What is the Lutheran Confessional Church of Sweden and Norway (LBK)?

The Lutheran Confessional Church of Sweden and Norway (Lutherska Bekännelsekyrkan, LBK) is a free church (that is, not associated with the Church of Sweden), which believes, teaches and confesses that the Bible is God’s Word and therefore completely reliable and without error throughout.  The Bible is the only norm, rule and guide for faith, doctrine and life.  No other writings, whether older or younger, can be placed on an equal footing with the Holy Scriptures, but must submit to them.  All other writings are nothing more than a witness to how the doctrine of the prophets and apostles has been preserved after the apostles’ day.

The LBK confesses also all the symbolical books which are collected in the Book of Concord of 1580 (the confessional writings of the Lutheran church) because these confessions are in full agreement with God’s Word.

The LBK intends, therefore, to see to it that all doctrines of God’s Word are proclaimed purely and clearly in its congregations and that nothing is taught or tolerated which is in conflict with God’s Word.

The LBK desires through a correct use of the Word and sacraments to proclaim for all people the salvation which has come in and through Christ Jesus.

The LBK teaches, in harmony with Scriptures, that the entire church and every congregation should be united in everything which God’s Word teaches and should not allow within themselves factions and groups which are disunited in doctrine.  Where false doctrine appears, it should be removed through church and doctrinal discipline.

The LBK does not claim to be a “pure” church in the sense that it is made up only of true believers.  For God alone knows all people’s hearts.  Because we know that we are sinful and corrupt people, we understand that we need the pure and clear Word of God, which assures us of our sins’ forgiveness.  We have found this pure and clear Word of God in the Holy Bible, and from it we cannot budge even a hair’s breadth.  Just, as Luther says, “the doctrine is not ours, but God’s, and we are called to be his servants.  Therefore we cannot waver or change the smallest point of doctrine.”

The LBK was founded in 1974, but it is by no means something new.  The LBK follows the norms and guiding truths which the Christian Church has followed from the earliest days of the New Testament.  These truths were restored through the Lutheran Reformation, and continue to be valid right up until today.

The LBK enjoys church fellowship with many churches around the world, including the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) in the United States, and the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (ELFK) in Germany.  Other European sister-churches include the Evangelical Lutheran Confessional Church of Finland, the Confessional Lutheran Church in Latvia, the Ukrainian Lutheran Church, and the Bulgarian Lutheran Church.  The LBK is a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), a worldwhile fellowship of churches united by their common faith and confession.  We hope that all, both our adversaries and our friends, will find that in everything we hold fast to God’s Word and are united in our confession of its truth.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 15:5-6).