Official Workbook PDF page source text

2026 Convention Workbook 8

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

Shadrack Donkoh formally notified the LWF General Secretary of the withdrawal on Oct. 8, 2023. Also in October, Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, executive director of the CTCR, visited Ghana to make a related presentation to ELCG lay leaders, providing encouragement and theological support. Throughout the process, Bishop Donkoh and the ELCG leadership conducted their correspondence with the LWF with Christian dignity, clarity, and firmness, maintaining both theological integrity and fraternal respect. The LCMS rejoices with our sister church in Ghana for their faithful stand on God’s Word and looks forward to continued fellowship in confessing Christ crucified.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK)

In August 2025, CR attended the ELCK’s general pastoral and bishops’ workshop, delivering theological presentations on unity in Christ’s Word and the LWF today. The instruction proved well-received through lively discussion, thoughtful questions, and the ELCK’s scheduled reconsideration of LWF membership at their next national convention. During this visit, CR also met privately with bishops from nine other confessional Lutheran church bodies, strengthening fellowship bonds, faithful confession, and mutual encouragement amid contemporary challenges. These leaders included Archbishop Joseph Ochola Omolo (ELCK, Kenya; host); Bishop John Donkoh (ELCG, Ghana); Bishop Christian Ekong (LCN, Nigeria); President Denis Rakotozafy (FLM, Madagascar); Bishop Yohana Nzelu (South East of Lake Victoria Diocese, ELCT, Tanzania); Rev. John Gwandu, representing Bishop Nicolaus Nsangsnzelu (Mbulu Diocese, ELCT, Tanzania); Rev. Silvanus Msuya, representing Bishop Daniel Mono (Mwanga Diocese, ELCT, Tanzania); Rev. Jackson Mushendwa (Western Diocese, ELCT, Tanzania); Bishop Selestine Seburikoko (LMA-STH, Rwanda); and Rev.

Mussie Alazar (EELC, Ethiopia).

Lutheran Church of Uganda (LCU)

The LCMS recognized altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCU at the 2023 convention. The LCU traces its origins to missionary work from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK), with Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG) and LCMS collaboration. Initially established as the Lutheran Church Mission Uganda (LCMU), the church body reorganized as the Lutheran Church of Uganda in 2015, with Rev. Charles Bameka elected as bishop in 2015 and consecrated in 2017. Bishop Bameka’s leader - ship has consistently emphasized strong education and Word and Sacrament ministry as the church’s central calling.

In December 2023, following reports requiring clarification, Rev. Frese attended the LCU’s regular synodical convention in Jinja, Uganda, to observe firsthand the church body’s governance and electoral processes. The convention proceeded with transparency and proper ecclesiastical order. Elections were conducted with integrity and according to the LCU’s constitutional procedures, and Bishop Bameka was reelected. Present as fraternal observers were Archbishop Joseph Omolo (ELCK, Kenya), retired Bishop David Tswaedi (LCSA, South Africa), and President John Shadrack Donkoh (ELCG, Ghana), who served as founding pastor of the LCMU.

These sister church leaders familiar with the LCU’s history witnessed the lawful proceedings.

Regrettably, internal tensions resulted in a division within the LCU in late 2023. Rev. Benson Barhuka, dean of the Southwest Deanery, and his son Enoch Barhuka, both educated in South Africa, departed from the LCU along with several pastors and recent graduates from Lutheran Theological College Uganda. They estabThe OLS grew out of the new approach to education taught by the Wittenberg Reformers. It was built in 1564 as the city school for boys. In 2007, the International Lutheran Society of Wittenberg (ILSW) purchased the building and developed it into the Interna - tional Lutheran Center at the OLS. In 2019, the ILC joined LCMS, Germany’s Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK), and Concordia Publishing House as ILSW members. The OLS provides a place for people to learn, grow, study, meet, retreat, and experi - ence the Gospel in Wittenberg, home of the Reformation. The center is directly adjacent to St. Mary’s City Church, where the great reformer of the church, Martin Luther, preached the pure Gospel:

All are saved through faith, not according to their works, but by God’s grace in Christ. The OLS holds regular Divine Services and Bible classes, and offers a confessional Lutheran interpretation of the Reformation, which otherwise would not exist in Wittenberg, the birthplace of the Reformation.

Czech Republic, Missions, and Fellowship During an OIM Eurasia educational forum held Oct. 21–26, 2025, in Wittenberg, Germany, Rev. Krikava presented a paper on language acquisition in church planting as a vital step in forming indigenous churches that seek church fellowship with the planting mission church.

From Nov. 1 to 7, 2025, and during travel to Plzeň, Czech Republic, Rev. Krikava served as facilitator/translator for Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) President Glenn Obenberger and Rev. Steve Sparley, a member of the ELS Board for World Outreach. The ELS trip’s purpose was to determine the state of an ELS mission begun in 1990 but without missionaries since the early 2000s. Use of a Roman Catholic deacon for church services and support of an attached non-Lutheran school taught a clear lesson: Lutheran missions need Lutheran pastors.

Rev. Krikava then traveled to Prague to meet with Rev. Martin Damašek, acting bishop of Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in the Czech Republic (ECA VvČR). Under his leadership, the ECA VvČR’s interest in pursuing church fellowship with the LCMS is gaining momentum.

Africa In the triennium since the 2023 convention, CR has witnessed the Lord’s rich blessing on confessional Lutheran churches on the African continent. From the historic fellowship recognition with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan and Sudan and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Uganda, to addressing LWF aggression against confessional Lutheran churches, to expanding fellowship dialogues with associate churches, to intensifying theological education initiatives from Madagascar to Ethiopia, the Spirit’s work in creating and sustaining unity in Christ’s Word is bearing fruit among our African sister and associate churches.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG)

With confessional courage grounded in Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, the ELCG withdrew from membership in the LWF in October 2023. The ELCG’s Annual Delegates Conference in March 2023 passed a resolution calling to sever the church’s relationship with the LWF and its affiliates. The resolution affirmed the ELCG’s commitment to the inspired and infallible Holy Scriptures as the source and norm of all doctrines and practices, and to the Lutheran Confessions contained in the Book of Concord as the true exposition of the Holy Scriptures. The ELCG Board of Directors affirmed that action in June 2023, and President/Bishop John