What is the purpose of a church library? What kinds of books should be included? How should a church library be used? Read Pastor Erin Tormanen’s answers to these questions as he tells the story of redeveloping a church library with his congregation in Stanley, ND.

Throughout the Bible, we are called to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God. For the Christian, this growth is essential for increasing our ability and desire to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” In his letter to the church in Colossae, the apostle Paul writes, “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:9-10).

A church library can be an invaluable resource in this endeavor. However, like many other congregations, our library needed updating. As we explored the possibilities, we took into account the following factors to determine what those updates should entail. The first of those factors was our church’s mission statement, which quotes the teachings of Ephesians 4:12: “To win souls for Christ, by the ministry of the Word and Sacraments; and to ‘equip the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.’” The second factor related to ensuring that the library was a trusted resource—one that reflected the Lutheran understanding of Bible doctrine and how that translates to everyday life. The library would need to be a reliable resource and theologically sound study center for Sunday school teachers, Bible study leaders, pastors, future seminary interns, and laypeople. The third factor was to provide a resource center for the homeschool co-op that meets weekly in our church. In order to meet the previous two factors, the library would need books and materials fit for all ages and degrees of spiritual maturity. 

As we considered these factors, the overarching theme that I already alluded to was ensuring that our library reflected a Lutheran understanding and interpretation of Scripture, while at the same time providing appropriate materials from other denominational interpretations for those interested in studying the differences. 

A well-structured and equipped library can play an important role in the personal, spiritual, educational, and community life of a congregation. Its value extends far beyond simply being a place that houses books. It can and should serve as a resource-center, providing materials and information that support and contribute to the life of the congregation and those that walk through the church doors.

To assist in fulfilling this outcome, we needed a wide selection of materials, and in sourcing these materials, we looked to numerous suppliers. For Lutheran-specific printed materials, we turned primarily to the AFLC’s own Ambassador Publications and Concordia Publishing House. The majority of our commentaries and other theological works were sourced from these two publishers. For creation and origin-related materials, which included print and video materials, we turned primarily to Answers in Genesis. Numerous other sources were used in supplying materials that related to prayer, devotion, ethics, discipleship, youth, marriage, grief, counseling, parenting, etc. We found that locating solid, Bible-based resources on these topics was the most challenging, because of the plethora of materials that speak to these topics and claim to be “Christian.” Many, after closer inspection, were found to be inconsistent with Christian teaching.

In taking on this project, our desire was to establish a church library that provides access to Bibles, devotionals, commentaries, theological works, and materials that assist in the deepening of faith and equipping of the saints for a Christ-centered life. Our hope is that the library will encourage personal Bible study and spiritual growth, and support teaching, discipleship, and evangelism. Another important aspect of our library is the preservation of our congregation’s heritage, both as an individual congregation and as a member of a larger denomination. Thus, resources that supported this preservation needed to be made easily accessible as well.

By investing in a well-equipped and theologically sound library, and by offering materials suitable for children, youth, and adults, we hope that the library will help foster a culture of continued learning and discovery among all age groups. Our library was designed with the desire that it would be a welcoming, engaging, and comfortable space where members and non-members alike can gather to learn and grow in their understanding and knowledge of the things of God.  

Pastor Erin Tormanen serves on the Parish Education board and as pastor both of Our Savior’s Free Lutheran Church and First English Church of Lostwood, Stanley, ND.