Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 48

2026 Convention Workbook
13
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
tions have also shown value in discussing international church rela-
tions challenges, as LCMS sister and associate churches frequently 
work in similar geographical areas as NALC sister churches.
Ecclesiastical Relations of the LCMS
The LCMS enjoys ecclesiastical relations with 103 church bod-
ies in a total of 73 countries representing 22 million people around 
the world. The purpose of LCMS Church Relations is to advance 
church fellowship in Christ worldwide. The LCMS recognizes a 
single form of church fellowship—altar and pulpit fellowship—
but has three categories of church relations or engagements with 
church bodies.
The LCMS has 43 sister church bodies—those with whom the 
LCMS is in altar and pulpit fellowship (united in the confession of 
the Gospel in all its articles). The LCMS collaborates with sister 
churches, sharing Christ’s Word and Sacraments worldwide and 
building each other up in unity of confession, worship, and works 
of love. LCMS members are encouraged to attend a sister church’s 
Divine Service when in country, announce themselves to the pastor, 
and may request to be communed.
The LCMS has 38 associate church bodies with whom it is 
working toward and praying for altar and pulpit fellowship. The 
LCMS seeks to strengthen mutual understanding and faithfulness 
with associate churches through visitation, theological dialogue, 
theological education, and mercy ministry. LCMS members are en-
couraged to attend associate church divine services when in coun-
try but should not commune.
The LCMS also relates with 23 other church bodies, working 
toward faithful ecumenism. The goal is to examine with clarity and 
honesty where we agree and disagree theologically (with this dis-
agreement precluding foreseeable fellowship), seek to grow in mu-
tual understanding, and produce occasional statements to confess 
biblical truths to an increasingly secular world.
The church bodies below (see “Praying for the Churches”) are 
listed by category and generally in alphabetical order by country. 
If you would like further background or contact information about 
a specific church body, please email the LCMS Office of the Pres-
ident, Attention: Church Relations, michael.frese@lcms.org or 
georgia.endicott@lcms.org.
Praying for the Churches
Dr. Martin Luther urged that prayers be offered for the Church 
throughout the world, that the Gospel might be purely preached 
and the Sacraments rightly administered according to Christ’s com-
mand and institution. Listed below is a schedule for remembering 
our LCMS sister, associate, and other churches before God’s throne 
of grace. LCMS congregations are encouraged to offer petitions for 
these churches in the Sunday Prayer of the Church; individuals are 
also encouraged to pray for them at home. A sample prayer follows:
Almighty God, You have called Your Church to witness that in 
Christ You have reconciled the world to Yourself. Grant that 
by Your Holy Spirit we may proclaim the good news of Your 
salvation throughout the world so that all who hear it may 
receive the gifts of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. We 
especially pray for: [select based on church body category: 
sister, associate, or other]
•	 Our LCMS sister churches, [names and countries]. Bless 
them with Your Word of grace and truth, strengthen the faith 
of the baptized, bestow peace throughout their congrega-
has been to examine with clarity and honesty where we agree and 
disagree theologically (with this disagreement precluding foresee-
able fellowship), seek to grow in mutual understanding, and pro-
duce occasional statements to confess biblical truths to an increas -
ingly secular world. During the present triennium, these meetings 
have continued, generally with a Zoom session one year and an 
in-person meeting the next.
Because Anglicans do not subscribe to the Lutheran Confes-
sions, and because some ACNA bishops ordain women, church fel-
lowship is not realistic. Past discussions have included the history 
of the churches, understandings of authority and ministry in the 
church, the doctrine and practice of the Lord’s Supper, and issues 
related to marriage and human sexuality. In 2012, a joint statement 
on marriage was prepared and published by the church bodies. Re-
cent meetings have produced a paper on “faithful ecumenism,” a 
respectful, honest approach to differences in theology and practice. 
The in-person meeting scheduled for late April 2026 in Dallas may 
forward this paper to church body heads for consideration. Other 
meeting topics for the triennium include a three-fold office of min-
istry and anthropology/creation.
Anglican Province of America, Anglican Church of 
America, and Anglican Catholic Church 
(APA/ACA/ACC)
An initial meeting between theologians and leaders of the LCMS 
and the APA/ACA/ACC occurred in May 2024 in the LCMS Inter-
national Center. These Anglo-Catholics hold a high view of Scrip-
ture that does not permit the ordination of women. They approached 
the LCMS as a biblically based, confessional Lutheran church, de-
siring to understand it better as a first ecumenical step. Anglicans 
present were the Rt. Rev. Brian Marsh (Ecumenical Officer for the 
ACA and the Traditional Anglican Church [TAC]), the Rt. Rev. 
Patrick S. Fodor (St. John’s Cathedral, Quincy, IL – ACA), the Rt. 
Rev. Paul Hewett (Cathedral Church of the Epiphany, Columbia, 
SC – ACC), and the Most Rev. Mark Haverland (Archbishop of the 
ACC, St. Stephen’s, Athens, GA – ACC). LCMS participants in-
cluded President Harrison; Dr. Shaw, Rev. Frese, and Rev. Krikava 
(CR); Dr. Lehenbauer and Dr. Serina (CTCR); and Dr. Harmelink 
(CHI). Topics included background on the history of the churches 
and their understandings of theological authority and church fel-
lowship. A follow-up meeting is planned for 2026.
North American Lutheran Church (NALC)
Representatives of the LCMS, LCC, and NALC have continued 
their dialogue, established in 2011, meeting twice yearly (once via 
Zoom and once in person) throughout the triennium. LCMS repre-
sentatives included CR, CTCR, and CTSFW faculty.
During the April 2024 meeting in Ambridge, Pa., the NALC 
reported establishing a Lutheran faculty at Trinity School for Min-
istry, an Anglican institution that also trains women for the pasto-
ral ministry. While a spectrum of opinion exists within the NALC 
regarding WO, they are currently preparing an official document 
explaining their position. A November 2026 in-person meeting is 
planned to discuss that document and address the doctrine and prac-
tice of WO directly.
Although altar and pulpit fellowship with the NALC is not pos-
sible due to fundamental confessional differences, particularly re-
garding WO and biblical hermeneutics, the conversations advance 
mutual theological understanding, practice faithful ecumenism, and 
enable collaboration on joint moral statements addressing religious 
freedom and the God-given value of human life. These conversa-