LCMC Historical Timeline
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A Historical View of LCMC
August 19, 1999 - Denver, Colorado: The Churchwide Assembly of the ELCA adopts Called to Common Mission (CCM) in violation of our Lutheran Confessions.
November 15-16, 1999 - Roseville, Minnesota: The first gathering of those who are committed to resisting the requirements of CCM and the direction of the ELCA is held at Roseville Lutheran Church.
March 26-29, 2000 - Mahtomedi, Minnesota: The WordAlone Network (WA) is born at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. The first board is commissioned to craft an association for congregations who feel they cannot stay in the ELCA.
March 25-27, 2001 - Phoenix, Arizona: The constitution of Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC) is adopted on Tuesday, March 27, during the 2nd Annual Convention of WA at Valley Cathedral in Phoenix. 25 congregations are received as charter members of the association. Three interim board members are chosen to work with the WA board to plan the first convention for the association.
October 26-27, 2001 - St Louis Park, Minnesota: LCMC holds its 1st National Convention and elects its first permanent board. 46 congregations were part of the association by the time the convention began at Westwood Lutheran Church.
April 28-29, 2002 - Arden Hills, Minnesota: LCMC holds its 2nd National Convention in conjunction with the WA convention at North Heights Lutheran Church. The association has grown to 62 congregations. A commitment is made to have the association become entirely autonomous from WA and to establish its own office.
October 5-7, 2003 - Canton, Michigan: LCMC holds its 3rd National Convention at St Michael Lutheran Church. LCMC is now separate from WA and the convention is held at the host congregation for LCMC's National Office. The association has a full-time National Service Coordinator and a part-time Director of Operations/Financial Secretary and has grown to 81 congregations. The delegates to the convention vote to expand the association by voting to accept international congregations.
October 3-5, 2004 - Fargo, North Dakota: LCMC holds its 4th Annual Gathering at Atonement Lutheran Church. 260 Delegates, Members and Visitors gather in Fargo, North Dakota. The association has expanded to include 105 congregations in 26 states and 17 international congregations -- three in Mexico and 14 in Vietnam -- for a total of 122 member congregations. Both staff persons in our national office in Canton, Michigan, are now full time as inquiries about LCMC continue to expand.
October 2-5, 2005 - Altoona, Iowa: LCMC holds its 5th Annual Gathering at Lutheran Church of the Cross. 315 Delegates, Members and Visitors gather in Altoona, Iowa. The association has expanded to include 119 congregations in 26 states and 42 international congregations -- three in Mexico, 14 in Vietnam and 25 in India-- for a total of 161 member congregations.
October 1-4, 2006 - Albuquerque, New Mexico: The association celebrates its first five years at its 6th Annual Gathering. Nearly 300 delegates and visitors enjoy the southwest hospitality of our host congregation. The 183 member congregations of the association represent 32 states in the USA and 6 other countries around the world.
October 7-10, 2007 - Arden Hills, Minnesota: Celebrating another milestone in its growth, the association passes the 200 mark in member congregations, as 350 delegates and visitors from our 210 congregations gather under the banner of "Teach Us to Pray" at North Heights Lutheran Church. The Thrivent Foundations adds LCMC to the list of church bodies it supports by giving a grant of $25,000 to LCMC to help support our growing ministry.
