The ILF was incorporated in 1967, in the state of North Dakota. Its original purpose was to assist Lutherans in the work of evangelism and ecumenism by providing them with a church home.

As a more comprehensive and universal Christian sense of priorities grew from the member-ship, these features also proved attractive to both clergy and laity who did not feel at home in other Lutheran church bodies. The Lutheran identity of the body within the Universal Christian/catholic Church was emphasized and re-affirmed. 

The General Synod of 2004 affirmed the Lutheran understanding of the evangelical catholic identity of the ILF in two major ways. First, the ILF Constitution was amended with revisions reflecting and embodying the re-affirmed Lutheran and universal Christian (catholic) identity. Second, all ILF clergy attending the Synod reaffirmed holy orders and received the laying-on-of-hands by then Presiding Bishop C. George Fry and by Bishop John Brown of the “Old Catholic” body known as Christ Catholic Church International. All bishops of the ILF and many of our our ecumenical partners in ministry stand in apostolic succession, joining the Swedish Lutheran, Anglican and Orthodox expressions of the unity of the universal Christian/catholic faith.

In ecclesiastical polity, the ILF retains the historic threefold office of ministry, bishop, presbyter/priest, and deacon. However, this understanding of the role of apostolic sucession in no way indicates that the ILF does not fully respect the ministries of those who do not share this sucession, For us, the sucession is a sign of the unity and continuity of Christ's Church, and is useful as such. The care of souls is the only concern of this body of Christian faithful. 

The ILF is solidly Lutheran and orthodox in its confession of the Sacred Scriptures, the ancient ecumenical creeds, and the Book of Concord, and thus catholic in its high regard for the Sacraments and the historic order of the Church.

Above all, we are Christian, striving to preach teach and serve in the name of Jesus Christ.

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