To Recognize Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with the Lutheran Church of Uganda

Preamble WorktoestablishaLutheranmissioninUgandabeganinearly1993 in Jinja town. This work was initiated by five local Ugandans, who—dissatisfied with divisions and in fighting in local Bugosa dioceses of the Anglican Church—were yearning for a church that truly proclaimed the Word of God and that could worship and work together in peace. In early 1993, these five lay Christians (three men, two women) visited Kenya and urged the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) to initiate Lutheran mission work in Uganda. The ELCK, then under the leadership of Rev. Francis Nyamwalo, was not able to fulfil the request due to logistical challenges. Soon thereafter, contact was made with the Rev. Dr. Paul Kofi Fynn, then-president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG), a longtime partner church of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). In July 1993 President Fynn sent Rev. Isaac Gyampadu to Uganda to assess the possibility of beginning mission work there. Rev. Gyampadu returned with a positive report, which was followed by a visit of Bishop Fynn to Uganda in February 1994. In September 1994, the ELCG sent two missionaries, Rev. Gyampadu and Evangelist John Donkoh (bishop of the ELCG since 2018), to establish the Lutheran mission in Uganda. They organized the first training session on Lutheran doctrine and teaching, which was attended by 200 individuals from 30 Bible study groups that had already been organized by the lay pioneers of these mission efforts. The two missionaries presided over the first Lutheran worship service on Oct. 30, 1994, in Jinja town. In November 1994, President Fynn invited a delegation of leaders from the LCMS to visit Uganda. This delegation included Rev. Allan Buckman, Rev. Robert Roegner, and Rev. Bryant Clancy. This visit officially marked the beginning of LCMS mission efforts in Uganda. On April 27, 1995, the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda (LCMU) was officially established and registered with the government of Uganda. A nine-member board of directors was formed, and additional missionaries from both the ELCG and the LCMS were sent in subsequent years. As a result, by God’s grace, the LCMU experienced significant numerical growth. In 2011, despite (and perhaps partly because of) the steady and significant growth in this young mission church, the LCMU experienced serious internal strife and division over leadership, organizational, and financial issues. Although matters of doctrine were not involved, the strife was serious and nearly divided the church. Strong and persistent efforts to restore order and harmony were led by Bishop Fynn of the ELCG, Dr. David Tswaedi (then- Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, an LCMS partner church), Dr. Michael Rodewald of LCMS World Mission, and local LCMU church elders. At the conclusion of a series of meetings in the fall of 2011 that included all factions of the LCMU, there was full agreement that a new constitution was needed that would more clearly address the issues that had contributed to the internal tensions and divisions. This agreement led to the convening of the 4th LCMU Delegates Conference on Oct. 21–23, 2011, which was attended by 330 delegates representing all LCMUcongregations. At this conference, a new constitution was approved with the goal of reorganizing the LCMU as a national synod under the leadership of a presiding bishop. Atthe Delegates Conference in November 2015, the LCMU officially transitioned from being a mission field under the auspices of the ELCG to a self-governing church body named the Lutheran Church of Uganda (LCU). The LCU accepts without reservation the following:

• justification is by God’s Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone;

• the sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the written Word of God and the only rule and norm of faith and practice; and

• all the symbolic al books (confessional documents) of the Lutheran Church as a true and unadulterated statement and exposition of the Word of God. Despite the many challenges it has faced as a young and growing church, God has richly blessed the Lutheran Churchof Uganda. The LCU has planted congregations in all four regions of the country, with a still-growing membership of over 50,000. The LCU has over 150 congregations organized under seven deane ries (regions or districts), served by around fifty pastors. Congregations meet mainly in rented halls, classrooms, members’ homes, or under trees in the open country. There are also, of course, many needs— including a need for translation of theological literature and resources, as there are around 42 spoken languages in Uganda (the LCU currently serves in 10 language areas), but most of the materials used by the LCU are in English. In 2010 the LCU established a theological seminary to train men as pastors and to equip both laymen and laywomen in various vocations of church work. In addition, there are nine Mission Training Centers operating in the seven deane ries of the LCU that seek to equip lay people for work in evangelism, mission, and human care. The LCU is engaged in a wide variety of human care efforts, including agricultural projects, provision of clean water and sanitation, health care initiatives, educational efforts, AIDS care and support, and provision of food to the hungry. In September 2016, Bishop Charles Bameka of the LCU, writing on behalf of the entire church, requested altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS, stating that while “we are a small, emerging confessional Lutheran church body at the formative stage, without extensive structures or organizations,”weare“committed to the full authority of the Scriptures as the infallible Word of God and subscribe without reservation to the Book of Concord.” Bishop Bameka noted that during its entire existence the LCU has been served by missionaries from both the LCMS and the ELCG, and covets “support, encouragement and theological guidance from the LCMS, convinced it will help the Lutheran Church of Uganda in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments among the people of Uganda, as we together conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3–6; 1 Cor. 1:10) and provide a united defense against schism, sectarianism (Rom. 16:17) and heresy.” Bishop Bameka also indicated in his request that “we fully understand that Altar and Pulpit Fellowship is a relationship that has as its basis agreement ‘in Doctrine and all its Articles.’” Various informal discussions took place over the years between LCU leaders and LCMS officials, including reports to the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) about the theology, practice, and polity of the LCU and its organizational challenges and status.Finally,in October 2022, Bishop Bamekaand several other key leaders of the LCU met face to face with the CTCR and LCMS President Matthew Harrison for formal discussions regarding church fellowship. Following these discussions, and at this same meeting (October 2022), the CTCRunanimously adopted amotion recommending the recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCU in keeping with Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b), which states: When a church body applies for formal recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with the Synod, such recognition shall be proposed at a convention of the Synod only after the approval of the commission (CTCR).

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church of Uganda (growing out of the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda, formed in 1995) was established in 2015 as a confessional Lutheran church with significant assistance and direct support from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana and the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, Despite various internal and organizational challenges, the Holy Spirit enabled the LCU to evangelize effectively in Uganda, planting congregations in all four regions of the country with a still-growing membership of over 50,000 in over 150 congregations, establishing a seminary and nine mission training centers, ordaining more than 50 pastors, and preparing numerous laity for church work in various vocations; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the history of the LCU, the ELCG (a partner church of the LCMS) and the LCMS itself have provided direct assistance and support that has helped enable the LCU to be and remain committed to theology and practice that is fully faithful to the Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions; and

WHEREAS, The LCU accepts all the canonical books of the sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the in errant, revealed Word of God; and

WHEREAS, The LCU accepts the symbolic books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, compiled in the Book of Concord of 1580, as a correct exposition of the sacred Scriptures; and

WHEREAS, On Sept. 21,2016, Bishop Charles Bameka, on behalf of the LCU, formally requested altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, Bylaw 3.9.5.2.2 (b) says, “When a church body applies for formal recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with the Synod, such recognition shall be proposed at a convention of the Synod only after the approval of the commission”; and

WHEREAS, In face-to-face discussions with Bishop Bameka and other key leaders of the LCU, the CTCRhasexaminedtheteachings and practices of the LCU and found them to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, and has proposed the recognition of fellowship between the LCU and the LCMS; therefore be it

Resolved, That we acknowledge with gratitude the unity of confession that has been given to our church bodies under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; and be it further

Resolved, That we give thanks that despite various challenges, God, by His grace, has equipped and prepared the LCU to give a faithful, confessional Lutheran witness in Uganda; and be it further

Resolved, That we give thanks to God that doctrinal discussions between official representatives of the LCMS and the LCU have resulted in recognition of complete concord and agreement; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod formally recognize the existence of altar and pulpit fellowship between the LCU and the LCMS; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage and walk with the LCU as it continues to proclaim the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ in Uganda;

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 Lordupon the members and leaders of the LCU; and be it finally

Resolved, That in celebration and thanksgiving for this partnership in the Gospel, the convention assembly signify its approval by rising and singing the common doxology.