On the outer band of the seal is found the name The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In the center below is Luther's coat of arms, flanked on either side by the year of the founding of the Synod, a.d. 1847. Immediately above Luther's coat of arms appears the word "Concordia." This is the name of the collection of confessional writings drawn together in the book of that name in the year 1580.

The primary emphasis of the seal is the great shield which runs through the center of the seal. The shield is symbolic of the faith of the Christian (Eph. 6:16). On this shield the cross is, of course, central and most emphatic; because the faith and preaching of the Church is centered in Christ Crucified. On the shield there appears in small lettering the earliest creed of the Christians, Jesus Christus Dominus Est - Jesus Christ is Lord - in order that the name Jesus Christ might appear in the very heart of this seal.

Below these letters appear three equilateral crosses, symbolic of the Holy Trinity. In the three corners of the shield are three stars as symbols of the three ecumenical, or universal, creeds - the Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian. The shield itself is set on a pattern of vine and grapes, a reminder of the Savior's words in St. John 15:5. Spaced on each side of the shield, left and right, are six stars, which stand for the six specifically Lutheran Confessions of the Church: (1) The Augsburg Confession, (2) The Apology (Defense) of the Augsburg Confession, (3) The Smalcald Articles, (4) The Small Catechism of Luther, (5) The Large Catechism of Luther, (6) The Formula of Concord.

Around the inner circle are found the great constant Lutheran emphases: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fide ("Scripture Alone, Grace Alone, Faith Alone).

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A Statement from The Office of the President
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
1333 South Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63122
United States of America