Who We Are

We are a rural church on the rolling hills of the Palouse. We're actually a Parish (because we have two separate buildings, shared by a merged congregation); it's a little complicated, but it's our history. . . it's who we are. 

Who we aren't-

We are NOT an 'evangelical' church, even though that's part of our name. . . 

To find out more about what being part of the "ELCA"- Evangelical Lutheran Church of American means, please visit our "What We Believe Section". 

Who are we then, if not 'evangelicals'? 

The short answer is, we believe that 'evangelism"- the sharing  of the gospel is a direct instruction from Jesus the Christ. We are called to share the Good News of the Gospel . . .  although, like most Protestants, we're really kind of bad at that sort of thing. But nobody's perfect, right? That's . . . that's why we have churches! Churches are places for the not-perfect to work on it. 

We are, ultimately, a group of progressive Christians who believe that God's Love is so great, so, vast, so unlimited, that it extends to all creation. We're the type of Christians who really do believe that ALL means ALL- and that ALL colors and types of God's sheep belong in the Kingdom of God. 

From the official elca.org website: 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with nearly 2.7 million members in more than 8,400 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region.

-We are church
‍We are what God has made us – people whom God has created by grace to live in union with Jesus Christ and has prepared to live faithful, fruitful lives by the power of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:8-10). In Jesus Christ, God has reconciled us to God and to each other. As we gather around word and sacraments, this life in Christ is what defines, shapes and guides us as a community of faith, the church. By God’s grace we can and do live confidently and generously in this community of faith and in service of others, amid the mysteries and paradoxes of this life in Christ – including our human limitations and failings, and the ambiguities, uncertainties and suffering that we experience.

-We are Lutheran

We are a church that walks by faith, trusting God's promise in the gospel and knowing that we exist by and for the proclamation of this gospel word. We proclaim Jesus Christ crucified and raised from the dead for the life of the world. As the apostle Paul wrote (Romans 1:16-17), and we echo in our Constitution (2.02), we are not ashamed of this gospel ministry because it is God’s power for saving all people who trust the God who makes these promises. “We are to fear and love God, so, that we do not despise preaching or God’s word, but instead keep that word holy and gladly hear it and learn it” (Small Catechism). God’s word, specifically God’s promise in Jesus Christ, creates this liberated, confident and generous faith. God gives the Holy Spirit who uses gospel proclamation – in preaching and sacraments, in forgiveness and in healing conversations – to create and sustain this faith. As a Lutheran church, we give central place to this gospel message in our ministry.

-We are church for the sake of the world

Christ has freed us from sin and death, even from ourselves, so that we can live as ministers of reconciliation in loving and generous service of our neighbors (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). In Jesus Christ, all of life – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life – flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.