LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 145

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5. THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
In 2011, despite (and perhaps partly because of) the steady and
significant growth in this young mission church, the LCMU
experienced serious internal strife and division over
leadership, organizational, and financial issues. Although
matters of doctrine were not involved, the strife was serious
and nearly divided the church. Strong and persistent efforts to
restore order and harmony were led by Bishop Fynn of the
ELCG, Dr. David Tswaedi (then-Bishop of the Lutheran
Church in Southern Africa, an LCMS partner church), Dr.
Michael Rodewald of LCMS World Mission, and local LCMU
church elders.
At the conclusion of a series of meetings in the fall of 2011 that
included all factions of the LCMU, there was full agreement
that a new constitution was needed that would more clearly
address the issues that had contributed to the internal
tensions and divisions. This agreement led to the convening of
the 4th LCMU Delegates Conference on Oct. 21–23, 2011,
which was attended by 330 delegates representing all LCMU
congregations. At this conference, a new constitution was
approved with the goal of reorganizing the LCMU as a
national synod under the leadership of a presiding bishop. At
the Delegates Conference in November 2015, the LCMU
officially transitioned from being a mission field under the
auspices of the ELCG to a self-governing church body named
the Lutheran Church of Uganda (LCU).
The LCU accepts without reservation the following:
• justification is by God’s Grace alone, through faith
alone, in Christ alone;
• the sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as
the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of
faith and practice; and
• all the symbolical books (confessional documents) of
the Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated
statement and exposition of the Word of God.
Despite the many challenges it has faced as a young and
growing church, God has richly blessed the LCU. The LCU has
planted congregations in all four regions of the country, with
a still-growing membership of over 50,000. The LCU has over
150 congregations organized under seven deaneries (regions
or districts), served by around fifty pastors. Congregations
meet mainly in rented halls, classrooms, members’ homes, or
under trees in the open country. There are also, of course,
many needs—including a need for translation of theological
literature and resources, as there are around 42 spoken
languages in Uganda (the LCU currently serves in 10 language
areas), but most of the materials used by the LCU are in
English.
In 2010 the LCU established a theological seminary to train
men as pastors and to equip both laymen and laywomen in
various vocations of church work. In addition, there are nine
mission training centers operating in the seven deaneries of
the LCU that seek to equip lay people for work in evangelism,
mission, and human care. The LCU is engaged in a wide
variety of human care efforts, including agricultural projects,
provision of clean water and sanitation, health care initiatives,

Resolutions

educational efforts, AIDS care and support, and provision of
food to the hungry.
In September 2016, Bishop Charles Bameka of the LCU,
writing on behalf of the entire church, requested altar and
pulpit fellowship with the LCMS, stating that while “we are a
small, emerging confessional Lutheran church body at the
formative stage, without extensive structures or
organizations,” we are “committed to the full authority of the
Scriptures as the infallible Word of God and subscribe without
reservation to the Book of Concord.” Bishop Bameka noted
that during its entire existence the LCU has been served by
missionaries from both the LCMS and the ELCG, and covets
“support, encouragement and theological guidance from the
LCMS, convinced it will help the Lutheran Church of Uganda
in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of
the Sacraments among the people of Uganda, as we together
conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1
Cor. 1:10) and provide a united defense against schism,
sectarianism (Rom. 16:17) and heresy.” Bishop Bameka also
indicated in his request that “we fully understand that Altar
and Pulpit Fellowship is a relationship that has as its basis
agreement ‘in Doctrine and all its Articles.’”
Various informal discussions took place over the years
between LCU leaders and LCMS officials, including reports to
the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR)
about the theology, practice, and polity of the LCU and its
organizational challenges and status. Finally, in October
2022, Bishop Bameka and several other key leaders of the LCU
met face to face with the CTCR and LCMS President Matthew
Harrison for formal discussions regarding church fellowship.
Following these discussions, and at this same meeting
(October 2022), the CTCR unanimously adopted a motion
recommending the recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship
with the LCU in keeping with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b), which states:
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 (CTCR).
WHEREAS, The LCU (growing out of the LCMU, formed in
1995) was established in 2015 as a confessional Lutheran
church with significant assistance and direct support from the
ELCG and the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, Despite various internal and organizational
challenges, the Holy Spirit enabled the LCU to evangelize
effectively in Uganda, planting congregations in all four
regions of the country with a still-growing membership of
over 50,000 in over 150 congregations, establishing a
seminary and nine mission 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
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 145