† Our Guiding Principles †
Called → Empowered → Sent
CALLED through the Gospel to be a nuturting, dynamic community, celebrating God’s presence in our lives, and sharing with all, God’s abundant grace in Jesus Christ.
EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit, grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we seek to listen, trust and boldly act on God’s message as individuals and as a fellowship of believers.
SENT as a community of faith, we:
1. Believe that through God’s grace all are loved and forgiven
2. Welcome, include, and respect all of God’s children
3. Nurture our members’ spiritual growth in order to live the Gospel
4. Minister compassionately to each other in our individual brokenness
5. Assist each other in identifying and sharing our unique gifts
6. Share God’s abounding love with innovation, while honoring our tradition
7. Serve the needs of our church and the greater community
† Our Beliefs †
The Christian Church
The Christian Church is made up of those who have been baptized and have received Christ. It is through Christ that we are directed to God’s love that makes us new and different people. Lutherans believe that they are a part of a community of faith that began with the gift of the Holy Spirit, or God’s presence in people, on the day of Pentecost. The church, regardless of the external form it takes, is the fellowship of those who have been restored to God by Christ. To be called into fellowship with Christ is also to be called into community with other believers.
The church is essential to Christian life and growth. Its members are all sinners in need of God’s grace. It has no claim on human perfection. The church exists solely for the hearing and doing of God’s Word. It can justify its existence only when it proclaims the living Word of Christ, administers the Sacraments and gives itself to the world in deeds of service and love. Most Lutheran Christians recognize a wider fellowship of churches and are eager to work alongside them in ecumenical ministries and projects.
The Lutheran Church
Martin Luther (b. November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, d. February 18, 1546 in Eisleben) is known as the Father of Protestantism. He had studied to become a lawyer before becoming an Augustinian monk in 1505, and was ordained a priest in 1507. While continuing his studies in pursuit of a Doctor of Theology degree, he discovered significant differences between what he read in the Bible and the theology and practices of the church. On October 31, 1517, he posted a challenge on the church door at Wittenberg University to debate 95 theological issues. Luther’s hope was that the church would reform its practice and preaching to be more consistent with the Word of God as contained in the Bible.
What started as an academic debate escalated to a religious war, fueled by fiery temperaments and violent language on both sides. As a result, there was not a reformation of the church but a separation. “Lutheran” was a name applied to Luther and his followers as an insult but adopted as a badge of honor by them instead.
Lutheran Christians still celebrate the Reformation on October 31 and still hold to the basic principles of theology and practice espoused by Luther.
For more information about the Lutheran Church visit “What we Believe” on the ELCA home page.
† Our History †
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
It began with a vision in 1961 of some day organizing a new Lutheran congregation in the small community of West Lake Hills. For that purpose a piece of property located on Bee Cave Road was purchased by the Board of American Missions of the United Lutheran Church in America. By 1976 the increasing population growth in the West Lake Hills area indicated to church leaders that the time was right for the establishment of a new congregation. That year, Pastor Stephen Youngdahl began work as Pastor/Developer of the new LCA congregation. Within six months, worship services were being held, and within a year, Shepherd of the Hills became an official congregation of the Lutheran Church in America.
Even before formal organization, two decisions were made that would guide the church’s development. Benevolence would be a high commitment, starting at 10% of income and increasing each year. Rotation of leadership would be encouraged by limiting the terms of committee chairs and the time Council members must wait before they can serve again. These principals still guide Shepherd of the Hills today.