LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 62

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62

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

the past two years in response to the natural disasters and
catastrophes that struck our nation and world. Our Synod responded as Christ’s ambassadors to the world. As president of
this church body, I could not have been more humbly proud of
our response:
• LCMS World Relief and Human Care continues to coordinate people and gifts, which exceeded $13.4 million for hurricane relief and over $5.7 million for tsunami aid in South
Asia.
• LCEF granted special consolidation loans and other concessions to congregations, schools, and professional church
workers.
• Concordia Plan Services waived premiums, fees, and deductibles for congregations, schools, and professional
church workers.
• Synod districts have partnered with and supported congregations, schools, and professional church workers in the
Southern District and other affected districts.
• Congregations and individuals have given generously of financial resources, have volunteered unselfish amounts of
time for clean-up efforts, and have lifted up countless hours
of prayer on behalf of those whose lives were impacted by
these natural disasters.
• And, so much more was done and continues to be done.
We are called to live out our faith in such charitable and
selfless ways for the sake of the Gospel.
In many areas of our country and world that were so
devastated by disaster, many are still in need. As a Synod,
we will continue to care for our brothers and sisters until
those needs are met and the mission and ministries of our
sister congregations are renewed. We are the caring arms
of Christ that extend to our churches, to our communities,
and to our world.
Church Relations
The Bylaws of the Synod state, “The President shall be the
chief ecumenical officer of the Synod” and “He or his representative shall represent the Synod in official contacts with
other church bodies” (Bylaw 3.3.1.1.2). Much time and energy
are spent by the President of the Synod in relating to other
church bodies and, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, working “through its official structure toward fellowship with other Christian church bodies” (Constitution,
Art. III).
At the present time, the LCMS enjoys the official relationship of altar and pulpit fellowship with 29 other Christian
church bodies, all bearing the name “Lutheran,” none of them
located in the United States of America, but in the following
countries:
1. Argentina—Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina
2. Brazil—Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil
3. Canada—Lutheran Church—Canada
4. Chile—Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Republic
of Chile
5. Denmark—Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark
6. England—The Evangelical Lutheran Church of England
7. France and Belgium—Evangelical Lutheran Church—
Synod of France and Belgium
2007 Convention Proceedings

8. Germany—Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church
9. Ghana—Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
10. Guatemala—Lutheran Church of Guatemala
11. Haiti—The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti
12. Hong Kong—The Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod
13. India—India Evangelical Lutheran Church
14. Japan—Japan Lutheran Church
15. Kenya—Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya
16. Korea—Lutheran Church in Korea
17. Latvia—Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
18. Lithuania—Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania
19. Mexico—Lutheran Synod of Mexico
20. Nigeria—The Lutheran Church of Nigeria
21. Papua New Guinea—Gutnius Lutheran Church
22. Paraguay—The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay
23. Philippines—The Lutheran Church in the Philippines
24. Russia—Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in
Russia (formerly part of Finland, now St. Petersburg)
25. South Africa—Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
26. South Africa—Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in
South Africa
27. Sri Lanka—Lanka Lutheran Church
28. Taiwan—China Evangelical Lutheran Church
29. Venezuela—Lutheran Church of Venezuela
We are also engaged in dialogue or have had preliminary
contacts with the following church bodies:
1. The American Association of Lutheran Churches
2. The Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia
3. Malagasy Lutheran Church (Madagascar)
4. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia
5. Protestant Christian Batak Church in Indonesia
6. Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan
8. It should also be noted that we continue to have many
opportunities for contacts with the Lutheran Church of
Australia, especially in the International Lutheran
Council.
Furthermore, the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations is recommending that this summer’s synodical convention declare the Synod to be in altar and pulpit fellowship
with The American Association of Lutheran Churches. The
report of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations
that recommends approval of this fellowship relationship is
included in this Convention Workbook.
We pray that God will bless all of these relationships as
we seek to strengthen them and to deepen our biblical and
confessional unity in doctrine and practice with other Christian church bodies around the world, in accordance with our
Lord’s will as expressed in His high priestly prayer in John
17:20–23:
I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their
message,21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are
in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the
world may believe that You have sent Me.22 I have given them
the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are
one: 23 I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have
loved them even as You have loved Me.