Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 46

2026 Convention Workbook
11
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
gagement with faithful Japanese Lutherans committed to Scripture 
and the Lutheran Confessions.
South America
Iglesia Cristiana Evangélica Luterana Boliviana (ICEL)
The recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with the Christian 
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia marks one of the most sig-
nificant developments in South American church relations during 
this triennium. This small but vibrant confessional Lutheran church 
body represents the fruit of over 12 years of theological education 
and collaboration involving LCMS CR, OIM, LCMS seminary pro-
fessors, and the Centro de Misericordia Seminario Concordia el 
Reformador (CMSCR) in the Dominican Republic.
Following initial fellowship dialogue in 2022 and President 
Limberth Fernández’s first presentation to the CTCR in 2023, CR 
conducted a second fellowship dialogue in April 2024. The LCMS 
delegation—Dr. Shaw (CR), Dr. Lehenbauer (CTCR), Rev. Frese 
(CR), Rev. Mark Braden (fellowship committee), and Rev. James 
Sharp (OIM)—engaged with five ICEL church leaders in substan-
tive theological discussion. The dialogue demonstrated ICEL’s sol-
id grounding in confessional Lutheran theology and practice. Of 
particular significance was ICEL’s constitutional revision to reflect 
a quia subscription to the entirety of the Lutheran Confessions as 
faithful witnesses to the inspired, inerrant Holy Scriptures, which 
serve as the sole authority for church body doctrine and practice. 
This represented a maturation in confessional commitment beyond 
many established Lutheran church bodies.
In February 2025, President Fernández presented to the CTCR 
for the second time, answering questions about ICEL’s constitution, 
theological education, and pastoral formation. The CTCR unani-
mously recommended recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship via 
Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b) (2), which provides for “formal recognition of 
altar and pulpit fellowship between the Synod and a small, forma-
tive, emerging confessional Lutheran church body,” subject to en-
dorsement by the subsequent Synod convention. Following consul-
tation with the Praesidium, President Harrison officially recognized 
fellowship with ICEL on May 4, 2025.
On May 24, 2025, Dr. Shaw presented the letter of fellowship 
to President Fernández at the OIM symposium in the Dominican 
Republic. With presidents from LCMS sister churches throughout 
Central and South America gathered at CMSCR, Dr. Shaw and 
President Fernández celebrated the Lord’s Supper together for the 
first time—a profoundly moving expression of unity in Christ’s 
body and blood.
ICEL comprises 16 congregations and missions, 11 pastors, 
and 972 members. The church body is bilingual: 40 percent Span-
ish-speaking concentrated in Bolivia’s cities and 60 percent Quec-
hua-speaking concentrated in the rural highlands. All ICEL pastors 
are ordained with a quia subscription oath. The church recognized 
church fellowship with the IELB (Brazil) in 2004 and became a full 
member of the ILC in 2022.
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB)
The IELB continues as the LCMS’ oldest and largest sister 
church, established as a church in 1904. Throughout this triennium, 
the IELB has provided crucial support for confessional Lutheran -
ism throughout South America. IELB Vice-President Rev. Airton 
S. Schroeder conducted the historic ICEL (Bolivia) ordinations in 
2022, with IELB and ICEL already in church fellowship.
Absolution. Private meetings with President Kim emphasized the 
LCK’s rejection of WO, identified the need for a bilingual lecturer 
in the Lutheran Confessions at Luther University (which houses 
their seminary), and discussed aspirations for expanding secondary 
education and seminary outreach.
In September 2025, CR met with President Kim and the LCK 
executive board on strategic direction, and with LCK pastors on 
pastoral leadership regarding fellowship as confessional unity, the 
Lord’s Supper, and the LWF. Shortly thereafter, President Jong-Ho 
Won was elected as LCK president. He immediately requested con-
tinued CR assistance regarding theological and liturgical formation 
and continuing education for his pastors and the church. Because 
many LCK pastors do not possess an adequate grasp of the Luther-
an Confessions, theological and liturgical education will remain a 
critical need in the years ahead.
Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS)
At the invitation of President Allan Yung, CR Director Dr. Shaw 
conducted a familiarization visit to Hong Kong and preached at the 
annual LCHKS convention, April 23–29, 2024. President Yung was 
reelected to his tenth consecutive three-year term, marking nearly 
30 years of faithful service as president of this sister church of the 
LCMS. Discussions focused on the extensive state-supported so-
cial and educational programs run by the church, but in which the 
state does not allow Christian expression. Opportunities for Word 
and Sacrament ministry were explored.
The Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP)
At President Antonio del Rio Reyes’ invitation, CR Director Dr. 
Shaw visited the LCP April 29–May 2, 2024. He was honored to 
tour various congregations and LCP offices and teach and preach at 
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Baguio. Conversations explored 
LCP-LCMS church relations and the possibility of developing an 
English-speaking joint seminary program in Asia that could serve 
multiple confessional Lutheran church bodies in the region and 
strengthen theological education across national boundaries.
CR attended the ILC World Conference in September 2025, 
held in Bohol, Philippines. During the conference, meetings with 
sister church presidents and bishops addressed ongoing fellowship 
questions and theological education. Honest discussion within the 
ILC conference revealed two understandings of church fellowship: 
the one recognized based on agreement in the doctrine of the Gos-
pel in all its articles, the other assumed based on Lutheran commit-
ments to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments where 
no known moral or theological impediments exist. (See details 
above, at “Ecclesiology, Fellowship, and the Nordic-Baltic-Rus-
sian Churches.”) This distinction requires further attention in ILC 
gatherings and bilateral dialogues.
Confessional Lutheranism in Japan
Following the 2023 Synod convention resolution that the LCMS 
could no longer recognize altar and pulpit fellowship with the Ja-
pan Lutheran Church (see endnote 6), CR has worked to invigorate 
confessional Lutheran presence in Japan. In November 2023, Dr. 
Shaw accompanied OIM missionary Dr. Daniel Jastram and met 
with confessional Lutheran leaders outside the JLC structure. The 
goal is to build relationships and a shared resource framework to 
enhance confessional Lutheran witness in Japan. The LCMS con-
tinues supporting this work through missionaries, through partner-
ship with Pastor Manubu Wakabayashi, and through ongoing en-