups.
Public preaching and mission outreach.
Online catechumen instruction and mentoring.
Virtual worship spaces and church-building assistance on Roblox.
Multimedia support for Christian content, including YouTube and TikTok videos.
Choir and music ministry opportunities.
Sacraments
We acknowledge 2 sacraments:
Baptism - by sprinkling or by triple immersion
Eucharist - real presence, same as Catholic belief with Eucharist
We also fully recognize the Roman Catholic Church's sacraments and use the Catholic trinitarian formula for Baptism.
Scripture
We follow the Holy Bible (66 books), the Nicene creed, and the Augsburg Confession.
Additional Notes
UELS is owned by Orthodox Outreach Ministry and allied to Christians United. Members of OOM who are ordained here will be listed as "Evangelical Catholic" or "High Church Lutheran" starting 3/18/2025, to avoid misunderstandings. This Synod is dedicated to maintaining traditional High Church tradition as well as partial communion with the Holy See, while maintaining the Reform that Martin Luther led. We try to be the same type of catholic that original Lutherans were. Our Eucharistic belief matches the Catholic Eucharistic belief, and we are in partial communion, meaning you can if you want to but we still recommend crossing your arms for a blessing unless you have been baptized and confirmed Catholic before becoming a High Church Lutheran.
For Lutherans
If you want to experience a closer tradition to Catholicism but still want to have the Reform, then we most certainly will welcome you with open arms. This Synod is in full Lutheran communion whilst in partial Catholic communion. This communion is mostly ecumenical and reconciliatory but not in the same way that changes their belief or our belief, so we are still Lutheran - just more friendly to Catholics.
EXTENDED DESCRIPTION
About Us
We welcome you to the United Ecumenical Lutheran Synod, a unique and inclusive faith community committed to the rich traditions of high church Lutheranism. Rooted in Martin Luther's vision of reform and inspired by the unity of historic Christianity, we strive to build bridges through ecumenical outreach while maintaining the beauty and reverence of Lutheran worship. Our mission is to share the grace of Jesus Christ with everyone, no matter where they are—reaching the elderly, the disabled, those in quarantine, and the tech-savvy generations of today.
We also extend free assistance to Lutheran and other Christian parishes in need of support, fostering collaboration and mutual respect. Some of our members are in communion with the Catholic Church, and some are High Church Lutherans. This Synod is in full communion with other High Church Lutheran synods, while also being in partial communion with the Holy See.
Our aim is to accomplish what Martin Luther truly envisioned: a non-divisive Reformation. We believe this vision is made possible by the spirit of unity promoted through the Second Vatican Council. The formation of this Synod reflects the collaboration of former Catholic theologians who have become High Church Lutherans, along with current Catholic theologians, lay-missionaries, and High Church Lutherans—both current and former—who have become Catholic.
Not only are we serving God as an organization, but we also serve as a bridge between Lutheranism and Catholicism, fostering understanding without division.
Who We Are
The United Ecumenical Lutheran Synod is a Lutheran synod based in Houston, TX, dedicated to preserving and promoting the sacred traditions of high church Lutheranism. We celebrate the beauty of Lutheran liturgies and doctrines while seeking ecumenical dialogue with other Christian traditions, including partial communion with the Catholic Church.
Our synod operates with an episcopal structure, reflecting the historic model of church governance through bishops who provide spiritual leadership and oversight. Guided by ordained clergy—including pastors, priests, and bishops—alongside dedicated laypersons, ascetics, theologians, and liturgical practitioners, we are passionate about serving Christ and His Church.
Our mission is to foster spiritual growth, ecumenical unity, and vibrant liturgical worship. Politically, we embrace a centrist ideology, with some of our bishops being left-leaning and others right-leaning.
Our Location
Though we are a global organization, our offices are based in Texas and Pennsylvania. The majority of our activities take place online, utilizing platforms such as Discord and Roblox, but we are expanding into public preaching and in-person community events to broaden our reach and engage directly with our faithful.
Access Our Services
To Serve: Join our Discord server or Roblox group to explore opportunities for teaching, preaching, or offering liturgical assistance.
To Receive Assistance: Join our Discord to request any of the following services:
Liturgical support for small Lutheran parishes
Bible study and theological discussion groups
Public preaching and mission outreach
Online catechumen instruction and mentoring
Virtual worship spaces and church-building assistance on Roblox
Multimedia support for Christian content, including YouTube and TikTok videos
Choir and music ministry opportunities
Sacraments
We acknowledge two sacraments:
Baptism – by sprinkling or by triple immersion
Eucharist – real presence, in line with Catholic belief about the Eucharist
We also fully recognize the sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church and use the Catholic trinitarian formula for Baptism.
Scripture
We follow the Holy Bible (66 books), the Nicene Creed, and the Augsburg Confession.
Additional Notes
UELS is owned by Orthodox Outreach Ministry and allied with Christians United. Catholic members of OOM who are ordained here will be listed as "Discerning Catholic," "Lutheran-Catholic," or "High Church Lutheran" starting March 18, 2025, to avoid misunderstandings.
This Synod is dedicated to maintaining the traditional High Church liturgical practices while also being in partial communion with the Holy See, without abandoning the reformational spirit Martin Luther sought. Our Eucharistic belief aligns with Catholic understanding, and we encourage participation in communion when desired. However, we recommend that individuals cross their arms for a blessing unless they have been baptized and confirmed Catholic before becoming a High Church Lutheran.
For Lutherans
If you wish to experience a tradition that is closer to Catholicism but still rooted in the Reformation, we welcome you with open arms. This Synod is in full Lutheran communion while being in partial Catholic communion. This communion is largely ecumenical and reconciliatory, yet it does not change our beliefs—we are still Lutheran, just more open and friendly to Catholics.
For Catholics
For Catholics
We warmly welcome Catholics who are seeking a deeper connection with the rich traditions of the Church while honoring the reformational spirit of Martin Luther. The United Ecumenical Lutheran Synod is committed to fostering unity and understanding between the Lutheran and Catholic traditions, without compromising the theological principles of either.
If you are a Catholic who is drawn to the liturgical beauty and reverence of High Church Lutheranism, but still hold fast to the foundational tenets of the Catholic faith, you will find a place here. Our Synod is in partial communion with the Holy See, which means that we recognize the validity of Catholic sacraments, and we embrace an ecumenical spirit that seeks reconciliation without requiring full doctrinal agreement.
We honor the Eucharist as the true real presence, much like the Catholic Church, and invite you to share in communion with us if you wish.
For Catholics who are discerning the Lutheran faith, or who wish to explore a more liturgically rich Lutheranism while maintaining a connection with the Roman Catholic Church, we offer a space for thoughtful dialogue, spiritual growth, and a community where you can feel at home. Here, we can walk together on a path of mutual respect and shared Christian devotion, living out Christ’s call to unity.
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