You are absolutely right Don in that some synods are extremely conservative and strict in their interpretations(exactly the kind of places where Ave Maria would be verboten), while others are not. We were ALC/LCA when we moved to town nearly forty years ago, and the Missouri Synod folks wouldn't even let us in the door. Still, I believe they recite the same creeds and while practices and traditions may be quite different the underlying tenents of faith are more similar than they are different.
And Guest -please excuse my lack of manners in not extending my sympathies to you previously.