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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 287

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

THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
training centers, ordaining more than 50 pastors, and preparing
numerous laity for church work in various vocations; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the history of the LCU, the ELCG (a
partner church of the LCMS) and the LCMS itself have provided
direct assistance and support that has helped enable the LCU to be
and remain committed to theology and practice that is fully faithful
to the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions; and
WHEREAS, The LCU accepts all the canonical books of the
sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the inerrant,
revealed Word of God; and
WHEREAS, The LCU accepts the symbolic books of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church, compiled in the Book of Concord of
1580, as a correct exposition of the sacred Scriptures; and
WHEREAS, On Sept. 21, 2016, Bishop Charles Bameka, on behalf
of the LCU, formally requested altar and pulpit fellowship with the
LCMS; and
WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b) says, “When a church body
applies for formal recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with the
Synod, such recognition shall be proposed at a convention of the
Synod only after the approval of the commission”; and
WHEREAS, In face-to-face discussions with Bishop Bameka and
other key leaders of the LCU, the CTCR has examined the teachings
and practices of the LCU and found them to be faithful to Scripture
and the Lutheran Confessions, and has proposed the recognition of
fellowship between the LCU and the LCMS; therefore be it
Resolved, That we acknowledge with gratitude the unity of
confession that has been given to our church bodies under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks that despite various challenges,
God, by His grace, has equipped and prepared the LCU to give a
faithful, confessional Lutheran witness in Uganda; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks to God that doctrinal discussions
between official representatives of the LCMS and the LCU have
resulted in recognition of complete concord and agreement; and be
it further
Resolved, That the Synod formally recognize the existence of
altar and pulpit fellowship between the LCU and the LCMS; and be
it further
Resolved, That we encourage and walk with the LCU as it
continues to proclaim the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ in Uganda;
and be it further
Resolved, That we pray for God’s blessings in the coming years
on our agreement in the confession of the Gospel that we enjoy as
partner churches, and for the blessing of the Lord upon the members
and leaders of the LCU; and be it finally
Resolved, That in celebration and thanksgiving for this
partnership in the Gospel, the convention assembly signify its
approval by rising and singing the common doxology.
Commission on Theology and Church Relations

287

Ov. 5-04

To Recognize the Ceylon Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Sri Lanka
as a Self-Governing Partner Church
WHEREAS, The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sri
Lanka (CELC) traces its origin to the efforts of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) missionaries; and
WHEREAS, The CELC was formerly known as the Lanka
Lutheran Church, which enjoyed altar and pulpit fellowship with
the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, The CELC has committed itself to be faithful to the
inerrant Scriptures and subscribes without reservation to the
writings of the Book of Concord; and
WHEREAS, The CELC seeks in every way to be and remain a
scripturally faithful, confessional Lutheran church body; and
WHEREAS, The CELC is established as an independent Lutheran
church in Sri Lanka and has shared its constitution and other
governing documents with the LCMS leadership; and
WHEREAS, The CELC, at its convening convention in September
2022, recognized altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, The CELC governing church council delivered a
letter to President Matthew Harrison dated Feb. 8, 2023, formally
requesting the LCMS recognize altar and pulpit fellowship with the
CELC; and
WHEREAS, Appropriate protocol documents guiding interactions
between the LCMS and the CELC have been developed and are
currently being updated; and
WHEREAS, In the current year 2023, the CELC has applied for
full membership in the International Lutheran Council; and
WHEREAS, 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 Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (d), the Board for
International Mission (BIM) has requested and received the
approval of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations
(CTCR) to propose to the 2023 Synod convention that the CELC in
Sri Lanka be recognized as a self-governing partner church;
therefore be it
Resolved, That this overture be submitted to the 2023 Synod
convention from the BIM, subject to appropriate edits and
amendments not changing its essential meaning herein provided by
collaborating representatives from the BIM and the CTCR; and be
it further
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for the efforts of
its missionaries and Sri Lankan national pastors of the CELC, that
God, by His grace, has equipped and prepared the members of the
CELC to give a faithful confessional Lutheran witness in Sri Lanka;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod acknowledge with gratitude that His
saints have been blessed by 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 the Synod 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
2023 Convention Workbook