Lutherans Alert-National through Its Publication Exposed the Apostasy Planned for the American Lutheran Church

Abstract

James C. Bourman’s essay examines the theological shift within The American Lutheran Church (ALC) during the 1960s and 1970s, as exposed by the publication Lutherans Alert–National (LAN). Bourman details how LAN, founded by concerned ALC pastors, documented the church’s departure from biblical inerrancy and confessional Lutheran doctrine. Central to the controversy were publications like Called to Be Human and The Bible: Book of Faith, which embraced higher criticism and questioned foundational teachings such as creation, prophecy, and scriptural inspiration. Bourman highlights the efforts of Dr. E.A. Sagebiel and others to resist this doctrinal erosion, revealing a deliberate plan by ALC leadership to alter confessional standards without informing the laity. Through convention resolutions and theological education, the ALC’s leadership sought to reshape its doctrinal identity. Bourman’s work serves as a historical warning and a call to vigilance in preserving confessional integrity. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)