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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 344

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

344

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Whereas, In compliance with 2013 Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (d), the
Board for International Mission has requested and received the
approval of the CTCR to propose to the 2016 LCMS convention that
the Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela be recognized as a self-governing
partner church; and
Whereas, Appropriate protocol documents guiding interactions
between the LCMS and the Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela have been
developed; therefore be it
Resolved, This resolution be submitted as an overture to the 2016
convention from the Board for International Mission, subject to
appropriate edits and amendments not changing its essential meaning provided by collaborating representatives from the Board for
International Mission and the CTCR; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS give thanks to God for the efforts of its
missionaries and Venezuelan national pastors of the Iglesia Luterana
de Venezuela; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS give thanks that God, by His grace,
has equipped and prepared the members of the Iglesia Luterana
de Venezuela to give a faithful, confessional Lutheran witness in
Venezuela; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks for the growth of this former
“daughter church” of the LCMS and its ongoing vitality as a selfgoverning Lutheran church body; and be it further
Resolved, That we acknowledge with gratitude the unity of confession that has been given to our churches under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit; and be it further
Resolved, That we pray for God’s blessings in the coming years
on this agreement in the confession of the Gospel that we enjoy as
partner churches, and for the power and blessing of the Lord to be
upon the members and leaders of the Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela;
and be it finally
Resolved, That in celebration and thanksgiving of this partnership in the Gospel, the 2016 LCMS convention assembly signify its
approval by rising and singing the Doxology.
Board for International Mission
5-05

To Recognize the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in Kazakhstan as a Self-Governing Partner Church
Whereas, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kazakhstan
(ELC) traces its origin to the efforts of the LCMS missionaries; and
Whereas, The ELC has committed itself to be faithful to the inerrant Scriptures and has subscribed without reservation to the writings
of the Book of Concord; and
Whereas, The ELC seeks in every way to be and remain a scripturally faithful, confessional Lutheran church body; and
Whereas, The ELC is established as an independent Lutheran
church and has shared its Agreement on Spiritual Unity, Partnership,
and Collaboration of Churches and a representative example of an
ELC congregation’s Articles of Association with the LCMS leadership; and
Whereas, Rev. Alexander Burtsev, ELC President and pastor of
Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church in Almaty, in a Nov. 11, 2015,
letter addressed to the President of the Synod, the chairman of the
Board for International Mission, and the director of church relations,
stated that
“The Missouri Synod sent her first missionary to Kazakhstan in
1994. For the past 21 years, the Missouri Synod has operated the mission work in Kazakhstan. We are very grateful for the work of the
2016 Convention Workbook

Missouri Synod and appreciate her as our mother. Due to the changing
laws in Kazakhstan, it is difficult if not impossible for an American
missionary to do work in Kazakhstan. The best we can hope is for people from the Missouri Synod to drop in now and then. Yet this sort of
arrangement is not the best for the day-to-day operations of a church.
“Currently, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kazakhstan is not
a legal entity within Kazakhstan, and likely cannot be so for some
time. Our church has five congregations legally registered with the
government. … The five congregations, while not legally recognized
as a church body in Kazakhstan, have banded together under an agreement to function as a church body. In total, we have approximately
500 members.
“We should request that the Missouri Synod recognize the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kazakhstan to be recognized as a
self-governing church. …
“If possible, we would like you to bring the recognition of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church as a ‘self-governing church’ before
your Synod convention in July 2016”; and
Whereas, 2013 Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (d) states that “When a mission
of the Synod applies for formal recognition as a self-governing partner church, such recognition shall be proposed at convention of the
Synod by the Board for International Mission with the approval of the
[C]ommission [on Theology and Church Relations]; and
Whereas, In compliance with 2013 Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (d), the
Board for International Mission has requested and received the
approval of the CTCR to propose to the 2016 LCMS convention that
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kazakhstan be recognized as a
self-governing partner church; and
Whereas, Appropriate protocol documents guiding interactions
between the LCMS and the ELC have been developed; therefore be it
Resolved, This resolution be submitted as an overture to the 2016
convention from the Board for International Mission, subject to
appropriate edits and amendments not changing its essential meaning provided by collaborating representatives from the Board for
International Mission and the CTCR; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS give thanks to God for the efforts of
its missionaries and Kazakhstan national pastors of the ELC; and be
it further
Resolved, That the LCMS give thanks that God, by His grace,
has equipped and prepared the members of the ELC to give a faithful, confessional Lutheran witness in Kazakhstan; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks for the growth of this “daughter church” of the LCMS and its establishment as a self-governing
Lutheran church body; and be it further
Resolved, That we acknowledge with gratitude the unity of confession that has been given to our churches under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit; and be it further
Resolved, That we pray for God’s blessings in the coming years on
this agreement in the confession of the Gospel that we enjoy as partner churches, and for the power and blessing of the Lord to be upon
the members and leaders of the ELC; and be it finally
Resolved, That in celebration and thanksgiving of this partnership in the Gospel, the 2016 LCMS convention assembly signify its
approval by rising and singing the Doxology.
Board for International Mission