In 1972, most of the Confessional Lutheran Church bodies in West Germany united to form the SELK.

In 1991, the East German Evangelisch-Lutherische (altlutherische) Kirche (the Evangelical-Lutheran (Old-Lutheran) Church) joined the SELK.

The SELK bases its teaching on the Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, which it confesses to be God's inerrant and infallible Word.

These Confessions are: The SELK has declined to join the Lutheran World Federation, viewing that body as theologically too liberal.

This is in contrast to the German mainline Protestant churches, which do ordain women to ministry and allow the blessing of gay couples.

The main office of the SELK is in Hannover and is managed by the executive church council, since January 2024 and currently Daniel Soluk.