Ecclesiological Succession in the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Churches

Jāna Jēruma-Grīnberga Written against the background of discussion, argument and even legal action between the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad, this paper discusses the nature of succession in the ecclesiastic context. A distinction is made between the legal recognition of a church entity, and its identity as a body within the Universal Church. The integrity and apostolic character of any church body is not dependent on its recognition or the lack of it by secular state authorities.