Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference

 

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

Archives for January 2024

Africans Meet Together

By

L-R: CKLCN Elder President Stephen Stephen, Elder Ephraim Adiauko,
 ASLCN Rev. President James Ogor, Rev. Johnson Wonah,
LCC Rev. Vincent Ngalame and Rev. President Mathias Abumbi 

In September 2023, six West African church leaders gathered in Douala, Cameroon for a week of meetings, involving two men from each of the CELC churches in West Africa—Christ the King Lutheran Church of Nigeria (CKLCN), All Saints Lutheran Church of Nigeria (ASLCN), and the Lutheran Church of Cameroon (LCC). Among other things, the men wrestled with issues involving budgets, ministry plans, and the staffing of their seminary programs.

These church leaders are planning to keep in communication through WhatsApp, along with the WELS One Africa Team. Since there are no resident missionaries in Nigeria and Cameroon due to security concerns, these leaders more and more are responsible for writing their own ministry plans and seeing that they are implemented.

            Pastors assembled in Lilongwe, Malawi in October 2023

In October 2023, twenty-one pastors from six different countries gathered in Lilongwe, Malawi for a week of study, led by Prof. Kenneth Cherney, Jr. The study focused on the work of the Holy Spirit, and it was part of a program for a bachelor’s degree in theology. The pastors came from Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, the United States, and Zambia.

How thankful to God we can be when he allows brothers in the faith to gather for mutual encouragement!

Content provided by Missionaries Daniel Kroll and Daniel Witte

 

 

Online Conference for CELC Theological Educators – February 1-3, 2024

By

                GTEC member Anthony Phiri (Zambia) in discussion
       with Nathan Seiltz (WELS) at the 2023 CELC Convention

The Global Theological Education Commission (GTEC) of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) is hosting an online conference for theological educators within our global Lutheran fellowship. The conference will be hosted on Zoom and will be for two hours each day on February 1-3, 2024—in the morning in the Americas, in the afternoon in Europe and Africa, and in the evening in Asia.

The goals of the conference include the following:

  • that theological educators in the CELC get to know each other;
  • that participants learn more about the theological training programs in our global fellowship;
  • that theological educators learn from and with each other, spurring one another on in this blessed work; and
  • that the participants explore ways for future support, collaboration, and growth.

The three-day agenda includes opening and closing devotions, introductions of individuals and programs, and three plenary sessions about theological education, followed by discussion and idea sharing.

The theme of the conference comes from 2 Timothy 2:2 – “The things you have heard me say … entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” The devotions will center on selected verses from 1 Timothy.

This first-of-a-kind online conference is for theological educators serving in theological training programs in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference. While the seven members of the GTEC have extended invitations through existing CELC channels, it is possible that word about this conference has not reached all of our theological educators. Lutheran theological educators who have not received individual invitations but would like to attend are encouraged to contact the GTEC chairman at Bradley.Wordell@wisluthsem.org.

We pray that this online conference will be a blessing to all who attend, that it will be a blessing to our theological training programs and to our churches, and that it will give glory to God our Savior and to Christ Jesus, who is our hope.

Submitted by Bradley Wordell, GTEC chairman

The Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference

The Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference is a worldwide fellowship of Lutheran church bodies, committed to the teachings of the Lutheran Church found in the Book of Concord of 1580. Established in 1993 with thirteen churches, the CELC has grown by God’s grace to include thirty-four church bodies today.

Every three years, representatives from CELC churches gather for fellowship and theological study at an international convention. Regional meetings are held in alternate years. These gatherings provide spiritual encouragement for confessional Lutherans who often find themselves quite isolated. Visitors are always welcome at these gatherings

Joint work of the CELC includes the writing of The Eternal Word: A Lutheran Confession for the Twenty-First Century, which testifies to the unity of doctrine enjoyed by CELC churches. The CELC also has a commission to help coordinate and improve theological training in CELC churches.

Speaking about the heart and core of the CELC, former President Gaylin Schmeling wrote:  “The CELC stands ready to give answer to the confident hope of salvation in Christ that is within us. It is a refuge for those seeking confessional homes and a beacon shining the light of the Gospel in a sin-darkened world. Here the central truth of the Reformation, justification by faith alone, continues to be proclaimed. We are declared righteous by nothing we do or accomplish, but alone on the basis of Christ’s redemptive work which is counted as ours through faith in the Savior. He accomplished salvation for all on the cross and announced it to all by His resurrection, declaring the whole world righteous in Christ. This treasure is brought to us personally through the means of grace and is received by faith alone in the Savior which is worked through those very means of grace.”

Recording of the Ninety-Five Theses

Ninety-Five Theses for the 21st Century