WORKING AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN ILK AND LCMS

19 January 2015
For Immediate Release

Representatives from the Istanbul Lutheran Church (ILK) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) met in Istanbul on 17-19 January 2015 to discuss the creation of a working agreement between the church bodies.

Representing the ILK, Leading Pastor, Rev. Ville Typpö, together with Rev. Mikko Tiira, met with church leaders from the LCMS, including Rev. Tony Booker, LCMS Eurasia Regional Director, Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver, Director of Church Relations / Regional Operations, Rev. Dr. Joel Lehenbauer, Executive Director of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, and Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast, President of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne and Chairman of the Commission on Theology and Church Relations.

The agreement states that the goal is “to work together to make Christ known primarily among the Turkish speaking people and to strengthen the Lutheran witness by word and deed in the church and community.” The two churches also agreed to respect each other’s founding documents and conscience, to have regular contact between leaders, to share plans with one another, and to share theological and education resources.

Leading Pastor Ville Typpö rejoices in the agreement, stating, “It was the intention of Martin Luther himself to send able men among Turkish speaking people to witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was not possible during his times, but is possible in our times. Now we, as churches sharing the same confession and the same goal, are invited to take steps toward working together for this purpose.”

Dr. Albert Collver expressed, “We are very glad to be able to sign this working agreement with the ILK. Their commitment to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, along with their experience in both Turkish culture and language, are invaluable to carry forth a witness in the region.”

The two churches intend to hold additional conversations towards future work.

About the Istanbul Lutheran Church

Istanbul Lutheran Church (ILK) is a Turkish speaking Confessional Lutheran Church officially established in 2004, nowadays consisting of four congregations located in Turkey and Bulgaria. The ILK carries the tradition of the first Lutheran congregation established in Constantinople at 1709. Learn more at http://www.luteryenkilisesi.org.

About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a biblical, confessional, witness-oriented Christian denomination with 2.2 million members — 600,000 households — in 6,200 congregations. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church makes known the love of Jesus Christ worldwide. Learn more at lcms.org.