From The Illinois Lutheran Conference Constitution:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this group shall be called:

ILLINOIS LUTHERAN CONFERENCE

__________________________________________________________

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Conference is threefold:

1. The conservation and promotion of true orthodoxy in the unity of the true faith

Ephesians 4:3-6 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

1 Corinthians 1:10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

And a united defense against schism and sectarianism

Romans 16:17 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

2. The maintenance of joint missionary activity wherever our gracious Lord may direct us

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

3. And the establishment of a school or schools where servants of the Lord may be trained for the perpetuation among us of the preaching and teaching ministry of the orthodox Lutheran Church

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

_________________________________________________________

ARTICLE III

DOCTRINAL POSITION

The Illinois Lutheran Conference accepts all the canonical books of the Bible as the sole source of doctrine and practice in it's midst. We also recognize and accept the Ecumenical Creeds:

• The Apostles' Creed
• The Nicene Creed
• The Athanasian Creed

• The Unaltered Augsburg Confession
• The Apology of the same
• The Smalcald Articles
• Luther's Catechism, Small and Large
• The Formula of Concord

• Brief Statement of the Missouri Synod (1932)

According to this standard of confession all doctrinal controversies which may arise in the Conference shall be judged and decided.

_________________________________________________________

ARTICLE IV

BOOKS

We pledge ourselves exclusively to the use of the King James Version of the Bible (1611) in all our church services, instruction classes, mission activities; in short, in every forum, manner or place where our congregations meet. Any congregation, pastor or teacher of the Conference who chooses to use a translation other than the King James Version or one proved and approved by the conference to be equal to it, forfeits at once it's and/or his membership in the Conference.

In clarification, we hold to the King James Version of 1611 because it is by far the most reliable and faithful English translation of the Bible. We are opposed to the usage of new translations because all those of which we have knowledge err seriously in basic doctrinal points. We readily agree that, should a new translation be made which is faithful to the truth, we would offer no opposition to its use providing the New Testament is based on the Greek Textus Receptus. Before any such translation may be used among us it must be proved to be doctrinally equal to the King James Version of 1611 in faithfulness, integrity, fitness for use, and be approved by all congregations, pastors, and teachers of the Conference. The adoption of its use, if approved, would be by a two-thirds majority vote of the full Conference.

The Conference also pledges itself to the use of the 1943 Concordia edition of Luther's Small Catechism in the instruction of our Confirmation classes. The Conference also pledges itself to the use of the 1941 Concordia edition of "The Lutheran Hymnal".

_________________________________________________________

ARTICLE V

MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Illinois Lutheran Conference is open to all Lutheran congregations, pastors, and male teachers who subscribe to Articles I, ii, iii, iv, and v of this constitution. Congregations, pastors, and male teachers will be proposed for acceptance as members of the Conference after completing an interview with a theological screening committee of the Conference. Full membership in the Conference will take place when the pastors, teachers, and lay delegates of the Conference meet in the summer Convocation.

To obtain a copy of our constitution and bylaws or other Free publications, click here

To see the listing of ILC congregations, click here