# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S103 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS North America (ACNA) have occurred since 2010. Topics for the meetings have included the history and background of the two churches, understandings of authority and ministry in the church, the ordination of women to public ministry, contemporary challenges and opportunities facing American Christianity, worship and catechesis, issues related to marriage and human sexuality, and the doctrine and practice of the Lord’s Supper. The meetings have been open and cordial, with the churches’ representatives learning from one another and discovering many important areas of common ground, but also differences in doctrine and practice that require further discussion. LCMS representatives have included President Matthew Harrison; Dr. Collver, Director of Church Relations; Dr. Lehenbauer and Rev. Vogel of the CTCR; Dr. Lawrence Rast, President of CTSFW; and Dr. Frederick Baue. Because the ACNA has a number of congregations in Canada, representatives from the Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC), including Dr. John Stephenson and (former) LCC President Dr. Robert Bugbee, have also been full and active participants in these discussions. In addition to a May 2012 joint statement by dialogue participants, a joint affirmation of marriage was prepared by the representatives and then published by the heads of both church bodies, together with the bishop of the NALC (see next item). A further joint report on the discussions was prepared by the representatives in February of 2016. Discussions will continue to address such topics as the understanding of Law and Gospel, the theology and practice of the Lord’s Supper, contemporary cultural challenges, and potential joint endeavors, especially in relationship with churches in the southern hemisphere. 2. North American Lutheran Church Representatives of the LCMS, Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC) and the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) have been meeting together since 2011 and have held discussions on the following topics: authority of Scripture, Gospel and Scripture, ordination of women, human sexuality and marriage, and threats to religious freedom. LCMS representatives include Dr. Albert Collver, Dr. John Pless, Dr. Lehenbauer, and Rev. Vogel. The NALC is represented by Bp. John Bradosky, Dr. James Nestingen, Rev. Mark Chavez, and Dr. David Wendel. Dr. Robert Bugbee represents the LCC. Discussions continue to be both cordial and beneficial. The dialogue participants jointly drafted a statement on biblical authority in 2016 titled “God’s Word Forever Shall Abide.” The CTCR commended the statement at its May 2016 meeting (available in the Appendix or at http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=726&DocID=2384). At their Fall 2017 meeting, the NALC, LCMS, and LCC representatives adopted a three-year guided reading schedule of the Bible including quotations from J. Michael Reu’s book, Luther and the Scriptures. The guide is available at https://www.lcms. org/Document.fdoc?src=lcm&id=4903. 3. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) Informal discussions between leaders of the LCMS, WELS, and ELS began in 2012 and have continued on a yearly basis since then, with the most recent discussions held in November 2018. The meetings have dispelled many caricatures regarding the different churches and helped to identify what currently unites and divides them. All three synods have encouraged fu- 103 ture meetings by national convention action. Among the topics that have been addressed in the discussions are church and ministry, church fellowship, hermeneutics, catechesis, the service of women in the church, the issue of “cooperation in externals,” and specific obstacles to fellowship. The meetings will continue in the coming triennium. III. Religious Organizations and Movements The CTCR is charged with assisting “congregations and ordained and commissioned ministers of religion in fulfilling their commitment to witness publicly and privately to the one and only Gospel set forth in the Holy Scriptures” (2016 Bylaw 3.9.5.4 “Fraternal and Other Organizations”). This bylaw includes the Synod’s longstanding provisions for dealing with lodges as well as other organizations which have “an unchristian or anti-Christian character.” In providing resources and information to the members of the Synod regarding such organizations, philosophies, and religious movements, the CTCR includes a section of its website designated “Evaluations” (see www.lcms.org/ctcr). Evaluations fall into two general categories: (1) Lodge Organizations and (2) Religious Organizations and Movements. The evaluations consider, from a Lutheran theological perspective, a broad range of religious practices, organizations, movements, claims, and individuals—both Christian and non-Christian. In addition to material previously available, during the past triennium the Commission has provided several new evaluations. A goal of the Commission is to continue to provide Spanish-language translations of its evaluations. The entire current listing of topics addressed by CTCR evaluations includes: •• •• Lodge Organizations oo Elks Lodge oo Fraternal Order of Eagles oo The Lodge oo Membership in Certain Fraternal Organizations: A Pastoral Approach (also available in Spanish) oo Moose International Other Religious Organizations and Movements oo Abrahamic Religions oo Baha’i Faith oo Beth Moore Ministries (also available in Spanish) oo Buddhism (also available in Spanish) oo Center for Progressive Christianity oo Christian Identity Movement oo Christian Reconstructionism oo Christian Science (also available in Spanish) oo Church of Scientology (also available in Spanish) 2019 Convention Workbook