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| Lutheran Theology A Lutheran is a person who believes, teaches and confesses the truths of God's Word as they are summarized and confessed in the Book of Concord." The Book of Concord contains the Lutheran confessions of faith. When people are received into membership into a Lutheran congregation through confirmation they are asked if they confess the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as they have learned to know it from the Small Catechism, to be faithful and true. Ecumenical Creeds: The three ecumenical creeds in the Book of Concord are the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed. They are described as "ecumenical" [universal] because they are accepted by Christians worldwide as correct expressions of what God's Word teaches. Augsburg Confession: In the year 1530, the Lutherans were required to present their confession of faith before the emperor in Augsburg, Germany. Philip Melanchthon wrote the Augsburg Confession and it was read before the imperial court on June 30, 1530. One year later, the Lutherans presented their defense of the Augsburg Confession, which is what "apology" here means. It too was written by Philip Melanchthon. The largest document in the Book of Concord, its longest chapter, is devoted to the most important truth of the Christian faith: the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Small and Large Catechisms: Martin Luther realized early on how desperately ignorant the laity and clergy of his day were when it came to even the most basic truths of the Christian faith. Around 1530, he produced two small handbooks to help pastors and the heads of families teach the faith. The Small Catechism and the Large Catechism are organized around six topics: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. So universally accepted were these magnificent doctrinal summaries by Luther, that they were included as part of the Book of Concord. In 1537, Martin Luther was asked to prepare a statement of Lutheran belief for use at a church council, if it was called. Luther's bold confession of faith was later incorporated into the Book of Concord. It was presented to a group of Lutheran rulers meeting in the town of Smalcald. Philip Melanchthon was asked to expand on the subject of the Roman pope and did so in his treatise, which also was included in the Book of Concord. The Formula of Concord: After Luther's death in 1546, significant controversies broke out in the Lutheran Church. After much debate and struggle, the Formula of Concord in 1577 put an end to these doctrinal controversies and the Lutheran Church was able to move ahead united in what it believed, taught and confessed. In 1580, all the confessional writings mentioned here were gathered into a single volume, the Book of Concord. Concord is a word that means, "harmony." The connection between the Bible and the Confessions: We confess that, "The Word of God is and should remain the sole rule and norm of all doctrine" (FC SD, Rule and Norm, 9). What the Bible asserts, God asserts. What the Bible commands, God commands. The authority of the Scriptures is complete, certain and final. The Scriptures are accepted by the Lutheran Confessions as the actual Word of God. The Lutheran Confessions urge us to believe the Scriptures for "they will not lie to you" (LC, V, 76) and cannot be "false and deceitful" (FC SD, VII, 96). The Bible is God's "pure, infallible, and unalterable Word" (Preface to the BOC). The Lutheran Confessions are the "basis, rule, and norm indicating how all doctrines should be judged in conformity with the Word of God" (FC SD RN). Because the Confessions are in complete doctrinal agreement with the written Word of God, they serve as the standard in the Lutheran Church to determine what is faithful Biblical teaching, insofar as that teaching is addressed in the Confessions. What is the main point of the Lutheran Confessions? The Lutheran Reformation was not a "revolt," but rather began as a sincere expression of concern with the false and misleading teachings, which, unfortunately, even to this very day, obscure the glory and merit of Jesus Christ. What motivated Luther was a zealous concern about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel teaches that we receive from God the forgiveness of sins; that is, that the Son of God, our Lord Christ, has taken upon Himself the curse of the law and borne it, atoned and paid for all our sins; that through Him alone we are restored to God's grace, obtain the forgiveness of sins through faith and are delivered from death and all the punishments of our sins and are saved eternally. . . . It is good news, joyous news, that God does not want to punish sin but to forgive it for Christ's sake (FC SD, V, 20).
 The Reverend Paul Fry Dip. Theology RNA Chaplain and Bereavement Minister Reverend Paul has over 20 years experience as a Lutheran Parish Pastor, having cared for three parishes and their congregations in the Home Counties since 1985. Reverend Paul completed his diploma in theology at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England Seminary in Cambridge. Former editor of the 'British Lutheran' Reverend Paul took full advantage of continuing education and has trained in marriage counselling and Family Issues. We are delighted to link with his vast pastoral experience in the area of Family Issues and Bereavement Ministry. 
The Royal Naval Association granted it's Royal Charter in 1954 is the principal Naval Association recognised by the Admiralty Board and is a Registered Charity.Membership is open to all serving and ex-service members of the Naval Forces including the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, QARNNS, WRNS, Reserves and all ranks and specialisation’s. In addition, anyone who is in sympathy with the objects of the Association may join as an Associate Member.
Today the RN Association has a membership of 22,500 in over 400 Branches - including some overseas. Established to further the efficiency and well being of the Service, preserve its traditions and encourage recruiting. To foster comradeship and "esprit de corps" amongst those who have served or are serving in Our Naval Forces. To provide facilities for bringing Members together. To perpetuate the memory of those members of our Naval Forces who have died; in the service of their country. To provide relief from conditions of need, hardship or distress, to persons who serve in or have served in Our Naval Forces and all dependants of such persons. To advise and assist Members in their search for employment. To advise Members and their dependants on personal matters, such as pensions, compensation, health and social security benefits and other subjects affecting their welfare.
Rev'd Paul is Chaplain for the Roydon division of the RNA.
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