Official Workbook PDF page source text

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 significant 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 Tanzania and beyond.

In March 2024, CR conducted a theological dialogue with SELVD in Tanzania, exploring the diocese’s relationship with the liberal 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 safeguard its confessional commitments and to establish it as an autonomous 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 confessional Lutheranism under Bishop Nzelu’s leadership. SELVD church leadership also met with their LCMS counterparts for church body familiarization, theological understanding, and substantive 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 Africa (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 demonstrates the Spirit’s faithfulness in creating and sustaining confessional 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 education, fellowship dialogue, and the mutual conversation and consolation 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 government. The division appears rooted in regional tensions, as well as disagreements regarding theological education and seminary governance. 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 congregations. The LCU is a treasured sister church and remains committed 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 actively 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, Lutheran 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 education needs. The LWF has openly criticized the FLM’s confessional 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 confessional Lutheran identity. With 120 congregations, 30 preaching stations, 60 pastors, and 27,000 communicants, the EELC continues strengthening its theological foundation through sustained engagement 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 presentations 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 pursuing 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 distributed to each pastor for thorough study. This church body remains