The organization of this website is defined by its home page. The information and functionality has been broken up into two categories represented by the two trees on the home page. The "For everyone" tree is intended for use by everyone, from the unbeliever, to the untrained congregational member to the knowledgable members of the congregation, including the pastor. The "For those seeking deeper study/understanding" tree is not intended for the casual user, although he is welcome to use it, but for those individuals seeking a deeper understanding and willing to undertake a deeper commitment.

"For everyone" and "For those seeking deeper study/understanding"

Within the two primary nodes, "For everyone" and "For those seeking deeper study/understanding", the subnodes are ordered consistently although the top tree ("For everyone") contains fewer subnodes than the bottom tree ("For those seeking deeper study/understanding"). The organization of these subnodes are:

Interactive Q&A

"Interactive Q&A" being at the top of this set of nodes is based on the expectation that, for at least some users, this is as far as they will get. Their curiosity may lead them to ask some questions and, if the answers pique their interest, they may delve into one of more of the other nodes. For all users, including even pastors, the interactive Q&A functionality may be frequently used as this node typically provides the easiest way of getting an answer to a question.

What we believe

For the very casual user, if the answers to his questions increase his desire to know more, then he may access the "What we believe" node that only appears at the top to find out more about what the LCMS believes. Alternatively, for the more serious user, the topics in this node offer a refresher course in what the LCMS believes. Remember that Martin Luther advocated for regular reviews of the contents of the catechism so reviewing the information in this node should probably be done on a recurring basis even by the more experienced users.

Churches

The "Churches" node appears in both trees. In the top tree, this node is intended to help the user, most likely a casual user but perhaps a more serious user visiting or relocating to a new area, to locate an LCMS church or school in the area. The "Churches" subnode in the bottom tree exposes articles for helping churches take advantage of the latest technology and also enables access to church information for all the LCMS churches in the United States (a separate topic with its own article).

The Bible, the Book of Concord and the Lutheran Hymnal

The next three nodes only appear in the bottom tree. These nodes correspond to the primary books in the life of a Lutheran Christian, the Bible, the Book of Concord and the Lutheran hymnal. Since these books are fundamental to the beliefs and worship life of Lutherans, they are logical choices for organizing information and functionality (as the serious Lutheran should know what to expect inside each of these nodes).

The Internet

"The Internet" node is the home for the data and functionality that doesn't naturally fit into one of the other categories (nodes). As such, the logical place for it might seem to be at the bottom, instead of the middle, of this list. However, as it turns out, almost all the functionality exposed through this node is very closely related to the Christian life, so its proximity to that node makes sense. Also, since it is a thing just like the Bible, the Book of Concord and the Lutheran hymnal, the decision was made to place it with the other "things".

The Christian life

"The Christian life" shifts the focus from external things (the Bible, the Book of Concord, the hymnal, the Internet) to internal things, to the life of the Lutheran Christian. Its location is primarily driven by the top tree ("For everyone") as the nodes in that tree follow the logical progression in the life of a new Christian (ask questions, find out what is believed, locate a church, lead the life of a Christian).

Outreach

The "Outreach" node shifts the focus to the Great Commission, to the call made to all Christians to share their faith with those around them. This node has a dual focus, (1) how the church can, as a body, reach out to their community and (2) how Christians, in their personal lives, can do the same.

Search, Q&A and History

The next three nodes are research-oriented (although all the nodes are, to some extent, also research-oriented). The "Search" node (only bottom tree) is topic-oriented whereas the "Q&A" nodes (both trees) are question-oriented. The questions asked via the Q&A nodes tend to be more specific (than the topics exposed via the search node) and, therefore, the answers also tend to be more specific. The History node focuses specifically on historical events and people.

Libraries

The "Libraries" node exposes library functionality within this website. This is one area in which there will likely be major enhancements in the future.

Learning games

The "Learning games" node contains a number of entertaining games that also are educational. Fewer and simpler games are available via this node in the top tree. More games and more complicated versions of the games in the top tree are available via the bottom tree.