# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S152
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

5. THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
independent confessional Lutheran church body which, in
turn, requests a recognition of church fellowship with the
Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the President of Synod, upon the
recommendation of the CTCR, may be empowered to
declare fellowship with a self-governing, confessional
Lutheran church body that is established as a result of the
mission efforts or the reorganization of a confessional
Lutheran partner church of the LCMS; and be it further
Resolved, That Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 be amended as follows:
PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING
3.9.5.2.2 The Commission on Theology and Church
Relations shall assist the President of the Synod at his
request in discharging his constitutional responsibilities for
maintaining doctrinal integrity as he relates to other church
bodies.
(a) It shall address itself to and evaluate existing
fellowship relations for the purpose of mutual
admonition and encouragement.
(b) When a church body applies for formal recognition
of altar and pulpit fellowship with the Synod, such
recognition shall be proposed at a convention of the
Synod only after the approval of the commission.
(c) When a small, formative, emerging confessional
Lutheran church body (identified as such by the
President of the Synod as chief ecumenical officer)
requests recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with
the Synod, after consultation with the Praesidium and
approval by the commission, such recognition may be
declared by the President of the Synod subject to the
endorsement of the subsequent Synod convention.
(d) When a mission of the Synod applies for formal
recognition as a self-governing partner church, such
recognition shall be proposed at convention of the Synod
by the Board for International Mission with the approval
of the commission.
(e) When an entity (e.g., a district, mission, group of
congregations, etc.) of a self-governing partner church is
established as an independent church body in altar and
pulpit fellowship with that partner church body, and
subsequently requests recognition of altar and pulpit
fellowship with Synod, such recognition may be declared
by the President of Synod, after consultation with the
Praesidium and approval by the commission, subject to
the endorsement of the subsequent Synod convention.

Action: Adopted (6)
Without discussion, the resolution was adopted [Yes: 852; No:
46].

152 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION

To Clarify the Relationship between
LCMS Partner Churches
and the Lutheran World Federation
RESOLUTION 5-07
Overtures 5-07–08 (CW, 429–31)

Preamble
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) “is a global
communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition,
representing over 74 million Christians in 98 countries.”
And it declares of itself that its member churches “share a
vision, purpose, and values. We work to strengthen our
relationships and build an inclusive, respectful
communion. We are on a common journey of renewal
shaped and enriched by the different contexts within which
we live” (www.lutheranworld.org/content/about-lwf). Article
III of the LWF Constitution states, “The Lutheran World
Federation is a communion of churches which confess the
triune God, agree in the proclamation of the Word of God
and are united in pulpit and altar fellowship.” The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) is not a member of the
LWF. The LCMS is a member of the International Lutheran
Council (ILC), which is not a communion fellowship.
However, the majority of ILC member churches are partner
churches of the LCMS with whom we share altar and pulpit
fellowship. The LCMS currently has 35 official partner
churches and 44 “allied church bodies,” which have some
degree of partnership but do not yet have altar and pulpit
fellowship. An additional 16 “emerging church bodies”
have made contact with the LCMS to learn more about its
doctrine and practice.
The LCMS has remained faithful and continues to confess
the truth of God’s Word as its members subscribe
unconditionally to the Book of Concord. By contrast, the
LWF has advocated for women’s ordination, acceptance of
the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) lifestyle,
and the use of a higher critical approach to interpreting
Scripture. As a result of its confessional subscription
(Constitution Article II), the LCMS has not joined the LWF.
The fact that some partner churches with whom we are in
full altar and pulpit fellowship retain membership in the
LWF is a matter of concern to the LCMS.
WHEREAS, LWF is a proponent of women’s ordination,
acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle, and the use of a higher
critical approach to interpreting Scripture; and
WHEREAS, The LWF defines itself as a global communion
of churches united in pulpit and altar fellowship (although
many of our partner churches in the LWF do not
acknowledge this pulpit and altar fellowship); and
WHEREAS, Some partner churches of the LCMS are
members of the LWF, and as partner churches we are in full
altar and pulpit fellowship with them; and
Resolutions