Quick Facts
Founded
Unknown
Denomination
Lutheran (LCMS)
Service Times
Sunday mornings (check website)
Men's Ministry
No
Kids Ministry
No
10-Point Theological Scorecard
Christology
Is Jesus the only way? (John 14:6)
Not stated on available sources — ELCA-level Christology nominally orthodox but progressive trajectory.
Caution
Scripture
Inerrancy affirmed? Final authority?
ELCA progressive hermeneutic — red per rubric.
WARNING!
Men's Discipleship
Intentional formation for men?
No men's ministry mentioned; red per rubric.
WARNING!
Soteriology
Faith alone? How is salvation presented?
Not stated on available sources — verify.
Caution
Gender / Biblical Design
Biblical manhood and womanhood by God's design — patriarchal, complementarian, egalitarian, or affirming gender ideology?
ELCA ordains women; church is Reconciling in Christ (LGBTQ-affirming and trans-affirming). Black per rubric.
Verify
Disqualifier
Leadership Structure
Male elders/pastors? Accountability?
Rev. Michael Fick (male) pastor since 2011; ELCA polity.
WARNING!
Preaching Style
Expository or topical/therapeutic?
Not stated on available sources — verify.
Caution
Mission Clarity
Great Commission central?
ELCA / RIC mission prioritizes inclusion alongside gospel — red per rubric (social-justice framing).
WARNING!
Cultural Alignment
DEI/CRT language? Social justice crowding out gospel?
'Reconciling in Christ community of faith' celebrating LGBTQ+ individuals and families — black per rubric.
Disqualifier
Accountability Structure
Denominational home, elder plurality, or external network — is the pastor answerable to anyone?
ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) — mainline, LGBTQ-affirming at denominational level. Black per rubric (liberal mainline).
Disqualifier
Assessment
Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Chicago — LCMS congregation. Full theological review pending.
#lcms#lutheran#chicago#illinois#conservative#needs-review
Sources & Evidence
Enrichment Notes
CRITICAL DATA ERROR in directory: listed as LCMS but is ELCA + Reconciling in Christ (LGBTQ-affirming). Downgrade from yellow to black.
These are the URLs consulted to arrive at this church's scoring. Score-note claims are synthesized from homepage content, denominational directories, and public statements of faith at the time of review. Church websites change frequently; we're progressively adding Internet Archive snapshots to prevent link rot.
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[1] Live source
ebenezerchurch.org
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[2] Live source
chicagowelcomingchurches.org/partners/ebenezerlutheran.php
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[3] Live source
elm.org/2010/10/14/rev-erik-christensen-received-onto-elc…
Transparency note: MOOP ratings are researcher judgments about publicly available theological and ecclesial evidence. They are not infallible. If a church's public posture has changed since our review, or if we've mis-read evidence, tell us — we publish corrections.
Last reviewed:
2026-05-16
— Annual review recommended
Chicago, IL
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