Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 44

2026 Convention Workbook
9
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
completely committed to growing as a confessional Lutheran 
church, and CR fellowship dialogue continues with this promising 
associate church.
South East of Lake Victoria Diocese (SELVD) of the 
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT)
Years of theological support from CTSFW professors and OIM 
missionaries have moved the SELVD into confessional Lutheran -
ism. SELVD Bishop Yohana Nzelu himself has exercised signifi-
cant confessional Lutheran influence beyond his diocese and into 
the ELCT, a very liberal, LWF-affiliated church. Many other ELCT 
diocesan bishops are turning to confessional Lutheranism in Tan-
zania and beyond.
In March 2024, CR conducted a theological dialogue with SEL-
VD in Tanzania, exploring the diocese’s relationship with the liber-
al national ELCT. Leaving the ELCT would bring serious financial 
and political difficulties for SELVD. SELVD’s under-standing is 
that the ELCT has no ecclesiastical authority or influence over it in 
doctrine and practice, but only in kingdom of the left governance 
regarding legal identity, property, and cooperation in eternals. Yet 
to be discussed is the ELCT perspective in these matters. Potential 
paths forward include changing the SELVD constitution to safe-
guard its confessional commitments and to establish it as an auton-
omous church body with processes for recognizing fellowship with 
other confessional Lutheran churches.
At the May 2025 SELVD-LCMS dialogue at the Internation -
al Center, President Harrison, CR, and CTCR discussed with a 
six-member SELVD delegation their significant strides in con-
fessional Lutheranism under Bishop Nzelu’s leadership. SELVD 
church leadership also met with their LCMS counterparts for 
church body familiarization, theological understanding, and sub-
stantive exchange of perspectives on church body identity and 
fellowship. These dialogues continue as both church bodies work 
toward faithful confession of Christ.
South Africa
In August 2025, CR visited all three LCMS sister church bodies 
in South Africa—the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Af-
rica (FELSISA), the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (LCSA), 
and the Confessional Lutheran Synod of South Africa (CLSSA)—
for familiarization and theological education planning. Dr. Shaw 
brought LCMS greetings to the FELSISA national convention, 
and Rev. Frese preached at a FELSISA congregation. The visits 
strengthened fellowship bonds, enabled collaborative planning, 
and demonstrated the vitality of confessional Lutheran fellowship 
across national and linguistic boundaries.
Throughout Africa, CR’s work during this triennium demon-
strates the Spirit’s faithfulness in creating and sustaining confes-
sional Lutheran churches united in Christ’s Word and gathered at 
His altar. Challenges remain real—pressures toward WO, the allure 
of LWF financial support, and critical shortages of confessional 
theological educators. Yet Word and Sacrament, theological edu-
cation, fellowship dialogue, and the mutual conversation and con-
solation of the brethren reveal the Lord’s patient, persevering, and 
powerful redemptive love in Christ.
Asia
Lutheran Mission—Australia (LM—A)
CR and OIM have continued support of confessional Luther -
anism in Australia from the preceding triennium. In January 2024, 
lished a separate church body, the Confessional Lutheran Church 
Synod in Uganda, reportedly registered with the Ugandan govern-
ment. The division appears rooted in regional tensions, as well as 
disagreements regarding theological education and seminary gov-
ernance. In 2022, Enoch Barhuka had established a seminary in 
the Southwest Deanery without Bishop Bameka’s authorization, 
contributing to the eventual separation.
The LCMS continues its support for the Lutheran Church in 
Uganda through LCMS missionaries, educators, and LCMS con-
gregations. The LCU is a treasured sister church and remains com-
mitted to confessional Lutheran identity grounded in Holy Scripture 
and the Lutheran Confessions, focusing its ministry on proclaiming 
the Gospel and administering the Sacraments throughout Uganda.
Malagasy Lutheran Church (FLM)
The FLM represents one of CR’s most significant engagements 
in Africa during this triennium. This Lutheran church body, located 
primarily in southern Madagascar, comprises 8,500 congregations 
with approximately 5 million baptized members and 1,500 active 
pastors. FLM history dates to Norwegian missionaries in 1867, 
with the church officially established in 1950. The LCMS has ac-
tively supported the FLM through OIM and CR collaboration.
In April 2025, President Harrison, CR, and CTCR representa -
tives met with FLM President Rev. Dr. Rakotozafy and other FLM 
leaders at the International Center for theological dialogue. The 
meeting focused on better understanding the history and practice 
of the FLM lay office of mpiandry (shepherd/exorcist). Building 
on this productive exchange, CR and OIM are collaborating with 
FLM leadership to provide successive LCMS theological educators 
at SALT (FLM’s Graduate School of Theology) for fifteen months 
(2026–27). Instruction will focus on the Book of Concord, Luther-
an dogmatics, and Lutheran church history, with emphasis on the 
inspiration, inerrancy, and sufficiency of Holy Scripture. After this 
intensive period, CR and the FLM will reevaluate theological edu-
cation needs. The LWF has openly criticized the FLM’s confession-
al Lutheranism although the FLM is currently a member.
Ethiopian Evangelical Lutheran Church (EELC)
The EELC, though smaller than the Ethiopian Evangelical 
Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), demonstrates clear confession-
al Lutheran identity. With 120 congregations, 30 preaching sta-
tions, 60 pastors, and 27,000 communicants, the EELC continues 
strengthening its theological foundation through sustained engage-
ment with the LCMS.
In March 2024, CR visited Ethiopia for theological dialogue with 
EELC leadership. The leaders expressed their need for enhanced 
pastoral training, theological resources in Amharic, and support for 
their seminary and boarding school. Following this dialogue, Rev. 
Michael Frese presented at the July 2024 general church assembly 
with 140 pastors, evangelists, and lay leaders present. His presen-
tations on “Lutheran Identity: Scripture, Worship, Baptism, and the 
Lord’s Supper” addressed fundamental confessional commitments 
and were enthusiastically received.
These engagements have led to theological education plans that 
include an emeritus EELC church body president currently pursu-
ing doctoral studies at CTSFW, the EELC seminary president par -
ticipating in CTSFW’s Faculty Development Program (scheduled 
for Spring quarter 2026), and the Amharic Book of Concord and 
Amharic hymnal (produced with LCMS assistance) being distrib-
uted to each pastor for thorough study. This church body remains