LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 97

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4. Greetings of the Bishop
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

1 want to thank President Bohlmann and you for the
gracious invitation to be with you and your warm welcome.
It is good to be present at this convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. I bring you greetings from the
more than 5 million members of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America.

At a time when there are deep divisions in the world,
and indeed in American society, when secularism advances
and religious values are ever more questioned, Christians
need to make a united witness. This is even more true of
Christians who together not only claim the heritage of the
Reformation but are joint heirs of the Lutheran Reformers
who are committed to the witness and truth of the Lu-
theran Confessions. .

It is appropriate that we stand together and work|to-
gether at many places. Whenever the Committee on Lu-
theran Cooperation gathers, I am reminded of those places
where the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America stands
with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in our com-
mitments to Christian education and addressing the social
needs of this world. I have in mind such common agencies
as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Lutheran
World Relief, Lutheran Education Conference in North
America, and Lutheran Resources Commission. We have
demonstrated a common witness in places of despair and
need in the world.

Yet there are times and places when and where we read
and interpret our common heritage differently. While
many wish that we could close the “gaps” between us,|we
also realize the difficult challenges this presents. We must
respect each other and acknowledge our rights and obli-
gations to make responsible decisions that may, in some
instances, separate us, while at the same time we claim
together a common Lord of the church and a subscription
to the same Confessions. We must both speak the truth in
love and walk the path before us as we discern the calling
of Christ.

Since the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America, I also have greatly appreciated the
friendship and warmth of the relationship I have had with
President Bohlmann. While we have shared our differ-
ences forthrightly, we have always done so in a spirit of
mutual respect and affection. I regard him as a true and
genuine brother in Christ. J want to assure you, President
and Mrs. Bohlmann, that my prayers are with you as God
opens new doors for witness and service.

Lalso asgure you, President-elect Barry, of my prayerful
support as you assume leadership of this church. These
are stressful times in the life of all churches across ‘the

rentire religious spectrum. I personally pledge to you the

same openness that I have shared with President Bohl-
mann. I look forward to good years of continuing cooper-
ation in those areas where our respective churches have
acommon interest. | know that many persons in the ELCA
enjoy cordial relations with their counterparts in your
church. These relationships extend through districts and
synods and congregations of both our churches.

A key document of our common heritage, Augsburg
Confession, although written in the midst of other chal-

‘lenges and circumstances, reminds all of us who treasure
the name Lutheran that the hope in which we live and
that we offer to‘ourselves and others, is that “we may be

‘ united in one, true religion, even as we are all under one

Christ and should confess and contend for Christ.”

I pray that God’s richest blessing will rest on this con-
vention as you debate together and reach decisions during
these days that will affect the life of your church, and be-
yond, into the future. .

Herbert W. Chilstrom, Bishop