Welcome to the Illinois Great Rivers District of the North American Lutheran Church. Learn more about who we are—our story, our mission and vision, and the people who shape our community.
Lutherans are Christians united in their response to God’s revelation in Jesus Christ, the living Word, while standing firm on the infallible authority of God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures. Lutherans originate in the churches of Northern Europe, but are now present around the world. Lutherans are committed to the Word and the Sacraments, the historic and catholic (universal) faith, the centrality of the Cross and God’s grace for the forgiveness of sins, the Resurrection and new life of the believer in holy living, and the necessity and beauty of prayer. Lutherans are grounded in the Scriptures and tradition, united in the Gospel, but flexible in practice.
Our faith draws its strength from uniting diverse streams of the Christian tradition, shaping our beliefs and worship within the NALC.
Learn More about the Beliefs of the NALC
Our Mission
As a regional part of a continent wide church, the Great Rivers Mission District's purpose is to support local congregations to be on mission in their local communities across our country.
We confess the apostolic faith in Jesus Christ according to the Holy Scriptures. We affirm the authority of the Scriptures as the authoritative source and norm, “according to which all doctrines should and must be judged” (Formula of Concord). We accept the ecumenical creeds and the Lutheran Confessions as true witnesses to the Word of God.
We believe that the mission of the Church is to preach the Gospel and to make disciples for Christ. We believe that making disciples — in our congregations, in our communities and nations, and around the world — must be a priority of the Church in the present age.
We affirm the ecumenical creeds and the faithful witness of the Church across time and space. We endorse the form and practices of the universal Church that are consistent with Scripture, particularly the office of the ministry and the tradition of worship under Word and Sacrament. We seek dialogue and fellowship with other Lutheran churches and with faithful Christians of other confessions.
We strive to be a church that is organized to facilitate the ministries of local congregations in a posture of servanthood and a spirit of partnership, through the provision of resources, connections and information.
"All that I have sinned or will ever sin, shall never disturb my standing in grace so long as Christ is my life and sin is my pain and torment." - Carl Rosenius