The three largest Lutheran church bodies in America are:

	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (founded in 1988)
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (founded in 1847)
	Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (founded in 1850)

Historical Roots of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Two Brief Histories of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS):

Illustrated 150th Anniversary LCMS History (at Concordia Historical Institute website)

Intro to LCMS article (includes history and beliefs)

The Aid Association for Lutherans explains why Lutherans established their own insurance companies early in the twentieth century.

LCMS statement on Close(d) Communion

LCMS statement on (against) the ordination of women