TO EXHORT LCMS PARTNER CHURCHES TO LEAVE THE LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION Resolution (Late Overture L and L )

Transcription

1 TO EXHORT LCMS PARTNER CHURCHES TO LEAVE THE LUTHERAN WORLD FEDERATION Resolution (Late Overture L and L ) Preamble The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 74 million Christians in 98 countries. It declares that its member churches share a vision, purpose and values. We work to strengthen our relationships and build an inclusive, respectful communion ( Article III of the LWF Constitution states, The Lutheran World Federation is a communion of churches united in pulpit and altar fellowship. The LCMS is not a member of the LWF. The LCMS is a member of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), which is not a communion fellowship. However, the majority of ILC member churches are partner churches of the LCMS with whom we share altar and pulpit fellowship. The July 7 th, 017 Reporter article Boards and Business: International, National Mission states, The Rev. Dr. Al Collver, director of Church Relations for the Synod, provided an overview of two kinds of Lutheranism evident worldwide. He described the differences between church bodies affiliated with the International Lutheran Council (ILC) and the more liberal Lutheran World Federation with its focus on women s ordination, acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle and using a higher critical approach to interpreting Scripture. Collver explained that the ILC exists to encourage, strengthen and promote confessional Lutheran theology and practice. Increasingly, he said, Lutheran church bodies in the Global South are seeking closer ties with the ILC and the LCMS. He pointed out that the LCMS has 6 official partner churches and 5 allied church bodies, which have some degree of partnership but do not yet have altar and pulpit fellowship. An additional 14 emerging church bodies have made contact with the LCMS to learn more about its doctrine and practice. Collver also noted that many large, established church bodies are seeking a more equal partnership with the Synod and desire theological education, financial expertise to better manage growing ministry institutions and help with mercy work. There is no time like the present to have a significant impact on world Lutheranism, said Collver. The LCMS has remained faithful and continues to confess the truth of God s Word as its members subscribe unconditionally to the Book of Concord and as a result has not joined the LWF. Sadly, the LCMS has twelve partner churches with whom we are in full altar and pulpit 1 01

2 fellowship who are members of the LWF. They are as follows with the year they joined the LWF: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana 004 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya 1970 The Lutheran Church of Nigeria 197 India Evangelical Lutheran Church 1970 Japan Lutheran Church 1999 Lutheran Church in Korea 197 Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea) 1979 Lutheran Church in the Philippines 197 Lanka Lutheran Church (Sri Lanka) 001 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia 196 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania 1967 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia 1994 For the sake of our common confession with our partner churches and in love for the true God and His Word, The LCMS should exhort its partner churches to leave the fellowship of the LWF. WHEREAS, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), has as its focus women s ordination, acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle and using a higher critical approach to interpreting Scripture, and WHEREAS, the LWF is a global communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 74 million Christians in 98 countries; and it declares that its member churches share a vision, purpose and values. We work to strengthen our relationships and build an inclusive, respectful communion. We are on a common journey of renewal shaped and enriched by the different contexts within which we live. and WHEREAS, Twelve Partner Churches of the LCMS are members of the LWF, namely, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya The Lutheran Church of Nigeria India Evangelical Lutheran Church Japan Lutheran Church Lutheran Church in Korea Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea) Lutheran Church in the Philippines Lanka Lutheran Church (Sri Lanka) Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia And as Partner Churches we are in full altar and pulpit fellowship, therefore be it 0

3 RESOLVED, that in Christian love, and faithfulness to our common confession of faith, the LCMS exhort the above-named Partner Churches to leave the LWF as soon as possible, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) report on the results of this exhortation one year prior to the opening of the 0 LCMS convention for further continued action, and be it finally RESOLVED, that the Wyoming District submit this Overture to the 019 Convention of the LCMS. 0

4 Late Overture L To Exhort LCMS Partner Churches to Leave the Lutheran World Federation Preamble The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 74 million Christians in 98 countries. And it declares of itself that its members churches share a vision, purpose and values. We work to strengthen our relationships and build an inclusive, respectful communion. We are on a common journey of renewal shaped and enriched by the different contexts within which we live. The LCMS is not a member of the LWF. The LCMS is a member of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), which is not a communion fellowship. However, the majority of ILC member churches are partner churches of The LCMS with whom we share altar and pulpit fellowship. The July 7 th, 017 Reporter article Boards and Business: International, National Mission states, The Rev. Dr. Al Collver, director of Church Relations for the Synod, provided an overview of two kinds of Lutheranism evident worldwide. He described the differences between church bodies affiliated with the International Lutheran Council (ILC) and the more liberal Lutheran World Federation with its focus on women s ordination, acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle and using a higher critical approach to interpreting Scripture. Collver explained that the ILC exists to encourage, strengthen and promote confessional Lutheran theology and practice. Increasingly, he said, Lutheran church bodies in the Global South are seeking closer ties with the ILC and the LCMS. He pointed out that the LCMS has 6 official partner churches and 5 allied church bodies, which have some degree of partnership but do not yet have altar and pulpit fellowship. An additional 14 emerging church bodies have made contact with the LCMS to learn more about its doctrine and practice. Collver also noted that many large, established church bodies are seeking a more equal partnership with the Synod and desire theological education, financial expertise to better manage growing ministry institutions and help with mercy work. There is no time like the present to have a significant impact on world Lutheranism, said Collver. The LCMS has remained faithful and continues to confess the truth of God s Word as its members subscribe unconditionally to the Book of Concord and as a result has not joined the LWF. Sadly, the LCMS has twelve partner churches with whom we are in full altar and pulpit fellowship who are members of the LWF. They are as follows with the year they joined the LWF: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana 004 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya

5 The Lutheran Church of Nigeria 197 India Evangelical Lutheran Church 1970 Japan Lutheran Church 1999 Lutheran Church in Korea 197 Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea) 1979 Lutheran Church in the Philippines 197 Lanka Lutheran Church (Sri Lanka) 001 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia 196 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania 1967 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia 1994 For the sake of our common confession with our partner churches and in love for the true God and His Word, The LCMS should exhort its partner churches to leave the fellowship of the LWF. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), has as its focus women s ordination, acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle and using a higher critical approach to interpreting Scripture, and The LWF is a global communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 74 million Christians in 98 countries. And it declares of itself that its members churches share a vision, purpose and values. We work to strengthen our relationships and build an inclusive, respectful communion. We are on a common journey of renewal shaped and enriched by the different contexts within which we live. and Twelve Partner Churches of the LCMS are members of the LWF, namely, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya The Lutheran Church of Nigeria India Evangelical Lutheran Church Japan Lutheran Church Lutheran Church in Korea Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea) Lutheran Church in the Philippines Lanka Lutheran Church (Sri Lanka) Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia And as Partner Churches we are in full altar and pulpit fellowship, therefore be it Resolved, that in Christian love, and faithfulness to our common confession of faith, the LCMS exhort the above-named Partner Churches to leave the LWF as soon as possible, and be it further 05

6 Resolved, that the CTCR report on the results of this exhortation one year prior to the opening of the 0 LCMS convention for further continued action, and be it finally Resolved, that the Wyoming District submit this Overture to the 019 Convention of the LCMS. Submitted by the Powder River Circuit Forum August 0,

7 Late Overture L To Exhort LCMS Partner Churches to Leave the Lutheran World Federation Preamble The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) is a global communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 74 million Christians in 98 countries. And it declares of itself that its member churches share a vision, purpose and values. We work to strengthen our relationships and build an inclusive, respectful communion. We are on a common journey of renewal shaped and enriched by the different contexts within which we live. Article III of the LWF Constitution states, The Lutheran World Federation is a communion of churches which confess the triune God, agree in the proclamation of the Word of God and are united in pulpit and altar fellowship. The LCMS is not a member of the LWF. The LCMS is a member of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), which is not a communion fellowship. However, the majority of ILC member churches are partner churches of the LCMS with whom we share altar and pulpit fellowship. The July 7 th, 017 Reporter article Boards and Business: International, National Mission states, The Rev. Dr. Al Collver, director of Church Relations for the Synod, provided an overview of two kinds of Lutheranism evident worldwide. He described the differences between church bodies affiliated with the International Lutheran Council (ILC) and the more liberal Lutheran World Federation with its focus on women s ordination, acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle and using a higher critical approach to interpreting Scripture. Collver explained that the ILC exists to encourage, strengthen and promote confessional Lutheran theology and practice. Increasingly, he said, Lutheran church bodies in the Global South are seeking closer ties with the ILC and the LCMS. He pointed out that the LCMS has 6 official partner churches and 5 allied church bodies, which have some degree of partnership but do not yet have altar and pulpit fellowship. An additional 14 emerging church bodies have made contact with the LCMS to learn more about its doctrine and practice. Collver also noted that many large, established church bodies are seeking a more equal partnership with the Synod and desire theological education, financial expertise to better manage growing ministry institutions and help with mercy work. There is no time like the present to have a significant impact on world Lutheranism, said Collver. The LCMS has remained faithful and continues to confess the truth of God s Word as its members subscribe unconditionally to the Book of Concord and as a result has not joined the LWF. Sadly, the LCMS has twelve partner churches with whom we are in full altar and pulpit fellowship who are members of the LWF. They are as follows with the year they joined the LWF: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya 1970 The Lutheran Church of Nigeria

8 India Evangelical Lutheran Church Japan Lutheran Church 1999 Lutheran Church in Korea 197 Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea) 1979 Lutheran Church in the Philippines 197 Lanka Lutheran Church (Sri Lanka) 001 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia 196 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania 1967 Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia 1994 For the sake of our common confession with our partner churches and in love for the True God and His Word, the LCMS should exhort its partner churches leave the fellowship of the LWF. The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), has as its focus women s ordination, acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle and using a higher critical approach to interpreting Scripture, and The LWF is a global communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 74 million Christians in 98 countries. Article III of the LWF constitution states, The Lutheran World Federation is a communion of churches which confess the triune God, agree in the proclamation of the Word of God and are united in pulpit and altar fellowship. It declares of itself that its member churches share a vision, purpose and values. We work to strengthen our relationships and build an inclusive, respectful communion. We are on a common journey of renewal shaped and enriched by the different contexts within which we live. and Twelve Partner Churches of the LCMS are members of the LWF, namely, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, The Lutheran Church of Nigeria, India Evangelical Lutheran Church, Japan Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in Korea, Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea), Lutheran Church in the Philippines, Lanka Lutheran Church (Sri Lanka), Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, and as Partner Churches we are in full altar and pulpit fellowship, therefore be it Resolved, that in Christian love, and faithfulness to our common confession of faith, the LCMS exhort the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, The Lutheran Church of Nigeria, India Evangelical Lutheran Church, Japan Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in Korea, Gutnius Lutheran Church (Papua New Guinea), Lutheran Church in the Philippines, Lanka Lutheran Church (Sri Lanka), Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia to leave the LWF as soon as possible, and be it further 08

9 Resolved, that the CTCR report to the Synod regarding the results of this exhortation one year prior to the opening of the 0 LCMS Convention for further action and be it finally Resolved that the Wyoming District submit this Overture to the 019 Convention of the LCMS. High Plains Circuit Forum 09