LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 10

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

10

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

CR hosted a fraternal theological dialogue with an LM—A contingent led by LM—A President Matt Anker. President Harrison
led the LCMS contingent; also present were CR, First Vice-President Peter Lange, and leadership from OIM, CTCR, both LCMS
seminaries, LCMS Church Planting, and St. Catharines Seminary.
President Anker presented on the theological crisis in Australian
Lutheranism, sharing LM—A’s Confessional Statement and Theses
of Agreement. Confessional members within the Lutheran Church
of Australia (LCA) stated their deep concerns about the LCA’s
theological direction regarding biblical authority, WO, seminary
training, and adherence to the LCA’s constitution. The dialogue
included joint study of the Book of Concord on unity in Christ, confession, and the Lord’s Supper, brainstorming on LM—A seminary
education options, and strategic planning. The LCMS expressed
complete support for the LM—A.
The Oct. 4–7, 2024, convention of the General Synod of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ) made the
final decision to pursue WO through a “one church with two different practices of ordination” model. The LCANZ argued that Scripture is insufficient to decide the question of WO, fundamentally
undercutting biblical authority while claiming this represented only
a change in practice, not doctrine. Following this decision, LM—A
held its official launch Nov. 23, 2024, with Dr. Shaw addressing the
gathering. The following day, Rev. Antonio Reyes, President of the
Lutheran Church in the Philippines, installed Rev. Matt Anker as
LM—A president. The LCANZ subsequently ordained two women
as pastors on Apr. 13 and 17, 2025—the first such ordinations in
LCANZ history.
Since its launch, the LM—A has been blessed by its faithful
confession. October 2025 statistics reflect 600 baptized in 15 new
church plants, 13 LCA congregations in the process of joining or
likely to join, and 17 pastors on the clergy roster, with 11 more in
the colloquy process. Plans are proceeding for the LM—A’s constituting synodical convention in August 2026. CR has continued
to engage with theological education in Australia, and the CTCR’s
Dr. Lehenbauer has led presentations on confessional unity at the
altar in August 2025. CR convened fellowship dialogues in October
2024, October 2025, and January 2026. Significantly, the CTCR
voted on Oct. 7, 2025, to recommend recognition of church fellowship between the LCMS and LM—A (see endnote 5). God continues blessing faithful confession of His Word in Australia through
this emerging church body.

India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC)
From Sept. 22 to Oct. 3, 2024, President Harrison, CR, the chief
mission officer, and OIM leadership attended the centenary celebration of Concordia Theological Seminary, Nagercoil, India (CTSN).
President Harrison became the first LCMS president to visit the
IELC since President J.A.O. Preus 60 years prior. After the centenary celebrations, the delegation conducted a productive, three-day
planning meeting with IELC President Balasingh, the IELC’s three
district presidents, and its chief financial and administrative officers. Discussions addressed the IELC’s continued membership in
the LWF, key theological topics, and the critical need for financial
transparency in seminary operations and church governance.
The next year brought unexpected challenges. Internal discord
developed within the IELC regarding the exercise of church body
authority and leadership at CTSN. Dr. Luther reminds us in his
Large Catechism’s explanation of the Third Petition of the Lord’s
Prayer, wherever God’s name is hallowed and His kingdom advances through Word and Sacrament, the devil attacks the church
2026 Convention Workbook

and “strange things” happen. The Office of the President, CR, and
OIM continue supporting confessional Lutheran elements within
India as they navigate these internal difficulties.

The Indonesian Lutheran Christian Church (Gereja
Kristen Luther Indonesia, GKLI)
In November 2023, CR visited Medan, Indonesia, to reinitiate
fellowship dialogue with the GKLI, discussions that had ceased in
2019 due to concerns in doctrine and practice. The visit revealed
significant progress toward confessional Lutheran teaching over
the intervening years, though practical challenges remained, including the difficulty of procuring wine for the Lord’s Supper due
to Indonesia’s Muslim-majority context and prohibitive tariffs.
In its November 2024 follow-up visit, CR led theological education for all GKLI pastors and met with GKLI leadership. The GKLI
has 48 pastors (15 serving as missionaries with 10–12 church plants
each) and a seminary with a seven-year pastoral formation process
(four years of seminary, three years of vicarage). GKLI recognizes
distinct offices of evangelist, elder, and teacher in their congregations. The church body has abandoned WO and moved steadily toward confessional Lutheranism over 20 years. The GKLI maintains
membership in the LWF, though their bishop and church leadership
expressed openness to withdrawal in a patient, churchly manner.
In September 2025, CR led a general pastors’ conference for all
GKLI clergy, addressing the theology and practice of the Lord’s
Supper, closed Communion, and church fellowship. All pastors
affirmed support for the confessional Lutheran understanding of
church fellowship based on the authority of Holy Scripture and a
quia confessional subscription. Three matters require attention: (1)
developing general lay understanding of the distinction between
personal preparation for, and confessional unity celebrated at, the
Lord’s Supper, (2) severing ties with the LWF, and (3) addressing
the substantial number of women elders serving in congregations.
Fellowship dialogue continues as the GKLI demonstrates genuine
commitment to faithful Lutheran confession and practice.

Lutheran Church in Korea (LCK)
The November 2023 CR visit to Seoul built on the fraternal
theological dialogue on WO conducted in January 2023 at CTSFW.
During the November visit, Dr. Shaw met with President Eun Seob
Kim, the newly appointed interim seminary president Dr. Jun Hyun
Kim, and other church officers. Discussions addressed leadership
challenges from a lawsuit filed by a breakaway faction (which the
courts dismissed) and worked toward building stronger relationships of trust with Korean leadership. The November discussions
also reinforced gains from the January dialogue, in which LCK and
LCMS leaders had addressed the rising challenge of WO in the
LCK. That forum led to the production of a book of essays there
presented, Women’s Ordination through the Lens of the Apostles’
Creed: A Fraternal Dialogue of the Lutheran Church in Korea and
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.4 The book documents the
2023 Fort Wayne dialogue and provides substantial theological
resources for Korean pastors and other church bodies worldwide
wrestling with the false doctrine and practice of WO. Plans advanced for translating and publishing the January 2023 essays into
Korean.
The November 2024 LCK pastors’ conference marked a significant milestone as pastors received for the first time the Korean
translation of Women’s Ordination through the Lens of the Apostles’ Creed. At the conference and at LCK’s request, CR led presentations on WO, the LWF, and the practice of Confession and