RESOLUTION 5-02
Overture 5-02, (CW, pp. 342–343)
Preamble
Christianity came to Latin (or South) America through the work of Spanish missionaries, beginning in the late 15th century. The evangelization of the region where Uruguay is now located followed the entry of the first Spaniards there in 1624. In 1830, Roman Catholicism became the official religion of Uruguay. About a century later, Uruguay became one of the first Latin American countries to formally separate church and state in 1917. Today, Uruguay is one of the most secular countries in all of Latin America. Less than 60 percent of the population identifies itself as Christian (under 50 percent identify as Roman Catholic and slightly more than 10 percent as Protestant - with over 40 percent of the population religiously unaffiliated, atheist/agnostic, or another religion).
A small Lutheran presence in Uruguay was established in 1936 through the efforts of Lutherans in Argentina. Since that time, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina (IELA) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB) - both The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) partner churches and members of the International Lutheran Council - provided pastors to work with the small Lutheran community in Montevideo, establishing St. Paul [San Pablo] Lutheran Church and St. Paul Lutheran School. The LCMS provided financial support for these efforts as early as 1945. The ministry of the school has consistently borne fruit, with about 90 percent of the members of the Lutheran Church in Uruguay (LCU) having attended. In 1998 the congregation became a member of the IELB and in 2004 formed an independent synod, The Lutheran Church of Uruguay (LCU). While there is only one congregation, this small, emerging, confessional Lutheran church has called not only a pastor for its single congregation, Rev. André Luiz Müller (the principal pastor for the LCU), but also a pastor for evangelism and mission, another for school chaplaincy, and a fourth for school administration. The LCU’s educational ministry is widely respected in Uruguay and the LCU’s vision is to continue that tradition of educational excellence and the evangelistic priorities of its school. Its long-term intention is to establish the first-ever Lutheran university in Spanish-speaking Latin America.
The LCU formally requested fellowship with the LCMS in December 2015. The LCU is in fellowship with the IELA and IELB - both of which strongly urge the LCMS to recognize that fellowship exists with these brothers and sisters in Christ in Uruguay. LCMS leaders have visited the LCU and examined its doctrine and practice, its doctrinal statements, and its constitution, finding full agreement with our own teaching and practice. Doctrinal discussions were conducted according to the provisions of Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (c). Following these visits and discussions, on December 11, 2015, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) recommended recognition of fellowship with the LCU to President Harrison. He formally declared fellowship on January 6, 2016.
WHEREAS, There is great need for the pure proclamation of the Gospel in Uruguay, as there is throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, By God’s grace, the LCU believes, teaches, and confesses the saving Gospel of justification by grace through faith in Christ alone and is fully committed to the sole authority of Holy Scripture in the Church’s teaching and life; and
WHEREAS, By God’s grace, the LCU, though small, has established a strong, faithful ministry of outreach through its Lutheran school and envisions a vigorous expansion of that educational outreach through the establishment of a Lutheran university in Uruguay; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS, in obedience to God’s Word and the Lutheran Confessions, enjoys Church fellowship with many other Lutheran churches throughout the world and endeavors to seek out other Lutheran churches that believe, teach, and confess the 1 same true faith; and
WHEREAS, The LCU has for some time enjoyed altar and pulpit fellowship with the IELA and the IELB, partner churches of the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, The LCU was established as an independent Lutheran church in 2004 and requested formal church fellowship discussions with the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, Representatives of the LCMS visited the LCU and witnessed its work and examined its teaching; and
WHEREAS, After this visit, correspondence, and further consideration, LCMS representatives concluded that there is complete agreement between our two churches in doctrine and practice and therefore no obstacle to altar and pulpit fellowship; and
WHEREAS, At its 2010 Convention the Synod adopted Res. 3-04A “To Amend Bylaw 3.9.6.2.2 re Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with Small, Formative, or Emerging Confessional Churches,” which recognizes that in certain cases a streamlined approach to altar and pulpit fellowship with such emerging churches would be beneficial; and
WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (c) now provides:
When a small, formative, emerging confessional Lutheran church body (identified as such by the President of the Synod as chief ecumenical officer) requests recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with the Synod, after consultation with the Praesidium and approval by the commission, such recognition may be declared by the President of the Synod subject to the endorsement of the subsequent Synod convention.
and
WHEREAS, At its December 2015 meeting the CTCR formally recommended church fellowship with the LCU to the Synod President; and
WHEREAS, President Harrison declared fellowship on January 6, 2016, after consultation with the Praesidium; and
WHEREAS, Necessary protocol documents guiding interactions between the LCMS and the LCU have been adopted; therefore be it
Resolved, That we acknowledge with gratitude the unity of confession that has been given to the LCMS and the LCU under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks that God has equipped and prepared the LCU to give a faithful, confessional Lutheran witness in Uruguay; and be it further
Resolved, That we give thanks to God that discussions between official representatives of the LCMS and the LCU have revealed that complete agreement exists between our two churches in doctrine and practice; and be it further
Resolved, That this convention endorse the President of Synod’s declaration of altar and pulpit fellowship between the LCMS and the LCU; and be it further
Resolved, That we pray for God’s blessings in the coming years on our agreement in the confession of the Gospel that we enjoy as partner churches, and for the blessing of the Lord upon the members and leaders of the LCU; and be it finally
Resolved, That in celebration and thanksgiving of this partnership in the Gospel, the convention assembly signify its approval by rising and singing the Common Doxology.