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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 8

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

The OLS grew out of the new approach to education taught by
the Wittenberg Reformers. It was built in 1564 as the city school
for boys. In 2007, the International Lutheran Society of Wittenberg
(ILSW) purchased the building and developed it into the International Lutheran Center at the OLS. In 2019, the ILC joined LCMS,
Germany’s Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK), and
Concordia Publishing House as ILSW members. The OLS provides
a place for people to learn, grow, study, meet, retreat, and experience the Gospel in Wittenberg, home of the Reformation. The center is directly adjacent to St. Mary’s City Church, where the great
reformer of the church, Martin Luther, preached the pure Gospel:
All are saved through faith, not according to their works, but by
God’s grace in Christ. The OLS holds regular Divine Services and
Bible classes, and offers a confessional Lutheran interpretation of
the Reformation, which otherwise would not exist in Wittenberg,
the birthplace of the Reformation.

Czech Republic, Missions, and Fellowship
During an OIM Eurasia educational forum held Oct. 21–26,
2025, in Wittenberg, Germany, Rev. Krikava presented a paper on
language acquisition in church planting as a vital step in forming
indigenous churches that seek church fellowship with the planting
mission church.
From Nov. 1 to 7, 2025, and during travel to Plzeň, Czech Republic, Rev. Krikava served as facilitator/translator for Evangelical
Lutheran Synod (ELS) President Glenn Obenberger and Rev. Steve
Sparley, a member of the ELS Board for World Outreach. The ELS
trip’s purpose was to determine the state of an ELS mission begun in 1990 but without missionaries since the early 2000s. Use
of a Roman Catholic deacon for church services and support of an
attached non-Lutheran school taught a clear lesson: Lutheran missions need Lutheran pastors.
Rev. Krikava then traveled to Prague to meet with Rev. Martin
Damašek, acting bishop of Evangelical Church of the Augsburg
Confession in the Czech Republic (ECAVvČR). Under his leadership, the ECAVvČR’s interest in pursuing church fellowship with
the LCMS is gaining momentum.

Africa
In the triennium since the 2023 convention, CR has witnessed
the Lord’s rich blessing on confessional Lutheran churches on the
African continent. From the historic fellowship recognition with
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan and Sudan and
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Uganda, to addressing LWF
aggression against confessional Lutheran churches, to expanding fellowship dialogues with associate churches, to intensifying
theological education initiatives from Madagascar to Ethiopia, the
Spirit’s work in creating and sustaining unity in Christ’s Word is
bearing fruit among our African sister and associate churches.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG)
With confessional courage grounded in Holy Scripture and the
Lutheran Confessions, the ELCG withdrew from membership in
the LWF in October 2023. The ELCG’s Annual Delegates Conference in March 2023 passed a resolution calling to sever the church’s
relationship with the LWF and its affiliates. The resolution affirmed
the ELCG’s commitment to the inspired and infallible Holy Scriptures as the source and norm of all doctrines and practices, and to
the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord as the
true exposition of the Holy Scriptures. The ELCG Board of Directors affirmed that action in June 2023, and President/Bishop John
2026 Convention Workbook

Shadrack Donkoh formally notified the LWF General Secretary of
the withdrawal on Oct. 8, 2023. Also in October, Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, executive director of the CTCR, visited Ghana to make a
related presentation to ELCG lay leaders, providing encouragement
and theological support. Throughout the process, Bishop Donkoh
and the ELCG leadership conducted their correspondence with the
LWF with Christian dignity, clarity, and firmness, maintaining both
theological integrity and fraternal respect. The LCMS rejoices with
our sister church in Ghana for their faithful stand on God’s Word
and looks forward to continued fellowship in confessing Christ crucified.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK)
In August 2025, CR attended the ELCK’s general pastoral and
bishops’ workshop, delivering theological presentations on unity in
Christ’s Word and the LWF today. The instruction proved well-received through lively discussion, thoughtful questions, and the
ELCK’s scheduled reconsideration of LWF membership at their
next national convention. During this visit, CR also met privately
with bishops from nine other confessional Lutheran church bodies,
strengthening fellowship bonds, faithful confession, and mutual encouragement amid contemporary challenges. These leaders included Archbishop Joseph Ochola Omolo (ELCK, Kenya; host); Bishop John Donkoh (ELCG, Ghana); Bishop Christian Ekong (LCN,
Nigeria); President Denis Rakotozafy (FLM, Madagascar); Bishop
Yohana Nzelu (South East of Lake Victoria Diocese, ELCT, Tanzania); Rev. John Gwandu, representing Bishop Nicolaus Nsangsnzelu (Mbulu Diocese, ELCT, Tanzania); Rev. Silvanus Msuya,
representing Bishop Daniel Mono (Mwanga Diocese, ELCT, Tanzania); Rev. Jackson Mushendwa (Western Diocese, ELCT, Tanzania); Bishop Selestine Seburikoko (LMA-STH, Rwanda); and Rev.
Mussie Alazar (EELC, Ethiopia).

Lutheran Church of Uganda (LCU)
The LCMS recognized altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCU
at the 2023 convention. The LCU traces its origins to missionary
work from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK),
with Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG) and LCMS
collaboration. Initially established as the Lutheran Church Mission
Uganda (LCMU), the church body reorganized as the Lutheran
Church of Uganda in 2015, with Rev. Charles Bameka elected as
bishop in 2015 and consecrated in 2017. Bishop Bameka’s leadership has consistently emphasized strong education and Word and
Sacrament ministry as the church’s central calling.
In December 2023, following reports requiring clarification,
Rev. Frese attended the LCU’s regular synodical convention in Jinja, Uganda, to observe firsthand the church body’s governance and
electoral processes. The convention proceeded with transparency
and proper ecclesiastical order. Elections were conducted with integrity and according to the LCU’s constitutional procedures, and
Bishop Bameka was reelected. Present as fraternal observers were
Archbishop Joseph Omolo (ELCK, Kenya), retired Bishop David
Tswaedi (LCSA, South Africa), and President John Shadrack Donkoh (ELCG, Ghana), who served as founding pastor of the LCMU.
These sister church leaders familiar with the LCU’s history witnessed the lawful proceedings.
Regrettably, internal tensions resulted in a division within the
LCU in late 2023. Rev. Benson Barhuka, dean of the Southwest
Deanery, and his son Enoch Barhuka, both educated in South Africa, departed from the LCU along with several pastors and recent
graduates from Lutheran Theological College Uganda. They estab-