LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 171

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IV. THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS­­—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
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4. Following its review of this report and the President’s recommendation, the CTCR
shall either recommend that the Synod declare altar and pulpit fellowship with this
church body, or that it decline to do so.
5. If the CTCR declines to approve altar and pulpit fellowship with this church body, it
shall prepare a statement delineating the reasons for this decision, which is to be
shared with the President of the Synod. The President shall inform this church body
of the CTCR’s action. Continued discussion and consideration may follow. If the
concerns which caused the Commission to decline to approve altar and pulpit
fellowship are not able to be resolved, the President will inform the members of the
Synod and the Synod’s partner churches of this action of the CTCR.
6. If the CTCR recommends that the Synod enter into altar and pulpit fellowship with
this church body, it shall immediately report this to the President of the Synod. The
President shall inform this church, and also all of the Synod’s partner churches, of
this recommendation. The Commission on Theology and Church Relations shall
prepare an overture to this effect for consideration by the next Synod convention. The
President’s office, in consultation with the head of the church body requesting
fellowship, is to coordinate the preparation of a protocol document in the language of
each church body to be signed by the heads of the respective churches at the next
Synod convention upon adoption of the resolution recommending church fellowship
(see Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2 (b)).
B. When the President receives a request for recognition of fellowship from a confessional
Lutheran church body that he identifies as “a small, formative, emerging confessional
Lutheran church” (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2(c)), the following procedures are in order:
1. When fellowship with such a church body is initially requested, the church shall be
asked to share any information and/or documentation that identifies its doctrinal
convictions (for example, doctrinal statements, its constitution and bylaws, copies of
doctrinal materials used in the church, materials for training clergy and laity, and so
forth). On the basis of such information and discussions with church leaders, the
President of the Synod, assisted by the CTCR at his request, shall determine whether
the requesting church is committed to the full authority of the Scriptures as the
infallible Word of God and subscribes without reservation to the Book of Concord (to
the extent that it is available in the primary language of the church).
2. When relationships between the Synod and the church body have reached the point
that church fellowship between them is contemplated, the President of the Synod,
following consultation with the CTCR, is responsible for formally initiating this
process. He will inform the Praesidium and the CTCR, as well as the Synod itself
and, immediately thereafter, the partner churches of the LCMS, inviting their input.
3. Working together with the head of the church body with which church fellowship is
contemplated, the President of the Synod shall arrange for visitation of the church and
doctrinal discussions between representatives of the two church bodies. Synod
representatives to these discussions shall be appointed by the President of the Synod,

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one of which shall preferably be a member of the CTCR (inclusive of staff). The head
of the church body or his representative shall also be welcome (and assisted, as
necessary) to visit Synod offices, congregations, and institutions.
4. After such visitation(s) and doctrinal discussions, the Synod representatives shall
provide a comprehensive written report, including relevant doctrinal materials (cf. #1
above), to the President of the Synod and to the CTCR. After consideration of this
comprehensive report, the CTCR shall formally forward to the President its
recommendation regarding church fellowship with this church body.
5. If the CTCR declines to approve the request for altar and pulpit fellowship, it shall
prepare a statement delineating the reasons for this decision, which is to be shared
with the President of the Synod and the Praesidium. Continued discussion and
consideration may follow. If the concerns which caused the Commission to decline to
approve altar and pulpit fellowship are not able to be resolved, the President will
inform the church body requesting fellowship of this decision, as well as members of
the Synod, and the Synod’s partner churches.
6. If the Commission recommends the declaration of fellowship with this church, the
President, after consultation with the Praesidium, shall either declare recognition of
fellowship or decline to do so. If the President declines to declare recognition of
fellowship, continued discussion and consideration may follow. If the concerns which
caused the President to decline to approve altar and pulpit fellowship are not able to
be resolved, the President will inform the church body requesting fellowship of this
decision, as well as members of the Synod, and the Synod’s partner or partner
churches. If the President declares recognition of fellowship, he shall inform the
church requesting fellowship, the members of the Synod, and also all of the Synod’s
partner churches of this action.
7. Subsequent to the recognition of fellowship and prior to the next Synod convention,
the CTCR shall prepare an overture to the Synod convention requesting endorsement
by the Synod of the President’s declaration of fellowship. The President’s office, in
consultation with head of the church body requesting fellowship, is to coordinate the
preparation of a protocol document in the language of each church body to be signed
by the heads of the respective churches at the next Synod Convention (see Bylaw
3.3.1.1.2 (b)).
C. When a mission of the Synod applies for formal recognition as a self-governing partner
church, (Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2(d)), the following procedures are in order:
1. When an LCMS mission applies for self-governing partner church recognition, the
Office of International Mission (OIM) shall inform the Office of the President and the
Executive Director of the CTCR of its recommendation that such status be
recognized. Information and/or documentation that identifies the mission’s doctrinal
convictions (for example, doctrinal statements, its constitution and bylaws, copies of
doctrinal materials used in the church, materials for training clergy and laity, and so
forth) shall be shared with the CTCR.

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2. If upon review of this material the CTCR approves the recommendation of the OIM,
it shall prepare an overture to this effect for consideration by the Synod at the next
Synod convention. If the CTCR declines to approve the request for partner church
status, it shall prepare a statement delineating the reasons for this decision, which is to
be shared with the President of the Synod and Office of International Mission.
Continued discussion and consideration shall follow.
3. After CTCR approval of the application, the President’s office, in consultation with
the head of the newly self-governing church body, is to coordinate the preparation of
a protocol document in the language of each church body to be signed by the heads of
the respective churches at the next Synod convention (see Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2 (b)).
Adopted as revised May 16, 2014
Commission on Theology and Church Relations
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

2016 Convention Workbook