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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 9

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
lished a separate church body, the Confessional Lutheran Church
Synod in Uganda, reportedly registered with the Ugandan government. The division appears rooted in regional tensions, as well as
disagreements regarding theological education and seminary governance. In 2022, Enoch Barhuka had established a seminary in
the Southwest Deanery without Bishop Bameka’s authorization,
contributing to the eventual separation.
The LCMS continues its support for the Lutheran Church in
Uganda through LCMS missionaries, educators, and LCMS congregations. The LCU is a treasured sister church and remains committed to confessional Lutheran identity grounded in Holy Scripture
and the Lutheran Confessions, focusing its ministry on proclaiming
the Gospel and administering the Sacraments throughout Uganda.

Malagasy Lutheran Church (FLM)
The FLM represents one of CR’s most significant engagements
in Africa during this triennium. This Lutheran church body, located
primarily in southern Madagascar, comprises 8,500 congregations
with approximately 5 million baptized members and 1,500 active
pastors. FLM history dates to Norwegian missionaries in 1867,
with the church officially established in 1950. The LCMS has actively supported the FLM through OIM and CR collaboration.
In April 2025, President Harrison, CR, and CTCR representatives met with FLM President Rev. Dr. Rakotozafy and other FLM
leaders at the International Center for theological dialogue. The
meeting focused on better understanding the history and practice
of the FLM lay office of mpiandry (shepherd/exorcist). Building
on this productive exchange, CR and OIM are collaborating with
FLM leadership to provide successive LCMS theological educators
at SALT (FLM’s Graduate School of Theology) for fifteen months
(2026–27). Instruction will focus on the Book of Concord, Lutheran dogmatics, and Lutheran church history, with emphasis on the
inspiration, inerrancy, and sufficiency of Holy Scripture. After this
intensive period, CR and the FLM will reevaluate theological education needs. The LWF has openly criticized the FLM’s confessional Lutheranism although the FLM is currently a member.

Ethiopian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC)
The EELC, though smaller than the Ethiopian Evangelical
Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), demonstrates clear confessional Lutheran identity. With 120 congregations, 30 preaching stations, 60 pastors, and 27,000 communicants, the EELC continues
strengthening its theological foundation through sustained engagement with the LCMS.
In March 2024, CR visited Ethiopia for theological dialogue with
EELC leadership. The leaders expressed their need for enhanced
pastoral training, theological resources in Amharic, and support for
their seminary and boarding school. Following this dialogue, Rev.
Michael Frese presented at the July 2024 general church assembly
with 140 pastors, evangelists, and lay leaders present. His presentations on “Lutheran Identity: Scripture, Worship, Baptism, and the
Lord’s Supper” addressed fundamental confessional commitments
and were enthusiastically received.
These engagements have led to theological education plans that
include an emeritus EELC church body president currently pursuing doctoral studies at CTSFW, the EELC seminary president participating in CTSFW’s Faculty Development Program (scheduled
for Spring quarter 2026), and the Amharic Book of Concord and
Amharic hymnal (produced with LCMS assistance) being distributed to each pastor for thorough study. This church body remains

completely committed to growing as a confessional Lutheran
church, and CR fellowship dialogue continues with this promising
associate church.

South East of Lake Victoria Diocese (SELVD) of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT)
Years of theological support from CTSFW professors and OIM
missionaries have moved the SELVD into confessional Lutheranism. SELVD Bishop Yohana Nzelu himself has exercised significant confessional Lutheran influence beyond his diocese and into
the ELCT, a very liberal, LWF-affiliated church. Many other ELCT
diocesan bishops are turning to confessional Lutheranism in Tanzania and beyond.
In March 2024, CR conducted a theological dialogue with SELVD in Tanzania, exploring the diocese’s relationship with the liberal national ELCT. Leaving the ELCT would bring serious financial
and political difficulties for SELVD. SELVD’s under-standing is
that the ELCT has no ecclesiastical authority or influence over it in
doctrine and practice, but only in kingdom of the left governance
regarding legal identity, property, and cooperation in eternals. Yet
to be discussed is the ELCT perspective in these matters. Potential
paths forward include changing the SELVD constitution to safeguard its confessional commitments and to establish it as an autonomous church body with processes for recognizing fellowship with
other confessional Lutheran churches.
At the May 2025 SELVD-LCMS dialogue at the International Center, President Harrison, CR, and CTCR discussed with a
six-member SELVD delegation their significant strides in confessional Lutheranism under Bishop Nzelu’s leadership. SELVD
church leadership also met with their LCMS counterparts for
church body familiarization, theological understanding, and substantive exchange of perspectives on church body identity and
fellowship. These dialogues continue as both church bodies work
toward faithful confession of Christ.

South Africa
In August 2025, CR visited all three LCMS sister church bodies
in South Africa—the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA), the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (LCSA),
and the Confessional Lutheran Synod of South Africa (CLSSA)—
for familiarization and theological education planning. Dr. Shaw
brought LCMS greetings to the FELSISA national convention,
and Rev. Frese preached at a FELSISA congregation. The visits
strengthened fellowship bonds, enabled collaborative planning,
and demonstrated the vitality of confessional Lutheran fellowship
across national and linguistic boundaries.
Throughout Africa, CR’s work during this triennium demonstrates the Spirit’s faithfulness in creating and sustaining confessional Lutheran churches united in Christ’s Word and gathered at
His altar. Challenges remain real—pressures toward WO, the allure
of LWF financial support, and critical shortages of confessional
theological educators. Yet Word and Sacrament, theological education, fellowship dialogue, and the mutual conversation and consolation of the brethren reveal the Lord’s patient, persevering, and
powerful redemptive love in Christ.

Asia
Lutheran Mission—Australia (LM—A)
CR and OIM have continued support of confessional Lutheranism in Australia from the preceding triennium. In January 2024,
2026 Convention Workbook