Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be Lutheran to join?

The Lutheran Network is not so exclusive that we require all members be Lutheran. We do, however, ask that you assent to the following when creating an account:

I believe in the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I affirm the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and authoritative Word of God and will hold in esteem the Lutheran Confessions (contained in the Book of Concord). I commit to conduct myself in this community in a way that honors Christ and builds up our fellowship in faith, that we might stand and strive together for the Gospel.

Our shared faith in the Triune God and affirmation of the authority of God’s Word is foundational to our confession. Thus, we do ask your agreement in this.

We acknowledge that both confessing Lutherans and those seeking to learn about our common Lutheran confession will benefit from this community. With this in mind, we don’t explicitly ask that you agree to the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions, but do ask that you honor, respect, and be open to learning from those confessions and from those professing them.

Consider our common confession:

As confessional Lutherans, we hold to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and infallible Word of God—our sole authority for faith and life. Everything we believe, teach, and confess flows from this divine foundation. We also affirm the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord (1580) as the true and faithful exposition of Scripture. These confessions include the three ancient creeds (Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian), the Augsburg Confession, the Apology of the Augsburg Confession, the Smalcald Articles, the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope, Luther's Small and Large Catechisms, and the Formula of Concord.

These confessional writings unite us around the central truth of the Gospel: that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. They guide our understanding of the Sacraments, the Church, and Christian life, distinguishing Lutheran teaching from other traditions while maintaining the catholic (universal) Christian faith. By affirming these beliefs, we stand together in the heritage passed down through generations of faithful Christians who have treasured God's Word and its clear proclamation.

Why do I need an invite to join?

Practically speaking, locking down the registration form in this way prevents bot accounts from signing up.

We also consider this a good friction that encourages a level of intentionality and commitment by those inviting others into the space. We believe this space can prove a great blessing to our congregations, but the true success of this network is up to us all.

Do we really need another online communication platform?

Yes. The usual suspects of Facebook, X ,and TikTok are destroying us. We need a healthier alternative. The Lutheran Network aims to provide that and restore a faith-founded space for our social relationships with one another in the church (albeit digital). Our conversations with one another need not be gilded with an algorithmic onslaught of ads and sensational content. Let’s reclaim some calm.

Can anyone create a community?

Yes. Any member can create a community. To account for infrastructure costs and support maintainers of the network, communities do require a paid subscription. In its simplest form, a small community group of 5 users with 500 collective minutes of video time would cost $2/mo.

How many group channels can I create for a community?

Community groups are priced at $1/group/month. You can add any number of groups to your community subscription.

When hosting meetings and presentations, do participants need to have an account?

No. After creating a meeting or presentation within your community group, the host and owner of the community will have the ability to copy and share a host link, meeting participant link, and presentation viewer link. Anyone with that link will be able to view the content of the created post and join in on the meeting or presentation.

Can I record my meetings and presentations?

Not at this time, but we are researching how this might be possible.

Is my data secure?

The body content of all posts and comments is encrypted at rest in the database.

Who's behind this thing?

The Lutheran Network is built, hosted, and maintained by @joshuavandercar, a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He can be reached by emailing support@lutheran.network or joshua@typewheel.xyz. Many thanks to his family and friends who have also been instrumental in pushing the project forward.