Being Lutheran Today: A Layperson’s Guide to Our History, Belief and Practice

Being Lutheran Today: A Layperson’s Guide to Our History, Belief and Practice will help the reader understand what Lutherans believe about the basics of the Christian faith. In easy to read language, you are given a historical perspective of the core beliefs of those who count themselves as Lutherans. The book sets forth the tenets of Lutheran doctrine; what Lutherans generally believe in practice; how to read the Bible; what the sacraments of baptism and Holy Communion are about for Lutherans; the basics of Lutheran worship and the faith of the church expressed in the Apostles’ Creed.

The Rev. Dr. Derald H. Edwards has been an ELCA pastor since 1983. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Newberry College and his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. He formerly served as the Associate Pastor in Evangelism at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Columbia, South Carolina; pastor of Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church in Saluda, South Carolina.; pastor of Mt. Hermon Lutheran Church, West Columbia, South Carolina; Living Springs Lutheran Church, Columbia, South Carolina; Healthcare Care Administrator of the Rice Home and the Heritage at Lowman, both continuing care communities of Lutheran Homes of South Carolina; and pastor of Pomaria and St. John Lutheran Churches in Pomaria, South Carolina. Rev. Dr. Edwards is currently the Chaplain at the Heritage at Lowman, Dean of Chaplains at LHSC, and author of The Baby Boomer Challenge: Americas Searching Generation. The Rev. Carsten J. Ludder was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He earned his Associate of Arts degree from the University of Florida and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Lenoir Rhyne College. He was a Marketing Representative for the IBM Corporation in Miami before attending seminary at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. Pastor Ludder has served as Senior Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Miami, Florida, and All Saints Lutheran Church in Orlando, Florida. He currently serves as an interim pastor through the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the ELCA.