LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 72

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72

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

eight million members. Although the LCMS and the EECMY are not
in altar and pulpit fellowship, in recent years a mutually beneficial
relationship has developed between our two church bodies. Ethiopian
students have studied at LCMS seminaries and several EECMY pastors have become members of the Synod through colloquy and serve
in various capacities and locations. President Wakseyoum Idossa
represented the EECMY at both the 2012 and 2015 International
Conferences on Confessional Leadership (I C 1 above) hosted by
the CTCR and the President’s Office. In 2013, the EECMY severed
its relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) and the Church of Sweden because of decisions by those
churches to affirm homosexual practices and ordination of individuals living an active homosexual lifestyle.
Since 2010, the LCMS and EECMY have related together in
accordance with a protocol document that outlined a basis for cooperation and mutual support in certain areas. In 2014, the LCMS and
the EECMY signed a revised “partnership agreement” that enhanced
their commitment to working together where possible and appropriate and that included a mutual commitment to theological discussions
directed toward the hoped-for goal of church fellowship based on
agreement in doctrine and practice. The LCMS relationship with the
EECMY is currently focused largely on seminary education with
LCMS theologians assisting Mekane Yesus Seminary in teaching and
library development. The LCMS has also been partnering with the
EECMY in the printing and distribution of confessional and catechetical texts and in their work of developing a new hymnal.
Doctrinal discussions between the churches have begun (in accordance with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 [b]) and will continue in the coming
triennium.
b. Lutheran Churches in Sudan/South Sudan
Two Lutheran churches in Sudan/South Sudan have requested
fellowship with the LCMS in the past triennium: the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Sudan/South Sudan and the Sudan Evangelical
Lutheran Church. Representatives of both churches have visited the
International Center to discuss the history, theology, and practices of
their churches and have shared pertinent theological and organizational materials. The CTCR is considering the fellowship requests in
accordance with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (c) and hopes to make recommendations to the President of the Synod in the near future.
c. Confessional Lutheran Church in South Africa
The LCMS is in fellowship with two churches in South Africa, the
Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa and the Lutheran
Church in South Africa. During this triennium, a third Lutheran
church, the Confessional Lutheran Church in South Africa (CLCSA),
requested church fellowship with the LCMS. The commission is considering this fellowship request in keeping with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (c)
and on the basis of theological and organizational materials from the
CLCSA. An element in the process of fellowship consideration is
the possible formation of a “synodical conference” in South Africa
between the three church bodies. Such a conference would clarify
the relationship among South African Lutherans and aid in fellowship considerations.
Note: A number of other church bodies have expressed interest in
theological discussions leading to church fellowship with the LCMS
in the past triennium, but these requests are still under consideration
and review by the President’s Office and have not been taken up formally by the CTCR.
2016 Convention Workbook

B. Meetings and Discussions with Other Churches and Groups
1. Anglican Church in North America
Two rounds of meetings with the Anglican Church in North
America (ACNA) have occurred since 2010. Topics for the meetings
have included the history and background of the two churches, their
understandings of authority in the church, contemporary challenges
and opportunities facing American Christianity, worship and catechesis, the understanding of holy marriage, 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. The LCMS delegation has been joined by Dr.
John Stephenson of the Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC) because
the ACNA has a number of congregations in Canada. 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 2016. Discussions will
continue to address such topics as the understanding of Law and
Gospel, theology and practice of the Lord’s Supper, contemporary
cultural challenges, and potential joint endeavors.
2. North American Lutheran Church
Representatives of the LCMS and the North American Lutheran
Church (NALC) have been meeting together since 2011. Formal
conversation topics have included the authority of Scripture, the
relationship of the Gospel to Scripture, the ordination of women,
discussions about appropriate responses to unbiblical views of sexuality and marriage, and current and potential threats to religious
freedom. LCMS representatives include President Matthew Harrison,
Dr. Albert Collver, Rev. John Pless, Dr. Lehenbauer, and Rev. Vogel.
The NALC was represented by Bp. John Bradosky, Em. Bp. Paull
Spring, Dr. James Nestingen, Rev. Mark Chavez, and Dr. David
Wendel. Dr. Robert Bugbee (LCC) also participates in the meetings because of NALC presence in Canada. Discussions continue
to be cordial and mutually beneficial. A joint statement on marriage
was prepared in May 2013 by the representatives of the LCMS and
NALC, together with representatives of the ACNA. The affirmation,
signed by President Matthew Harrison, President Robert Bugbee, and
Archbishop Robert Duncan, may be downloaded at http://www.lcms.
org/page.aspx?pid=726&DocID=2384.
3. Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Evangelical Lutheran
Synod

Informal discussions between leaders of the LCMS, WELS, and
ELS began in 2012. It has continued on a yearly basis since that time,
with the most recent discussions held in December 2015. The meetings have dispelled many caricatures regarding the different churches
and helped to identify what currently unites and divides the church
bodies of the former Synodical Conference in their respective efforts
to pursue confessional Lutheranism. After concluding the 2015 meeting, the three church bodies issued a joint report on their discussions
(available for download at http://blogs.lcms.org/2015/report-on-the2012-15-meetings-of-els-lcms-and-wels-leaders). All three synods
have encouraged future meetings by national convention action.
Among the topics that have been addressed in the discussions are
church and ministry, church fellowship, and hermeneutics. Future