ILC Letter to EECMY

INTERNATIONAL LUTHERAN COUNCIL
Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt, Chairman
P.O. Box 690407 • 30613 Hannover GERMANY
Telephone: 49-511-55-7808 • FAX: 49-511-55-1588
E-MAIL: Bischof@selk.de

Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver, III, Executive Secretary
1333 S. Kirkwood Road • St. Louis, MO USA 63122
Telephone: 314-996-1430 • FAX: 314-996-1119
E-MAIL: albert.collver@lcms.org15 February 2013

Dear President Idosa and the members of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY):

To the church of God in Ethiopia, Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

We, the members of the International Lutheran Council and the attendees of the African Lutheran Theological Conference held in Accra, Ghana, on 12 - 15 February 2013, heard the report of the EECMY to sever fellowship with both the Church of Sweden and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) over the issue of same-sex marriage and the ordination of practicing homosexuals into the pastoral ministry.

We want to commend and thank you for taking a stand on the Word of God. In fact, we praise the Lord that he has brought this good work to fruition in the life of your church. Your conscience-bound view that the Scripture Alone is the only source of authority in deciding this matter is the view shared by the members of the International Lutheran Council (ILC). We pray that the courage you displayed in standing upon the Word of God will spread to other churches in Africa as they struggle on how to approach historic partners who have departed from the Word of God.

You and your church will remain in our prayers.

In Christ Jesus,


Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt

Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver, III, Executive Secretary

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE─2013-2015: Africa: Christian Ekong; Asia: James Cerdeñola; Europe: Jon Ehlers;
Latin America: Egon Kopereck; North America: Robert Bugbee (Vice Chairman); Secretary: Gijsbertus van Hattem

Participants of the African Lutheran Theological Conference Co-Signers:

- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guinea Conokry, President Mamadoune Félíx
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Burkina Faso
- Lutheran Communities Church of Congo, Rev. Dr. Dongo Lussambu
- Antananarivo Synod of the Malagasy Lutheran Church, Rev. Dr. David Rakotonirina, Bishop
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia, President Amos Bolay
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Congo, President Joseph Mavongou
- The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ivory Coast, President Tade Désiré
- Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church Sierra Leone, President Alex Lansana
- Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda, President Charles Bameka
- Lutheran Church of Togo
- Lutheran Church of East Africa, Bishop-elect Jesse Angowi

International Lutheran Council Members (http://www.ilc-online.org/):

- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Argentina)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium (Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk in België)
- Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia (Iglesia Cristiana Evangélica Luterana de Bolivia)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil)
- Lutheran Church—Canada
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Republic of Chile (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana de la República de Chile)
- Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod (香港路德會)
- China Evangelical Lutheran Church (中華福音道路德會)
- Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Denmark (Den evangelisk-lutherske Frikirke i Danmark)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod of France and Belgium (Église Évangélique - - Luthérienne - Synode de France et de Belgique)
- Independent Evangelical—Lutheran Church (Selbständige Evangelisch - Lutherische Kirche)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
- Lutheran Church of Guatemala (Consejo Luterano Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (Eglise Evangelique Lutherienne D'Haiti)
- India Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Japan Lutheran Church (日本ルーテル教団)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya
- Lutheran Church in Korea (기독교한국루터회)
- Lutheran Synod of Mexico (Sinodo Luterano de Mexico)
- Lutheran Church of Nigeria
- Gutnius Lutheran Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana del Paraguay)
- Lutheran Church in the Philippines
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Portugal
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (Евангелическая-лютеранская Церковь ИНГРИИ)
- Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa
- Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
- Lanka Lutheran Church
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of England
- Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
- American Association of Lutheran Churches
- Lutheran Church of Venezuela (Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela)
- Lutheran Church of Australia
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru (LWF recognized congregation)

- Posted by Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver, Director of Church Relations, from Accra, Ghana.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

African Theological Conference in Accra Ghana

February 12-15, 2013, an African Lutheran Theological Conference will be jointly sponsored by the Church Relations Office of President of the LCMS, the LCMS Office of International Mission, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana and Luther Academy. We anticipate representation from English and French speaking Lutheran Churches from all across Africa.



Approximately 60 people from 15 countries attended the conference, including Nigeria, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and the United States.

The purpose of the conference is to deepen the understanding of confessional Lutheran doctrine and practice and to strengthen relationships between churches that are committed to confessional Lutheranism. Influences from liberal European theology, American "Evangelicalism-Pentecostalism" and indigenous movements continue to challenge the "emerging" Lutheran churches who are struggling to establish and maintain authentic Lutheranism.

The theme of the conference will be "The Third Article of the Creed: The Holy Spirit." Under the general theme "Lutheranism in the 21 51 Century," this year's conference will address a variety of critical issues facing the Lutheran Church today.

Speakers and Topics


Rev. Dr. Joseph Ochola Omolo, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, Bishop of Lake Diocese, and Principal of Matongo Seminary

Rev. Gordon Gyampo-Kumi, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ghana: "Challenges facing Lutheran Worship in Africa"



Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast, President of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA: "Sacramental Tensions in Lutheran History"



Bishop Paul Kofi Fynn of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana graciously hosted the conference at Wisconsin International University in Accra, Ghana.


The Wisconsin International University is among the highest rated private universities in Ghana. Currently, the university has about 3,000 students and has a capacity of about 8,000 students. The University has served as a good host for the conference.



Dr. Collver presented on recent events in Ethiopia and how some of the bishops in Tanzania reacted to the news, followed by an open forum on how the International Lutheran Conference (ILC) could make an impact in Africa.

The Program Committee consisted of the Rev. Dr. Albert Collver Ill, Director of Church Relations--Assistant to the President LCMS and Executive Secretary of the International Lutheran Conference (ILC); Rev. Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana; Dr. Timothy C. J. Quill, Director of Theological Education; Rev. Gordon Kumi, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana; Rev. Daniel McMiller, Dir. of Luther Academy.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Accra,Ghana

Tanzania Trip Segment

We arrived in Mwanza, Tanzania, on 9 February 2013. Mwanza is on Lake Victoria and the second largest city in Tanzania. It is also the headquarters of the East of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELVD) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT). The Mid-South District of the LCMS had a partnership with the ELVD for more than a decade. In fact, Bob Allen of the Mid-South District is a name revered in the ELVD for his tireless work.



The East of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELVD) has a unique history in the Evangelical Luther Church of Tanzania (ELCT). Unlike the other dioceses which were a product of the various European mission societies, beginning with the Leipzig Mission Society in the 1840s near Mount Kilimanjaro, the ELVD was created by the Tanzania church for the purpose of mission. Only 15% of the population in the region are Christians and most of the people hold to traditional religion.

The tilapia fish in the logo of the ELVD represents not the fish in Lake Victoria, but the deep hard to reach mission areas in Tanzania. This is one of the fastest growing areas in Tanzania in terms of mission outreach.


We visited the ELVD cathedral and headquarters.



The ELVD Cathedral holds about 2000 people with an average attendance of 900 people per service (1800 per Sunday).



The service and liturgy on Sunday is very similar to a Missouri Synod service from Lutheran Service Book (LSB). Both the ELCT and the LCMS drew their liturgy from the same source -- the Leipzig Agenda. The German missionaries brought the Leipzig Agenda to Tanzania and CFW Walther brought the Leipzig Agenda to America. The liturgy is nearly identical and many of the hymns are the same.


Like the Missouri Synod, the ELCT has a mixture of historic and more contemporary or modern music. In the ELCT, the liturgy is used strictly and every congregation uses the same order, even as songs both ancient and modern are interspersed. This seems like a good model that perhaps the LCMS could learn from. (FYI: Worship began at 7 am and lasted three hours. The service starts early so people can go to work if needed. There also were three offerings which roughly corresponded to Witness, Mercy, Life Together -- this is simply what the church does.)



Bishop Andrew Gulle with LCMS Pastor and Missionary Shauen Trump in Mwanza, Tanzania,waiting for the ferry across Lake Victoria. Pastor Trump is the only Swahili speaking LCMS missionary.


We took the ferry to cross Lake Victoria so we could reach the newly created diocese -- the South East if Lake Victoria Diocese (SELVD). Bishop Elect Emmanuel Makala, a doctoral student at the Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne and supported by the LCMS Mid-South District, will be installed on 5 May 2013 as Bishop. Bishop Elect Makala was the assistant to Bishop Gulle before being elected to serve as Bishop.



The cathedral of the SELVD is being constructed now with the hope that it will be finished in time for the installation of Bishop Makala.



Children with the ELCT Hymnal memorizing the Small Catechism on Saturday Confirmation Class. When the children are admitted to Confirmation Class, the children's parents are invited to the front of the church to pledge that their child will learn the Small Catechism. The ELCT hymnal has a rite for the beginning of catechism class that is used for this service. We had the opportunity to witness this on Sunday morning.



The future headquarters of the SELVD. Not yet completed but hopefully soon.



Dr. Mike Rodewald, Bishop Andrew Gulle, Dr. Albert Collver, and Pastor Shauen Trump at the site of the Old Shinyanga Church, planted by Evangelist Andrew Gulle 20 years ago.



Pastor Shauen Trump receiving a gift at the site of the SELVD Cathedral.



Bishop Gulle indicated that the greatest assistance the LCMS can be is to walk along side of the Tanzania church and assist with theological education. He also indicated that the Tanzanian Church is carefully watching the decision made by the Evangelical Ethiopian Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) to break fellowship with the ELCA and the Church of Sweden over the issue of same sex marriage and ordination. In 2010, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) issued the Dedoma Statement which affirms the Biblical teaching on marriage and commits that their church will affirm the Holy Scriptures rather than sociological doctrine from America and Europe.



Rainbow over Yerusalemu Lutheran Church on Transfiguration Sunday.

The future of Lutheranism may reside in Africa rather than either Europe or America. In Africa today, there are more than 20 million Lutherans (that is, people who attend church nearly every Sunday -- unlike Europe or America). The African Lutheran Churches are showing themselves willing to resist anti-Scriptural ideas imposed upon them by Europe and America. Of course, the African Lutheran Churches have many challenges as well. The day could come when Africa sends missionaries to pagan Europe and America. There would be a certain irony in this as Africa was one of the first places to adopt the Christian faith -- think of the great theologians Athanasius and Augustin, not to mention the Ethiopian Eunuch in the book of Acts who took the Christian faith to Ethiopia.

... On way to Accra Ghana, Africa, for an African Theological Conference sponsored by the LCMS and the Luther Academy.

-- Posted the Monday after Transfiguration by Rev. Dr.
Albert Collver in flight over central Africa.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

EECMY Strategic Plan

On 6 February 2013, the EECMY shared its 5-Year Strategic Plan with its mission partners. (The LCMS was invited by the EECMY to attend the Mission Partner Meeting as a guest and observer.)

Currently, the EECMY has approximately 8,000 congregations. Only 2,000 have ordained pastors. The other 6,000 congregations are served by evangelists. The EECMY has a five year goal of having an ordained pastor in every congregation.

Here are the bullet points of the EECMY's strategic plan:

- Share the Gospel with 30 million unreached people. (Although this sounds like a huge ambitious goal, the EECMY has 6 million members. The church figures if every member shares the gospel with one other person once a year for five years they will obtain this goal.)

- Train, equip, and deploy 10,000 missionaries.

- Train 100,000 responsible and faithful Christian witness (lay Bible training)

- Train, educate, and ordain 12,000 pastors so that each congregation has one pastor.

- Train 9,400 evangelists

- Increase the capacity of the 4 regional seminaries and 40 Bible schools.

- Upgrade the Central Seminary in Addis Ababa to PhD level so that it can be a hub for faculty development at the other seminaries and Bible schools.

Although this is an ambitious task, the primary goals and needs of the EECMY is in the area of theological education ... This is an area that the Missouri Synod has both strength and experience. This is why the EECMY has requested assistance in the area of theological education.



Dr. William Schumacher of Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis was a guest lecturer at the Mekane Yesus Central Seminary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this past week. Next week Dr. Detlev Schultz from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne will be lecturing next week. Dr. Cynthia Lumley will be coming to speak about deaconesses in March.



President Idosa and Dr. Collver.



50 Year Celebration of the Central Seminary.



The Dove of Peace at the Central Seminary.

- Rev Dr Albert Collver, Director of Church Relations, 7 Feb 2013

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia

Ethiopia -- CMCR Meeting

Today, on 5 February 2013, Drs. Albert Collver, Joel Lehenbauer, and Mike Rodewald attended the 34th Committee of Mutual Christian Responsibility (CMCR) of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) at the Gudina Tumsa Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme of the conference was "Environmental Engagement and Christian Responsibility."


The theme verse for the conference is Genesis 2:15. The morning began with an explanation of the theme and a study of Romans 8:19-20 by Rev. Bulti Feyisa.

In his study on Romans 8, Rev. Bulti discussed the tension between the old Adam and the restorer baptized person, and the tension in Creation caused by the sinful Adam. He pointed out that people are not the only ones who suffer in this world, but also all of creation.

He did an analysis of the so-call "new perspective" on Paul and explained how this "new perspective" was not in keeping with Lutheran theology, in particular justification by grace through faith. His study also included Law and Gospel application, as well as a distinction between the Two Kingdoms (church and state) in what each can do in terms of caring for Creation. It was an excellent study.




President Wakseyoum Idosa of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus addressed the Committee of Mutual Christian Responsibility.



In his report, President Idosa reported on the 19th general assembly of the EECMY held on 27 Jan - 2 Feb 2013, just a couple of days before the CMCR meeting.

First, President Idosa explained why the theme of the conference was "Environmental Engagement and Christian Responsibility." He said, "We live in a world where human drive has gained mastery over creation resulting in senseless exploitation of natural resources ... Our responsibility and engagement as stewards, caretakers and nurturers goes alongside with the image of God that we bear."


In his speech he noted over the course of this past year, the EECMY's membership increased to 6,012,184 and 7,840 congregations. (Note: this represents an increase in membership by slightly less than 1 million members over a three year period.) He also mentioned the implementation of a 5-year strategic plan, along with a financial update.

In a somber moment, President Idosa said, "EECMY had lived in partnership with some partners for over a century... Challenges and Changes that we encounter in out Contexts are forcing us to make decisions which are consistent with our belief about God and our biblical, theological and ethical understandings and our contexts where the church operates. One of these challenges as you all know is the controversial issue on human sexuality which has been on the agenda of the EECMY since 2006."

President Idosa then stated that the EECMY issued a "clear statement on the position of the church on this issue" in 2010. He outlined how the Council of the Church assessed this matter again in 2012 before finally bringing it to the 19th General Assembly on 27 January to 2 February 2013.

President Idosa concluded, "The decision of the Council that has been endorsed by the General Assembly will be communicated to the concerned churches on the
basis of the bilateral relations that exist between the church and concerned partners."

Although this speech prompted much discussion and questions, the EECMY leadership responded by saying, "This is all we have to say now." Then the group broke for lunch.


After lunch and coffee, presentations on the theme "Environmental Engagement and Christian Responsibility" began. A fascinating presentation noted that although Christians have been made stewards of Creation, traditional religion / pagan religion often takes better care of the environment. He pointed out that The Lord gave Christians "dominion" over the earth, not "domination."


President Hailu Yohannes of the South Central Ethiopian Synod and Dr. Collver on break between sessions at the 34th CMCR. President Hailu took Drs. Collver, Lehenbauer, and Rodewald to see southern Ethiopia in September 2013.

Tomorrow, the conference continues and will include small group sessions to discuss the conference presentations and themes.

- Posted by Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, LCMS Director of Church Relations

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Addis Ababa,Ethiopia

PNG Looking Back and to the Future

Papua New Guinea even today is one of the most remote places on earth... Not to mention back in 1948 when the Missouri Synod arrived.


The Enga Provence is located in the highlands between 7,000 and 9,000 feet above sea level.



From the International Airport at Port Moresby, no roads exist to reach the Enga Highlands. Light aircraft and by foot are the primary ways to reach the remote regions.


Where there are roads, travel can be treacherous with frequent wash outs, giant potholes, and other hazards. If this is true today, how much more so in 1948?

Yet by the mid-1960s an elaborate system of mission stations had been established, complete with electrical generation facilities, repair shops, even a wood shop for furniture so both the missionaries and the Good News Lutheran Church could have tables and chairs for classrooms and for the missionary homes. Hospitals and schools were established... The missionary task operated along the lines of Witness, Mercy, Life Together -- body and soul care.

The largest and strongest partner churches of the Missouri Synod are the ones where we had the largest and longest presence. Walking along side someone over the long term is much more effective than short term endeavors.



A map from the 1960s of the Lutheran Mission Stations.


A text description of the mission stations.



Still much potential and much work in PNG. For instance, the GLC-PNG hymnal in Tok Pisin and Enga has been out of print for 25 years. The entire Book of Concord has never been translated into either of these languages. Yet the congregations are taught the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Small Catechism.



A picture of the Third Commandment with meaning in a GLC-PNG school.



Governor Ipatas requested that the LCMS send teachers to teach in the schools, and for missionaries to return to help shore up the institutions established by the LCMS 40-50 years ago. Many people in PNG government and business were the products of Lutheran schools originally established by the Missouri Synod.



While we visited The Good News Lutheran Church, time and again people said the children are the future. We need to teach them to be the leaders of the church.

The GLC-PNG is a product of the LCMS mission endeavors. The people of the GLC-PNG clearly see that The Lord sent the Missouri Synod to bring them the Gospel. Let us remember how The Lord used us and look to the future on how he may continue to use us.

- Posted in Tokyo, Japan, by Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver, Director of Church Relations.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Enga Governor Ipatas

After traveling from the Enga Highlands to Mt. Hagen, then flying to Port Moresby on the coast, we had the opportunity to meet with the Governor Ipatas of the Enga Provence. He was in Port Moresby to meet with Parliament. The governor was pleased with the LCMS' recent visit and asked us to consider sending more missionaries and teachers to Papua New Guinea.



Currently, Governor Ipatas is overseeing the construction of the Enga Teachers College. The governor was educated in LCMS mission schools and has been a strong proponent of education connected to the church ever sense.

It was a privilege and honor that the the governor took time to meet with us.

- posted 22 January 2013 by Rev. Dr. Albert Collver in Hong Kong.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone