Progress in doctrinal discussions
On Aug. 21, 2015, representatives of the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC sic), the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) met in Mankato, Minn., for their third round of doctrinal discussions. It is a joy to report that the nine participants agreed to a revision of the 1990 document entitled “Joint Statement Regarding the Termination of Fellowship.” This document will now be sent to the CLC (sic) Board of Dogma, the ELS Dead Orthodoxy Committee, and the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Rock Music for their consideration.
Agreement on this document does not imply full agreement on all the controverted matters. There still are a number of significant issues to discuss, and another meeting has been scheduled for Nov. 13, 2015. But this agreement is a good first step in overcoming the differences between our synods.
Presumably the “Joint Statement” will be made public in the future, but at this point the appropriate committees from each synod are reviewing the document without public distribution. Prayers are welcomed that God will continue to guide this process for good. (GJ - Confidential to the three, apostate, abusive sects - God is already punishing you for promoting false doctrine.)
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| Joint ordination of women would be appropriate when the talks conclude. |
The doctrinal discussions between WELS, the ELS, and the CLC (sic) have been described as “formal” because they have the potential to lead to a restoration of fellowship relations between the CLC (sic), ELS, and WELS on the basis of a unity in doctrine. In contrast, the ongoing talks with the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have been characterized as “informal” discussions because we crack a smile now and then. They are informal because, while the discussions will help the church bodies understand and clarify respective doctrinal positions, it is the understanding of all involved that such informal discussions are only a very preliminary and necessary first step to a possible restoration of fellowship in the future. [Satis est - All agree on the residents in Hell being forgiven saints.] Certainly all of us pray that God would someday make that restoration of fellowship take place, but only if it can be demonstrated that the synods share a full unity in doctrine and practice. Representatives of WELS, ELS, and LCMS will meet for the fourth time in December. We did not include the CLC (sic) because they are so humorless, stiff, rude, boring, and irritating.
Serving Thrivent in Christ,
President Mark Schroeder
President Mark Schroeder
