# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S430
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

430

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

WHEREAS, The LWF is a global communion of 145 churches in
the Lutheran tradition, representing over 74 million Christians in 98
countries.” 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.” 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); and
WHEREAS, Eleven partner churches of the LCMS are members
of the LWF, namely:
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya
• The Lutheran Church of Nigeria
• India Evangelical Lutheran Church
• Japan Lutheran Church (Associate LWF Member)
• Lutheran Church in Korea
• Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea)
• Lutheran Church in the Philippines
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia
and as partner churches we are in full altar and pulpit fellowship;
and
WHEREAS, The Word of God says, “Do not be unequally yoked
together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness
with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”
(2 Cor. 6:14) and, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause
divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned,
and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17); therefore be it
Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District submit this overture
to the 2019 Synod convention; and be it further
Resolved, That in Christian love, and faithfulness to our common
confession, the LCMS exhort the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Ghana, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, The Lutheran
Church of Nigeria, India Evangelical Lutheran Church, Japan
Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in Korea, Gutnius Lutheran
Church (Papua New Guinea), Lutheran Church in the Philippines,
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Lithuania and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in
Russia to leave the membership of the Lutheran World Federation
as soon as possible; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations report to the Synod regarding the results of this
exhortation one year prior to the opening of the 2022 Synod
convention for further action.
Southern Illinois District
Ov. 5-08

To Exhort LCMS Partner Churches to Leave the
Lutheran World Federation
Preamble
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) “is a global communion of
145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 74 million
2019 Convention Workbook

Christians in 98 countries.” It declares that its member churches
“share a vision, purpose and values. We work to strengthen our
relationships and build an inclusive, respectful communion”
(www.lutheranworld.org/content/about-lwf). Article III of the LWF
Constitution states, “The Lutheran World Federation is a
communion of churches … 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 July 7, 2017 Reporter article “Boards and Business:
International, National Mission” states,
The Rev. Dr. Al Collver, director of Church Relations for the
Synod, provided an overview of two kinds of Lutheranism
evident worldwide. He described the differences between church
bodies affiliated with the International Lutheran Council (ILC)
and the more liberal Lutheran World Federation—with its focus
on women’s ordination, acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle and
using a higher critical approach to interpreting Scripture.
Collver explained that the ILC exists to encourage, strengthen,
and promote confessional Lutheran theology and practice.
Increasingly, he said, Lutheran church bodies in the Global
South are seeking closer ties with the ILC and the LCMS.
He pointed out that the LCMS has 36 official partner churches
and 25 “allied church bodies,” which have some degree of
partnership but do not yet have altar and pulpit fellowship. An
additional 14 “emerging church bodies” have made contact with
the LCMS to learn more about its doctrine and practice.
Collver also noted that many large, established church bodies are
seeking a more equal partnership with the Synod and desire
theological education, financial expertise to better manage
growing ministry institutions and help with mercy work.
“There is no time like the present to have a significant impact on
world
Lutheranism,”
said
Collver.
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/international-national-mission
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 and as a result has not joined the LWF. Sadly, the
LCMS has twelve partner churches with whom we are in full altar
and pulpit fellowship who are members of the LWF. They are as
follows with the year they joined the LWF:
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana—2004
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya—1970
• The Lutheran Church of Nigeria—1973
• India Evangelical Lutheran Church—1970
• Japan Lutheran Church—1999
• Lutheran Church in Korea—1972
• Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea)—1979
• Lutheran Church in the Philippines—1973
• Lanka Lutheran Church (Sri Lanka)—2001
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia—1963
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania—1967
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia—1994