LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 134

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134

RESOLUTIONS

WHEREAS, The President of the LCMS has expressed
support for this request and has asked the CTCR to address
it in accordance with Bylaw 13.03; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Theology and Church Relations has reviewed all documents submitted by the Lanka
Lutheran Church, including their Constitution and Bylaws,
and has recommended that the LCMS formalize this relationship; therefore be it
Resolved, That we gratefully praise God for the efforts
of the missionaries of the LCMS to Sri Lanka and for the
formation and ministry of the Lanka Lutheran Church; and
be it further
Resolved, That we acknowledge with gratitude to God
the unity of confession that has been given to our church
bodies under the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS formally recognize the existence of altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lanka
Lutheran Church of Sri Lanka; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS officially recognize the Lanka
Lutheran Church of Sri Lanka as a partner church and
that the President of the Synod be responsible for continuing to implement this relationship; and be it finally
Resolved, That we pray for God’s continued blessings in
the coming years on our two churches and on the fellowship
and partnership in the Gospel that we share.
Action: Adopted (3)
(After the resolution was adopted [yes: 1,023; no: 33], the
Common Doxology was sung while the fellowship documents were
signed.)

To Formalize Altar and Pulpit Fellowship
with Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Haiti
RESOLUTION 3-03
Overture 3-02 (CW, pp. 155–56)
Preamble
Haiti is a small, densely populated country on the western side of the Island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. A
large majority of the country’s 6.8 million inhabitants live
in extreme poverty and suffer from severe social and spiritual problems. Most Haitians call themselves Christians,
but the practice of voodoo, a native tribal religion of West
Africa, is widespread and present at all levels of society.
Individuals and groups in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod began mission work in Haiti in 1978. Under
God’s blessing and through the work of faithful pastors, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti has grown to a membership of over 14,000 baptized in 143 congregations and
preaching stations. The ELCH operates over 60 schools,
served by some 400 teachers. In spite of the many difficulties it has faced over the years, the ELCH has expressed
the desire to remain a strongly confessional Lutheran
church. A number of mission societies and individuals from
the LCMS have continued to provide personal and financial support to the ELCH as it carries out Christ’s mission
in Haiti.
In the fall of 2000 the President of the ELCH forwarded
a formal request to the President of the LCMS to conduct
200l Convention Proceedings

theological discussions between representatives of the
LCMS and the ELCH that would lead to a “formal partner
church relationship.” The ELCH is also applying for membership in the International Lutheran Council. On January 26, 2001, representatives of our two churches met in St.
Louis. There was consensus among all present that a genuine agreement in doctrine and practice exists between the
LCMS and the ELCH. Upon the recommendation of the
President of the Synod and in keeping with its constitutionally given responsibilities, the CTCR has reviewed the
ELCH’s request and now submits the following resolution
in recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship between the
LCMS and the ELCH.
WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti
(ELCH) began as a result of mission work begun in 1978
by individuals and groups in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and
WHEREAS, The ELCH under God’s blessing has sought
to remain a strongly confessional Lutheran church and to
do so in a land where profound economic and social problems have presented serious challenges to those committed
to proclaiming the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, Individuals and groups in the LCMS have
steadily offered their support and personal assistance over
the years to our brothers and sisters in Haiti as they carry
out Christ’s mission; and
WHEREAS, The ELCH has formally requested a partner
church relationship with the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, Formal theological discussions between representatives of the ELCH and the LCMS have revealed
that complete agreement in doctrine and practice exists between our churches; and
WHEREAS, The President of the LCMS has expressed
support for the ELCH’s request and has asked the CTCR,
in keeping with its constitutional responsibilities, to review
the request and make an appropriate recommendation to
the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The CTCR has carried out this assignment
and has recommended that the LCMS formally recognize
that altar and pulpit fellowship exists between the ELCH
and the LCMS; therefore be it
Resolved, That we give praise to God for the faithful pastors and members of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Haiti who in the midst of poverty and the hardships it
brings have retained a strong desire to remain a strongly
confessional Lutheran church; and be it further
Resolved, That we further give thanks to our gracious
Lord for the genuine agreement in doctrine and practice
that exists between our churches; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS formally recognize that altar
and pulpit fellowship exists between the LCMS and the
ELCH; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS formally recognize the ELCH
as a partner church of the LCMS and that the President of
the Synod be responsible for continuing to implement this
relationship; and be it finally
Resolved, That we ask our brothers and sisters in Christ
in the ELCH to join us in the fervent prayer that our Lord
will continue to provide the personal and financial resources needed in Haiti for the unhindered proclamation of