LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 129

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church body (identified as such by the President of the Synod as
chief ecumenical officer) requests recognition of altar and pulpit
fellowship with the Synod, after consultation with the Praesidium
and approval by the commission, such recognition may be declared
by the President of the Synod subject to the endorsement of the subsequent Synod convention”; and
Whereas, At its December 2010 meeting, on the basis of a
report from Drs. Collver and Lehenbauer, the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations formally recommended church
fellowship with the SELC to the Synod President; and
Whereas, President Harrison declared fellowship that same
month after consultation with the Praesidium; and
Whereas, Necessary protocol documents guiding interactions
between the LCMS and the SELC have been developed; therefore
be it
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 give thanks that despite great persecution in
the past, God, by His grace, has equipped and prepared the members of the SELC to give a faithful, confessional Lutheran witness
in Siberia; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks to God that doctrinal discussions
between official representatives of the LCMS and the SELC have
revealed that complete agreement exists between our two churches
in doctrine and practice; and be it further
Resolved, That this convention endorse the Synod President’s
declaration of altar and pulpit fellowship between the LCMS and
the SELC; 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 which we enjoy
as partner churches; and be it finally
Resolved, That in celebration and thanksgiving of this partnership in the Gospel, the convention assembly signify its approval by
rising and singing the Doxology.
Action: Adopted (4)
(After brief discussion, Res. 4-02 was adopted as presented [Yes:
965; No: 3] and the convention celebrated the declaration of partnership by singing the Doxology.)

To Recognize Lutheran Church of Togo as an
Independent, Self-Governing Partner Church
RESOLUTION 4-03
Overture L4-72 (TB, p. 33–34)
Preamble
Eglise Luthérienne du Togo (the Lutheran Church of Togo [ELT])
was begun by mission efforts of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod (LCMS) starting in 1980. Missionaries established parishes
in the regions of Lokpano and Nano among the Moba people of
R e s olu t i on s

Tandjoare Prefecture. Later, churches were planted in Oti Prefecture among Gangam people and then among the Gourmantche
people. Missionaries established parishes, trained evangelists to
work at the village level, and provided resources to help with social
needs in areas such as agriculture, sanitation, and education.
In 1997, a theological training center was established in
Dapaong. In May 2002, the five graduates of the school were
ordained as the first Togolese pastors of the ELT. Additional groups
of Togolese pastors were ordained in 2006 and 2011. Two Togolese
pastors have studied at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in addition
to those who completed their theological training at the theological training center.
The last of the LCMS missionaries left Togo in 2009, but missionaries from other regions continue to provide support and assistance
in partnership with the ELT. In 2009, the ELT held its second elective assembly and approved a constitution. The ELT “declares its
acceptance of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to
be the unerring Word of God” and “accepts the Book of Concord
as the correct interpretation of the Word of God.”
The church currently has 17 ordained pastors, 4 vicars, 18 evangelists, and 10 students in training for the ministry. The church has
more than 30 congregations and preaching stations and 5,221 baptized members. The foundation of the ELT is the Word of our Lord
Jesus Christ: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded
you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”
(Matt. 28:19–20).
On February 28, 2013, President Lare Kolani Lambon, President
of the ELT, wrote to the LCMS to request that the ELT be recognized
as an independent, self-governing partner church of the LCMS. The
ELT wishes to establish this relationship with the LCMS in order
to preserve and promote the teaching of Lutheran doctrine in its
churches and bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Whereas, The ELT traces its origin to the efforts of the LCMS
missionaries; and
Whereas, The ELT 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 ELT seeks in every way to be and remain a scripturally faithful, confessional Lutheran church body; and
Whereas, The ELT is established as an independent Lutheran
church and has shared its 2009 Constitution with the LCMS leadership; and
Whereas, The ELT has requested formal recognition as an
independent, self-governing partner church; and
Whereas, Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (d) provides: “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 Mission Services [i.e., Board for International Mission] with the approval of the commission [i.e.,
Commission on Theology and Church Relations]”; and
2 0 1 3 C o n v e n t io n P r o c e e d i n g s

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