It was formed in 1973 as an oppositional group of clergy following sweeping victories by Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus II (J.
A. O. Preus II) and the LCMS's conservative wing, known as Confessional Lutherans, at the synod's 1973 convention in New Orleans.
The fight between the Confessional Lutherans and the liberals, most of whom held membership in ELIM, is commonly referred to as the Battle for the Bible.
[3] For several years, ELIM published a newsletter entitled Missouri in Perspective, intended to provide liberal commentary on synodical affairs.
The organization survived as a cross-denominational group (composed of AELC and liberal LCMS members) until the ELCA came into existence in 1988.