Cross of Christ Lutheran Church is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (external link). The Missouri Synod was founded in 1847 by 12 pastors representing 15 congregations. The majority of the men and women represented by these congregations had left Germany, seeking freedom from the religious rationalism of the day in the new world. Today, with over 6,150 congregations and 9,000 professional church workers, the Missouri Synod is the second largest Lutheran body in North America, and the 11th largest denomination in the United States. You can find out more about the Missouri Synod by reading a document prepared by the Synod entitled "An Introduction to the LCMS" (external link, PDF).