Lutheranism is a prominent denomination within the Protestant branch of the Christian faith. It is named after the friar and theologian Martin Luther, who inspired the Protestant reformation in sixteenth-century Germany following the publication of his text the Ninety-five Theses, a list of criticisms levelled at the clergy of the Catholic Church.
While Lutheranism originally spread throughout Northern Europe, in particular in Nordic countries such as Denmark and Sweden, today Lutherans are a community who live all over the world. There are significant numbers of Lutherans in Germany, Sweden, and the United States, as well as Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Madagascar. There are more than 100,000 Lutherans who live in the UK, many of whom trace their heritage to Northern Europe or East Africa.
The holy sacraments are central elements of Lutheran theology. Martin Luther taught that the two most important sacraments are the practices of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. Accordingly, Lutherans practice the Baptism of adults as well as children, and believe in the doctrine of the Real Presence, which teaches that Jesus Christ is substantially present when a person receives the Eucharist.
Lutherans, like other Christians, make pilgrimages to the Middle East, visiting the sites of significant biblical events such as Jerusalem and Bethlehem. However, some Lutherans also undertake pilgrimages to Germany, to towns like Wittenberg, where they can connect with the history of the Reformation and the life of Martin Luther who inspired it.
Today, many regional and national Lutheran churches are part of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Globally, the LWF has more than 75 million members, and is the sixth largest Christian communion. Its current president is Henrik Stubkjær, a bishop from the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Denmark. The president of the LWF is elected by delegates who represent the 150 member churches.
Some Lutheran churches, including the Lutheran Church in Great Britain, are also members of the Porvoo Communion. This is an agreement between some Lutheran and Anglican churches, including the Church of England, to enter into full communion with one another. This means that clergy ordained in one member church are recognized by and can serve in another member church without needing to be re-ordained, and that member churches recognise worshippers baptised in other member churches.
Lutheranism is a historic and important Protestant denomination with members all over the world. Lutheranism is distinguished by its emphasis on the sacraments and prevalence in Northern Europe and East Africa, and is a vibrant part of the global religious landscape.