Symbols

Can there be any stronger symbol of Christian identity than the cross?
Surely it is symbolic of the despair and grief of sin. Yet as an empty cross,
it is symbolic of hope, joy, and promise that God himself suffered and
overcame the wages of sin through Jesus Christ.

The logo for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod appropriately continues the
symbolism of the cross. Three crosses are yet one cross, recalling the "Unity in Trinity
and the Trinity in Unity" confessed in the Athanasian Creed.

The official seal of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod is a unique
blend of symbols and words.

In the center is:

a blue shield, representing the Christian's faith;
a prominent gold cross proclaiming that we preach Jesus Christ crucified and risen
from the dead;
Latin words under the cross reading "Jesus Christ is Lord";
three equilateral gold crosses symbolizing the Holy Trinity;
three gold stars on the shield standing for the three Christian creeds: the Apostolic,
the Nicene and the Athanasian.
Beneath the shield is Luther's seal (see description).
Three gold stars on each side of the shield stand for the six Lutheran Confessions
that were published in one book, titled "Concordia," in 1580.
Grape vines fill the bottom white spaces, symbolizing Christ's words in John 15:5.
Around the inner circle are the words on which Lutheranism is founded: Sola
Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide (by Scripture alone, by grace alone, by faith
alone).
The exterior circle contains the proper name of the church and the year it was
founded--1847.

The seal was designed is by Rev. A.R. Kretzmann of Chicago; the drawing is by Walter
Geweke, also of Chicago.

Dr. Martin Luther's seal expresses his theology and his faith.
He designed it himself.

In the center is a black cross indicative of Christ's dreadful

sacrifice on the cross for every sinner who ever lived.

The cross is in the center of a red heart, to show that faith causes love, joy and
peace to grow in the human heart.
The the red heart is on a white rose (Luther's favorite flower) because white is the
color of angels and blessed spirits.
The white rose is against a blue-sky background to symbolize the Christian's hope
for the coming joys of heaven.
The seal is enclosed in a gold ring, showing that the bliss of heaven is unending.

Luther's seal is not used as an official symbol of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.
However, it is incorporated into the Synod's official seal to show our acceptance of
Luther's doctrines. The seal has been used by Lutherans worldwide.

If you have questions regarding any of the logos above, to request a logo on disk (specify
Macintosh or IBM format), or to request a Graphic Standards Manual, please contact:

Linda Rupert
LCMS Communication Services
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
(800) 248-1930, Ext. 1220