Title: Church Fellowship a Bible study course for adults
1Church Fellowshipa Bible study course for adults
- By Professor John F. Brug
- PowerPoint Angi Kinsley, Pastor Mark A. Cordes
- New Life Evangelical Lutheran Church
- Shoreview, Minnesota
2The History of Fellowship
- WELS and CLC Relations
- The CELC
- Church Fellowship, pp. 87-102
3Goals
- To understand the break in fellowship between the
Wisconsin Synod and CLC. - To understand the differences that still separate
the WELS from the Church of the Lutheran
Confession today. - To understand the process that led to the
formation of the CELC.
4Opening Prayer
- Lord, we sorrow over every division in the church
and rejoice whenever true unity is established.
Teach us to understand the recent history of the
Wisconsin Synod that divided us from some
Lutherans and united us with others. Help us
heal the divisions of the church by working for
true agreement based on your Word. Amen.
5Scriptural Principles
- Romans 1617
- Separate from false teachers (persistent
errorists) - Galatians 61f
- Help Christians who are trapped in sin.
- Watch out for our own temptations.
- 2 Thessalonians 314f
- Do not associate with him. (not listening)
- Warn him as a brother.
6What is the CLC?
- The Church of the Lutheran Confession is a small
church body of mostly former WELS, ELS who say - The Wisconsin Synod failed to break fellowship
with Missouri Synod soon enough. - Due to false doctrine of church fellowship by the
Wisconsin Synod.
7WELS and CLC
- What difference of opinion existed in WI Synod
concerning termination of fellowship with MO
Synod? - Some thought WELS too slow in breaking fellowship
with LCMS. - Others wanted more time to admonish LCMS.
8Why did WELS have hard time deciding to break
LCMS?
- LCMS had strong reputation for orthodoxy, fine
confessional documents, i.e., Brief Statement. - Many zigzags in Missouris course.
- Many internal divisions in LCMS
- ? much confusion re. LCMS position.
9Hard time for WELS vs. LCMS?
- Varying degrees of knowledge, understanding among
members and delegates of Wisconsin Synod. - Seems Missouri Synod representatives strung WELS
along, holding out hope with no intention of
changing. - Dealing with large group more difficult than with
individual, esp. with only rare meetings.
10WELS Convention History
- First WELS convention to seriously consider break
of fellowship with Missouri Synod? - Serious resolution to break 1953.
- WELS convention which finally broke fellowship
with Missouri Synod? - 1961
11WELS Convention History
- Basic reason for this delay?
- WELS repeatedly persuaded that LCMS had not
rejected admonition, might still solve problem. - In retrospect this hope was naïve or overly
optimistic. - Good faith effort to do everything possible to
preserve fellowship.
12False Hopes Delayed Break
- 1953 WELS convention hoped that the 1954 meeting
of the Synodical Conference could solve the
problem. - Hoped protesting fellowship would be a strong
warning to the Missouri Synod.
13False Hopes Delayed Break
- 1955 WELS convention delayed because LCMS was
triennial. - LCMS had not convened since our 1953 protest.
- LCMS could not have acted on WELS warning.
14False Hopes Delayed Break
- 1956 WELS convention won over by overtures from
Missouri - WELS placed hope in continued mediation by
overseas sister churches. - 1957 WELS allowed more time for these efforts.
15CLC Condemns WELS because
- WELS approved a preamble which condemned
Missouris error. - CLC says WELS thus identified the MO Synod as
persistent errorists. - Thus CLC says WELS sinfully remained in
fellowship with LCMS.
16Another interpretation of WELS?
- WELS 1955 convention delayed vote on preamble.
- Had not yet identified Missouri Synod as
persistent errorists. - Majority of WELS delegates believed Missouri
Synod had not yet rejected our admonition.
17Interpretation of WELS delay?
- WELS still hoped further admonition would help
Missouri Synod turn away from their error. - WELS conventions accepted principle that we must
break from persistent errorists, but majority
were not yet convinced LCMS fell into that
category (Brug, pp. 89f).
18WELS judgment of early leavers?
- We do not condemn them for opinion that Wisconsin
Synod was too slow in breaking with the Missouri
Synod. - Nor do we condemn following their consciences,
not to keep fellowship with MO Synod longer (Brug
p. 91).
19Why not reunite WELS CLC?
- CLC believed WELS failure to break with LCMS in
1955 and following years was not just faulty
judgment, but erroneous doctrine of fellowship
allowing fellowship with persistent errorists.
20WELS sees weakness in CLC
- Many statements from CLC members on this doctrine
do not seem to allow time for patient admonition
of those who have fallen into error. - (Brug, pp. 91f).
21Doctrinal Difference?
- Why does the Wisconsin Synod say there is no
doctrinal difference between WELS and CLC? - WELS-CLC meetings have produced agreement on need
for admonition and for separation from persistent
errorists. (Brug, p. 92f)
221987-1990 Reconciliation Failed?
- Seemed agreement on doctrinal principle had been
reached - CLC reps insisted on preamble speaking of
doctrinal difference. - WELS never received clear CLC statement about
this difference. - CLC broke off discussions (Brug, pp. 94-96).
23What main principle was WELS trying to uphold
with CLC?
- Need for patient admonition before we break
fellowship with brothers and sisters who have
fallen into error. - WELS fully supports corresponding principle that
we are not to continue fellowship with persistent
errorists.
24What is the CELC?
- Organization of WELS, ELS, and world wide sister
churches to preserve and strengthen our
fellowship. - The CELC replaced the former Synodical Conference
LCMS, WELS, ELS, and others (meeting of
synods). - Synodical Conference dissolved 1963.
25WELS preserves and expands fellowship after 1961
break.
- Meet regularly with ELS in Confessional Forum.
- Holds free conferences to reach out to other
confessional Lutherans.
26WELS preserves, expands fellowship after 1961
break.
- Established fellowship with Federation for
Authentic Lutheranism and Lutheran Confessional
Church of Sweden and Norway. - Meetings to preserve fellowship with sister
churches in former Synodical Conference.
27WELS problem after 1961 break with Missouri?
- Churches that had been in fellowship with both
WELS and LCMS could no longer remain in
fellowship with both since there was no longer
doctrinal agreement between these churches. - Such a triangular fellowship cannot hold with two
contradictory doctrinal positions.
28WELS attempts to solve this problem
- by patient efforts to explain our doctrinal
position to overseas churches. - Result All sister churches except the ELFC of
Germany chose to keep Missouri fellowship. - (Brug, pp. 101f)
29THE CELC
- Locate member churches of the CELC on world map.
30(No Transcript)
31Summary
- Some congregation late 1950s separated from WI
Synod for not breaking with MO Synod soon enough.
Saw error in WELS interpretation / application
of Romans 1617. - Church of the Lutheran Confession.
- Restoration efforts have failed.
32Summary
- A worldwide organization, the CELC, has recently
been formed to extend fellowship among
confessional Lutherans. - Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference
33Closing Prayer
- Lord, we rejoice in our fellowship with sister
churches in the CELC. Watch over these small
churches struggling in a very hostile
environment. Create in us the desire and ability
to support and encourage them. Bless our
fellowship together. Heal Lutheran divisions by
bringing us to true agreement in the teachings of
your Word. Amen.