LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 154

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poses turned over the Synod’s property and mission in Guatemala
to its indigenous Lutheran church, the Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala (“The Lutheran Church in Guatemala”); and

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

Whereas, The aforementioned action by the BFMS for all practical purposes established the Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala as a
self-governing partner church; and

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 Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala; and be it
finally

Whereas, For the entire time period since the aforementioned
action by the BFMS, the Synod has in practice effectively interacted with and recognized the Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala as a
self-governing partner church, despite the fact that the Synod did
not formally confer this status upon the Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala by a convention resolution; and
Whereas, Rev. Abdiel Orozco, president of the Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala, in conversations with the Synod leadership and
in a November 4, 2015, letter addressed to the director of church
relations, has confirmed the church’s desire to have this oversight
rectified and to receive formal recognition of its status as a self-governing partner church under LCMS Bylaws; and
Whereas, The Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala 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 Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala seeks in every
way to be and remain a scripturally faithful, confessional Lutheran
church body; and
Whereas, 2013 Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (d) states:
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 commission [Commission 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 Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala be recognized as a self-governing partner church; and
Whereas, Appropriate protocol documents guiding interactions between the LCMS and the Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala
have been developed; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS formally recognize the Iglesia Luterana
en Guatemala as a self-governing partner church; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS give thanks to God for the efforts of its
missionaries and Guatemalan national pastors of the Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala; 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
en Guatemala to give a faithful, confessional Lutheran witness in
Guatemala; 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
self-governing Lutheran church body; and be it further
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U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

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 Common Doxology.
Action: Adopted (3)
(Res. 5-03, bundled with two similar resolutions, 5-04 and 5-05,
into one action, was adopted after brief debate [the vote announced
unanimous by the chair].)

To Recognize Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela
as a Self-Governing Partner Church
RESOLUTION 5-04
Overture 5-04 (CW, pp. 343–344)
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS)
Board for Mission Services (BFMS) for all intents and purposes
turned over the Synod’s property and mission in Venezuela to its
indigenous Lutheran church, the Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela
(“The Lutheran Church of Venezuela”); and
Whereas, The aforementioned action by the BFMS for all practical purposes established the Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela as a
self-governing partner church; and
Whereas, For the entire time period since the aforementioned
action by the BFMS, the Synod has in practice effectively interacted with and recognized the Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela as a
self-governing partner church, despite the fact that the Synod did
not formally confer this status upon the Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela by convention resolution; and
Whereas, Rev. J. Elías Lozano, president of the Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela, in conversations with the Synod leadership has
confirmed the church’s desire to have this oversight rectified and
to receive formal recognition of its status as a self-governing partner church under LCMS bylaws; and
Whereas, The Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela 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 Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela seeks in every
way to be and remain a scripturally faithful, confessional Lutheran
church body; and
Whereas, 2013 Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (d) states:
When a mission of the Synod applies for formal recognition as a self-governing partner church, such recognition
“5. Theology and Church Relations”