Mission Emphasis for January 2015

 The Christmas and Epiphany seasons in the church year are excellent times to remember the Synod's efforts to share the Incarnation, Nativity, Epiphany, Baptism, Death, Resurrection, Ascension of Jesus (see "The Litany" from LSB  pg. 288) with the entire world.  The 140 Synod International Missionaries (career and GEO missionaries) share the Gospel with those who haven't heard it before and work to strengthen Lutheran churches where they serve. Please remember them in your prayers.

January 2015 marks the Synod's Mission Emphasis. The link to the Synod's emphasis on International Mission includes link to bulletin inserts and other resources (including prayer cards for LCMS missionaries)  that can be used by Districts or congregations to increase awareness of international mission work and to support the Synod's missionaries and mission efforts around the world. The LCMS Reporter Insert for the month of January also features international mission work, as does the upcoming January Engage magazine.

With the Lord's help, the coming year looks very exciting for International Mission. Pray that the Lord of the Harvest send labors into his field.

 Rev. Albert B. Collver, Ph.D.
 Director of Church Relations / Regional Operations

A Christmas Song -- John Collver 1828

The Collver (Colver / Culver) family who came over with the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century always had a religious streak. The first Collvers came over with the Puritans but either always were or quickly became Quaker like when they joined the Rogerenes. First settling Groton / Mystic Connecticut and later moving to Schooley's Mountain in New Jersey due to religious persecution by the Puritans, a group of the Collvers became "late loyalists" moving to Simcoe, Canada, to live under the rule of the British Crown. In Canada, the Collvers left behind their Quaker / Rogerene religiosity in favor of Presbyterianism. 

John Collver (b. 1768 - b. 1834), my 5th great grand uncle, wrote a hymnbook, which contains the "Christmas Song," featured in the video. The video features stanzas: 1, 2, 3, and 5. "A Christmas Song" was sung to an 18th century fuguing tune, "Lenox" by Lewis Edson.

A Christmas Song by John Collver, circa 1828.

(Stanzas sung in the Youtube video)

1. This is the glorious day,

When Jesus came on earth

To take our sins away;

Come, view his humble birth:

He's of an humble virgin born,

Made in the lowly human form.

2. Come, view the infant God,

With all his holy charms,

In union with our blood,

In the fond virgin's arms:

He is th' eternal darling son;

By him creation was begun.

3. Give glory to his name, 

To him all pow'r was given;

Made in the human from,

Th' eternal heir of heaven:

To him your christmas offerings bring,

He is the universal King.

5. Come, all ye saints above,

And angels round the King,

Send down your notes of love,

And help his praise to sing:

Join in the joyful jubilee,

His love remains for ever free.

Short biographic information about John Collver from The Long Point Settlers, "THE DOUBLE CULVER QUARTETTE."

"John Culver, third brother in the quartette, was born in New Jersey, in 1768, and was twenty-six years old when he built his log-cabin in the Townsend wilderness. He came a little in advance of his father and brothers, and was the first Culver to effect a settlement in Norfolk. They left New Jersey in early 1793,[11] but the season was spent somewhere about the Grand River, and they did not reach Norfolk before February or March, 1794. The ground was covered with snow, and after crossing the Grand River they had to chop their way through the brush entangled forest. When they reached a certain spot on which is now Lot 1, 11th concession, Townsend, they pitched their tent. The snow was cleared away from the prostate trunk of a huge tree, and a temporary shelter constructed with pine boughs and cow-hides. What a mighty transformation has been effected in Norfolk since Miriam Culver and her three babies cuddled together on a bed of pine boughs by the side of that log a hundred and three years ago! And what were the thoughts of the brave young pioneer as he guarded that rudely constructed couch all through the "silly watches" of that first night? In our imagination we can see the leaping flames and the radiating shadows. It is midnight, and stretching away in every direction is a vast, unbroken and densely wooded forest. Old Townsend's first permanent settler stands with his back to the crackling flames, and, with folded arms, peers into the outlying darkness.[12] Hark! What demonical, blood-curdling sound was that? He listens. It grows louder. On a bed of pine-boughs, by the side of a fallen tree, lies old Townsend's first pioneer mother. She has had a hard day's tramp through the forest, and has fallen into a deep sleep with her babies nestled snuggly in her arms. She is oblivious to her surroundings, and hears not the discordant howls of the blood-thirsty wolves. She is dreaming of her happy, far-away New Jersey home and the dear friends left behind. But the vigilant sentry disturbs not her slumbers. He heaps on more wood and sends the sparkling flames still higher, for well he knows that this is a certain means of warding off attacks of wild beasts.

John Culver was truely a pioneer of pioneers. He was a preacher, but never assumed the duties of the regular pastor. He was a poet, and in 1828 he wrote a volume of hymns which was published as the “Upper Canada Hymn Book.” He was somewhat eccentric in character, and towards the close of his life he became enamored with the doctrines of Universalism. He had five sons—Michael, Gabriel, Darius, John Mark and Hiram; and seven daughters—Rhoda, Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Miriam, Dorcas and Susanna. He died in 1834 in his 67th year, and his wife died in 1852, in her 80th year."

Collver, John. The Upper Canada Hymn Book, for All Christian Denominations With Other Pious Poems, on Various Subjects. St. Catharines [Ont.]: Printed at the Journal Office, for the author, 1828.

The Upper Canada Hymn Book, for All Christian Denominations With Other Pious Poems, on Various Subjects by brandy99

-- Rev. Albert B. Collver, Ph.D., 27 December 2014.

CPH Missionary Gift Registry

    Concordia Publishing House (CPH) in cooperation with the Office of International Mission (OIM) has launched a Missionary Gift Registry to benefit the work of sharing the Gospel overseas. In a joint meeting between the LCMS Regional Directors and Dr. Bruce Kintz of CPH, the Regional Directors asked if CPH could find a way to help missionaries get CPH materials onto the mission field, where emerging churches could make use of the material. CPH created a webpage that contains a list of materials LCMS missionaries would like to sue on the mission field with partner churches, emerging churches, and converts to the Christian faith. The web address is https://www.cph.org/t-international-missions.aspx   Each quarter the regional directors will update the list and provide CPH with a list of needed resources. CPH also is working with LCMS missionaries to identify resources to translate into other languages. Please take a look at the CPH site created to help our LCMS missionaries.   The CPH website helpfully shows the regions of the world where the LCMS works and provides the name of the regional director. This is part of the Latin America list of needed resources. As the image shows, a number of resources have been identified with the quantity required and the amount fulfilled. Eurasia is looking to get LSB hymnals for the Old Latin School in Wittenberg.   Thanks CPH for working with the Office of International Mission on this. It is a great way to collaborate.   -- Rev. Albert B. Collver, Ph.D, Director of Church Relations / Regional Operations

Visit to the Silesian Lutherans (Bohemia)

On Sunday, December 14th, a group from the Missouri Synod arrived in Prague for a week long conference with the Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (SECAC). In 2010, the LCMS and the SECAC, who are not in altar and pulpit fellowship, signed a working agreement describing how the two churches will work in the area of human care (particularly in the area of people with disabilities through Slezská diakonie) and in the realm of theological education and conferences. (Read more about that at http://abc3miscellany.blogspot.com/2010/11/working-agreement-with-silesian.html)

The Slezská diakonie requested that the Missouri Synod present on the topic of the theology of mercy, so that the church can remain closely connected to human care work. Dr. Collver presented on the Biblical view of mercy, both to the Slezská diakonie and to a pastors' conference at the Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (SECAC).

Approximately, One hundred of the 600 staff members attended the conference. Deaconess Grace Rao and Deaconess Dorothy Krans also presented to the staff of the Slezská diakonie.

Pastor James Krikava, Eurasia missionary to Czech Republic and associate Eurasia regional director, presented to the pastors' conference at the Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (SECAC) in Czech. His paper addressed the topic of mercy in pastoral care through confession and absolution.

Above is a short video (15 seconds) of Rev. James Krikava presenting at the SECAC pastors' conference in Czech. The LCMS believes it is very important for her missionaries to know the local language. Rev. Krikava, born and raised in the United States, learned Czech at home from his parents and attained fluency during his 15 years of experience as a missionary to the Czech Republic. 

Rev. Peter Lang, 1st Vice-President of the Kansas District and Pastor at St. John's in Topeka, KS, was part of the LCMS delegation to Silesia. Pastor Lang's congregation has supported the international mission work of the LCMS for the past 15 years, primarily through the Network Supported Missionary (NSM) model. In the video below, Pastor Lang describes how his congregation provides support for Rev. James Krikava in the Czech Republic.

If there is interest to support the work of Rev. James Krikava in the Czech republic please visit: http://lcms.org/krikava

Kay Kreklau, President of from the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), came to the Czech Republic and Poland as part of the LCMS delegation. Kay Kreklau was particularly interested in how the LWML can work more closely with the Office of International Mission (OIM) to better support LCMS missionaries and their work.

The future work of the Eurasia team under Rev. Tony Booker, Regional Director for Eurasia, is looking bright with many opportunities for strengthening Lutheran identity in Central Europe. Rev. Tony Booker also serves as the pastor of St. Michael's English Congregation in Prague.

-- Rev. Albert B. Collver, Ph.D., Director of Church Relations / Regional Operations

Krikava Doing Mission Work in Czech Republic

Pastor James Krikava, associate Eurasia Regional Director, speaks about doing mission work in the Czech Republic. He and Rev. Tony Book, Eurasia Regional Director, are based out of Prague working to strengthen Lutheran identity through out Central Europe, as well as working with established and emerging LCMS partners throughout Europe.

Pastor Peter Lange, 1st VP of the Kansas District and pastor at St. John's Topeka, KS, speaks about his congregation's partnership with the Office of International Mission for the past 15 years and most recently through its support of Pastor James Krikava as a Network Supported Missionary (NSM) in the Czech Republic.

To support Rev. James Krikava's work in the Czech Republic (as Pastor Lange and St John's have) please visit http://www.lcms.org/krikava

Part of the video was shot in the Jesus Church (Kościół Jezusowy) in Polsky Tesin. The Jesus Church holds between 6,000 and 7,000 people. The church was constructed between 1709-1750. It is the largest Lutheran church in the region.

Altar area of the Jesus Church

Looking toward the nave of the Jesus Church.

Entrance to the Jesus Church

Norway’s Defender of Life Børre Knudsen Dead at 76

Norway’s Defender of Life Børre Knudsen Dead at 76



(August 18) Norwegian Bishop Børre Knudsen died quietly in his home near Tromsø Sunday morning, surrounded by his family. Norway’s most prominent pro-Life leader had suffered worsening Parkinson’s Disease in recent years. His passing sparked a wave of praise from Christian and even secular publications across Norway. An editorial in the Christian daily Dagen entitled “Heartfelt Thanks, Borre Knudsen” described him as “a unique person. His warm heart, his gentle zeal and his steadfastness stand as strong testimony to a life of selfless service for the Life that God created.”

“When the history of our times is written,” Dagen continues, “Borre Knudsen will be one future generations will hear about. Knudsen’s struggle is not driven by opposition to women's rights or the preservation of traditional gender roles, but by a strong commitment to protect life itself.”

Vårt Land writes, “Borre Knudsen will go down in history as one of the most important churchly personalities of our time, but both he and his family had to pay a high price because he stood out front in the abortion battle.”

Bishop Knudsen was known throughout Norway and beyond for his gentle demeanor but uncompromising struggle against legalized abortion, beginning when the Norwegian law was adopted in 1978. Protesting the law, he refused to carry out government duties assigned to state church pastors, such as keeping official records, and refused his salary, but continued his pastoral service to his congregation.

This protest was modeled after the Church’s resistance against the World War II Nazi occupation of Norway. When the occupation government attempted to transform the Church along their lines and brainwash children as was then being done in Germany, the bishops wrote a Confession known as “The Church’s Foundation” (Kirkens Grunn). This confessed that the Church is bound to God’s Word, that Word and Sacrament cannot be reshaped by the government, and that parents must resist government efforts to pervert their children’s faith. On Easter Day 1942 this Confession was read from the pulpit in Lutheran churches all over Norway. Most pastors then resigned their state appointments, refusing to serve the government or to accept their government salaries, but continuing their pastoral services. The bishops and many pastors were imprisoned, but the Church remained free and faithful.

Following the Kirkens Grunn model, Knudsen continued to serve his parish despite government efforts to remove him, until the Norwegian Supreme Court ruled against him in 1983. He was not, however, defrocked at that time and continued his ministry in a valgmenighet, a Norwegian form of congregation nominally within the state church, but independent of its bishops. On Easter Day 1991, Knudsen and several other pastors formed the Strandebarm Deanery (Prosti), also called the “Norwegian Church in Exile.” The Deanery viewed itself as continuing the historic faith and practice of the Norwegian Church, but outside the control of the government and the government-appointed bishops. It held to confessional Lutheran positions, and thus opposed the state church, on such matters as abortion, homosexuality, and ordination of women.

Knudsen was consecrated bishop for the Deanery in 1997, and this led to his being defrocked in 2001. He continued serving in the Deanery until 2011, when he retired for health reasons. Bishop Thor Henrik With was consecrated in 2012 to replace Knudsen for the congregations in northern Norway. These congregations constituted themselves into what is now called The Evangelical-Lutheran Diocese in Norway. It cooperates closely with the Mission Province in Sweden and the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese in Finland. Bishop Knudsen was one of the four Lutheran bishops who assisted Bishop Walter Obare of Kenya when he consecrated the first Mission Province bishop, Arne Olsson, in 2005.

Bishop Knudsen led an increasingly controversial series of protest actions in defense of the unborn as long as his health permitted. He was the object of much hatred and abuse by militant abortion supporters. He maintained a gentle but steadfast attitude in the face of much persecution. His family, especially his children, were also targeted for persecution.

Public attitudes toward Bishop Knudsen have mellowed considerably in light of his consistent and gentle witness. He is the subject of a book entitled A Priest and a Plague (En Prest og en Plage) and a full-length documentary film of the same title. The film was released in Norway earlier this year and shown all over that country. Norwegian TV has scheduled a nation-wide prime time broadcast on Tuesday (August 19). The film has been released on DVD in Scandinavia (in Region2 format), and is expected to be released in North America in October.

Coverage (in Norwegian) of Børre Knudsen’s passing:
http://www.dagen.no/Meninger/17/08/2014/Hjertelig_takk_Børre_Knudsen-103915

http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Borre-Knudsen-er-dod-7670953.html

http://www.vl.no/troogkirke/alle-vi-andre-har-v%C3%A6rt-svake-men-han-var-sterk-1.88597

http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/boerre-knudsen-er-doed/a/23276007/

Link to documentary film website [a DVD is available in Scandinavia, but has not yet been released in North America … it will have English subtitles]:

http://fx.no/en-prest-og-en-plage/

Trailer: http://fx.no/en-prest-og-en-plage-trailer/


Christopher C. Barnekov, PhD
Scandinavia House Fort Wayne
1925 Saint Joe Center RD
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
http://scandhouse.org

Location:Avenida Armando Cortinez,Pudahuel,Chile

Loehe Theological Conference IV: Wilhelm Loehe on Christian Formation

For the past several days, the International Loehe Society (http://www.iloes.net/en/) Fourth Loehe Theological Conference has been holding forth in Neuendettelsau, Germany -- Loehe's base of operation in the 19th century. Scholars primarily from Germany and North America discussed the topic of Christian Formation.



Professor John Pless and Dr. Albert Collver from the LCMS were presenters at the conference. Deaconess Grace Rao and Rev. Tony Booker, Regional Director for Eurasia, also attended on behalf of the LCMS.



Dr. Collver's presentation was titled, "Loehe: Mission Societies, The Church in Its Motion and Missio Dei." Collver noted that for Loehe the church engages in mission by being Church. The gospel goes out into the world to all nations, one congregation at a time. Collver used Loehe to critique some contemporary Missiology trends.


Professor Pless presented on "Seed Grains: Loehe's Manual for Christian Formation Through Prayer." Loehe teaches Christians how to pray, not by talking about prayer but by providing prayers for Christians to imitate. He provides prayers for the church year and for various events and concerns. The Psalter has a primary function in Seed Grains with each day of the week. Through Seed Grains, Loehe hoped to shape the life of the Christian.


Nikolai Kirche, Loehe's congregation. At the time of Loehe, there were only about 500 people in Neuendettelsau.



Stained glass window in the Nikolai Kirche.



The tomb of Wilhelm Löhe.



Wilhelm Loehe was instrumental in the establishment of St Lorenz (pictured above) in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Location:Missionsstraße,Neuendettelsau,Germany

EECMY 10th Council Meeting

The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) is holding its Council meeting. The EECMY holds a general assembly every four years. This is similar to a convention for the LCMS. The EECMY also holds a council meeting between the general assemblies. The council meeting consists of all the synod presidents (District Presidents in LCMS terminology) and other representatives. Reports are made by each Synod (District in LCMS lingo) to the council. Currently, the various synods are reporting on how they are implementing the strategic plan. The EECMY has a church wide strategic plan. Each Synod (District) operates according to the same plan with the same goals. One Synod reported to the Council that they had gained 87,000 new members since this time last year. The Council is able to make decisions on behalf of the entire church between general assemblies. The third level of governance in the EECMY is the executive committee. President Harrison met with the executive committee in January 2014.



Dr. Collver had opportunity to bring greetings to the Council on behalf of President Harrison and the LCMS. The EECMY expressed appreciation for President Harrison's visit in January, as well as for the LCMS' efforts to increase the EECMY's Lutheran identity and the work on theological education.



The EECMY has recently begun to send missionaries around the world. They do work in West Africa and Pakistan. One of the missionaries told the Council that it was not enough to leave your home but one had to be willing to lose his life for the Gospel. Over 15,000 people attended, the sending service for one of the missionary.



The EECMY had an art display at the council. Recently, some in the EECMY began to use art as a method for outreach. The triptych above shows a person fixing his eyes on the crucified Christ and turning from the riches, beauty, and power of the world.



The EECMY holds as its confessional basis that the Old and New Testaments are the Holy Word of God and the only source and only source and infallible norm of all Church doctrine and practice. The church holds to the Creeds, the Augsburg Confession and Luther's Catechisms. One of the challenges is that very few copies of either the Augsburg Confession or Luther's Catechisms can be found in Ethiopia. The lack of these confessional documents presents challenges in teaching and maintaining Lutheran identity.



Sunday worship at the mother congregation in Addis.


In the evenings, we have opportunity to enjoy meals such as kitfo with leaders from the EECMY. This provides great opportunity for further discussion.



President Hailu from Hawasa. President Hailu is finishing his course work for a DMin from Concordia Seminary in St Louis.



Emily German and Sandra Rhein who are assessing the feasibility of an Amharic hymnal project.

Posted on 21 July 2014 by Rev. Dr. Albert Collver

Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia

Ethiopia: MYS

(Left to Right: Dr Albert Collver, Deaconess Sandra Rhein, Emily German, Rev. Shauen Trump, Dr. Belay -- meet at Mekane Yesus Seminary)

A group from the LCMS met with leaders at the Mekane Yesus Seminary (MYS) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss how the EECMY and the LCMS can work together on theological education to train future pastors. The EECMY curre you has about 3,000 pastors, and has a goal of having one pastor per congregation or 10,000 pastors over the next five years. The LCMS has committed to providing assistance in curriculum development and to provide theological educators to teach courses. For the part year the LCMS have had theological educators at MYS to assist in their programs.




These books from CPH are some of the materials used by students in the graduate study lounge at MYS. Obtaining theological study materials is one of the greatest challenges in providing theological education in not only Ethiopia but through out Africa and Latin America. The challenge lay not only in the cost of the materials but also in shipping, transport, and storage. Although the rise of electronic books and Internet resources is common place in North America and Europe, electronic resources are generally impractical or entirely unusable in Africa and other parts of the world. (The hotel where we are staying only had Internet access for a few hours yesterday.) It is not uncommon for electricity to be shut off for parts of the day. Printed books are a necessity despite the rise of electronic resources. The question in many cases is which resources to provide and how to get the materials where they are needed -- a challenge that the Chemnitz Library Initiative is trying to address.



A letter of greeting from Concordia Seminary, St Louis is presented to Dr. Belay at MYS. With now 7 regional seminaries and 40 Bible colleges in the EECMY, there is tremendous opportunity for theological education. The EECMY requested that representatives from both Concordia Seminary St Louis and Concordia Theological Seminary come to Ethiopia to discuss face to face how further collaboration could be made.



Construction on the dinning hall at Mekane Yesus Seminary continues and nears completion. Approximately, one year ago the LCMS became involved to assist in its completion.



In Ethiopia, every meeting takes place over coffee, where it was first created.



Deaconess Sandra Rhein, Beza Tefera, and Church Musician Emily German tour the MYS campus. Deaconess Sandra and Emily are visiting to explore the possibility of assisting in the development of worship materials particularly for the youth and for mission outreach. Part of the project will include the gathering of indigenous Ethiopian hymns and songs, as well as working with traditional Lutheran hymns that have been translated. Dr. Berhanu, EECMY General Secretary, stated that this project is one of the most needful items now for the EECMY.

Today we meet with other leaders of the EECMY. The next several days will be packed with activities.

-- Posted on 19 July 2014 by Dr. Albert Collver

Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia

Meeting Between NRK and LCMS at International Center in St. Louis

Participants: Dr. Joel Lehenbauer (CTCR – LCMS); Dr. Albert Collver (LCMS); Shinri Emoto (General Secretary NRK); Rev. Saito (Mission Secretary NRK); Rev. Ando (Director of Disaster Relief NRK); Mr. Ando (Urawa Lutheran School NRK)

16 July 2014

Representatives from the Missouri Synod and the Japan Lutheran Church (NRK) met to discuss rekindling the the 50 plus year partnership between the two church bodies. Dr. Collver noted that the LCMS Office of International Mission (OIM) strategic plan calls for renewing and strengthening partnerships and that the discussion with the NRK could not have occurred at a more opportune time.

This past spring the NRK elected a new president, Rev. Shimizu Shin after President Kumei retired. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer attended this convention as the LCMS representative.

The Urawa high school founded by the LCMS in 1953 occupied a significant portion of the conversation. Currently, the high school has approximately 700

students. The school has out grown its facility and plans to build a new building to house more than 1000 students. The student body, only 10% of whom are Christian, is to reach the other 90% through Bible classes and daily chapel services.

In addition to the high school the NRK asked if the LCMS could send missionaries for the following work:

- A pastor for the Okinawa Lutheran Church

- A Seminary Professor in Tokyo

- Chaplain for Urawa Lutheran School

LCMS OIM agrees to begin recruiting for these positions. 

Posted by Rev. Dr. Albert Collver

IELB 110 Years Convention and Worship

President Matthew Harrison (translated by Rev. Gerson Lindon -- pictured above) gave the keynote presentation at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil's (IELB) 61st convention. The IELB is celebrating their 110 year as a church in Brazil. His presentation was titled, "The Challenge to Preserve Confessional Identity" based upon Martin Luther's On Counsels and the Church. The Brazilian Convention of approximately 1500 delegates have President Harrison a standing ovation.



International Lutheran Council (ILC) and other international guests greeted the IELB during the convention.



A significant moment of the Brazilian convention came when the IELB signed a protocol document with the Lutheran church in Uruguay for altar and pulpit fellowship. The IELB also
committed to doing church planting in Mozambique.




In between sessions of the IELB convention, the ILC conducted strategic planning. A significant part of the time was spent planning the next ILC World Conference to be held in South America in the fall of 2015.



Over 7,000 people who arrived by the bus load came for the worship commemorating the 110th year of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil. The choir alone numbered in the thousands. Last year the IELB had over 5,000 people attend a mission festival. This sort of attendance is reminisce of the sorts of crowds who came to events in the Missouri Synod 50 years ago.



From Brazil, we travel to Argentina to meet with the Lutheran church.

- Posted on 4 May 2014 by Dr Albert Collver using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:ES-010,Aracruz,Brazil

ILC Meeting in Brazil

ILC President Hans-Jörg Voigt talks to Rev. Ted Krey, LCMS Latin American Regional Director, about the situation of the church in Latin America. The ILC Executive Committee met in Acracuz, Brazil for the 61st Convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB) where Rev. Egon Kopereck was re-elected as President on 2 May 2014.




The ILC Executive Committee was interviewed by press for the IELB and brought greetings. (Pictured above in top frame: Dr. Albert Collver, ILC Executive Secretary and Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee, President of the Lutheran Church Canada). Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, attended as a special guest of the ILC.



Apart from the ILC Executive Committee's regular business, it met to develop a strategic plan around the ILC's objectives.



The ILC exists for the purpose of encouraging, strengthening, and promoting confessional Lutheran theology and practice centering in Jesus Christ, both among member churches and throughout the world
▪ by providing opportunities for the joint study of contemporary theological issues.
▪ by giving mutual support and encouragement to the heads of member church bodies.
▪ by encouraging and assisting member churches in planning for mission outreach.
▪ by strengthening theological education through conferences of theologians and seminary teachers, mission staffs and those involved with human care.
▪ by facilitating communication between confessional Lutheran churches of the world through the publication of ILC News.
▪ by stimulating and facilitating the preparation and publication of confessional Lutheran literature.

The ILC Executive Committee containing representatives from around the world continues to meet in between attending the Brazilian convention. The ILC Executive Committee members (pictured above left to right): Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, ILC Executive Secretary; Archbishop Christian Ekong of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria and ILC representative for the Africa region; Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK), Chairman of ILC; President Egon Kopereck of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil and ILC representative for Latin America Region, President Matthew Harrison of the LCMS, ILC special guest; President Robert Bugbee of the Lutheran Church Canada, ILC Vice Chairman and ILC representative for the North American Region; Rev. Jon Ehlers, Chairman of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England and ILC representative of the Eurasia Region; Rev. Gijsbertus van Hattem, President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium (ELKB) and ILC Secretary; President James Cerdinõla of the Lutheran Church of the Philippines and ILC representative for the Asia Region.

- Posted on 3 May 2014 using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Rodovia ES-10,Aracruz,Brazil