Theologically conservative Lutherans are set to launch the nation's newest church denomination Friday.

The organization will be known as the North American Lutheran Church.

This comes a year after the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America began allowing non-celibate homosexual pastors to serve in its congregations. As many as 200 congregations have voted to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church over the issue.

The North American Lutheran Church will begin with 18 charter member churches.

The Lutheran CORE is one of the reform groups helping the new denomination to get started.

Rev. Mark Chavez is director of the Lutheran CORE. He said the break in the church has come, because the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America departed from the authority of the Bible.

"In a very formal way, the ELCA has begun teaching people that it's ok to divide up the Bible to put God's words against Himself. And in particular, His words regarding not just matters involving sexual behavior and sexual relationship, but all matters of morality and ethics," Chavez told CBN News.