Participants at the CELC Europe regional meeting on May 24-26, 2024

It was an encouraging time of singing, Scripture, and prayer for everyone at the CELC Europe regional meeting in Ozolnieki, Latvia, on May 24-26, 2024. There were 23 participants, not including the Latvian church pastors and members.

On Friday, May 24, the first presentation of the conference was given by Ilars Plume of Latvia. Highlights of the presentation included discussions on ways in which the gospel is distorted, and the modern-day relevance of private confession and absolution. The second presentation was by Bjarte Edvardsen of Sweden. Bjarte spoke about the unique certainty of Christian hope anchored in God’s saving work and promises, which come outside of oneself. This was followed by a presentation from Michael Hartman on the ministry in the United Kingdom. Michael shared news about the upcoming London church launch on June 9 and some of the recent social media projects in the UK.

On Saturday, May 25, Mark Paustian presented two sessions on Lutheran apologetics. The first session focused on the importance of asking questions and listening carefully to those outside the church. The second focused on the simple power of sharing a Bible story in an evangelism opportunity. Following the sessions, Chairman Holger Weiss and Vice-Secretary David Åkerlund led the group through some updates and administrative matters.

On Sunday, May 26, participants were invited to a church service in Ozolnieki. It was wonderful to confess sins together and receive the Lord’s Supper as a concrete expression of the one faith that we share. The choir and congregation sang beautifully as well.

Elected and installed as officers of CELC Europe were: Chairman Holger Weiss, Vice-Chairman Ugis Sildegs, Secretary David Åkerlund, and Vice-Secretary Luke Wolfgramm. Next year’s convention was approved for the end of May 2025, hosted by the ELFK (Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche of Germany).

Submitted by Conifer Berg, Holy Word Lutheran Church in London

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

 

 

 

Greetings from Russia to all our brothers and sisters in Christ!

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Akademgorodok is one of the three founding churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church “Concord” (Russia). It is located in Akademgorodok in Novosibirsk, a huge scientific center located in Siberia. It is here that the synod of our church is located. There are many people with university education in the parish; there are several PhDs.

During the Lenten Season, we traditionally hold Sunday afternoon and Wednesday evening services dedicated to Christ. This year, during the evening services, we meditate on passages from the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Wednesday sermon series encourages us to appreciate our Great High Priest by remembering the great saving work Jesus has done for us and the great blessings he promises us.

Submitted by Arkady Sedelnikov (Translated by Google Translate)

 

 

                           A screenshot from the GTEC online conference

On February 1, 2, and 3, the Global Theological Education Commission (GTEC) of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference hosted an online conference for Lutheran theological educators. There were 58 registrants from 21 countries; and because they were from around the world, the conference was for only two hours each day (beginning at 6:00 am in the US and ending at 10:00 pm in Hong Kong).

There were four goals for the conference:

1. That we learn about the educators in our global theological programs;
2. That we learn about the programs (faculty, students, blessings, challenges, prayer requests);
3. That we discuss the things that shape and enhance these programs (especially our global theological friends); and
4. That we explore ways we can help and support each other in the future.

While this conference was hosted by GTEC, it was supported by the staff of  Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and Grow in Grace. Technology Services Coordinator, Jeff Mitchell, facilitated the use of Zoom; Grow in Grace Executive Assistant, Barbara Rickaby, facilitated registration; Grow in Grace Event Planner, Kim Workentine, created a directory of participants and communicated with participants leading up to the event, and Grow in Grace intern, Shawn Marron, provided digital resources that enhanced the sessions.

What blessings were enjoyed through this conference? We learned that we are not alone in the work of training the next generation of pastors. We learned that the Lord is blessing our work around the world. We learned that we have theological friends with whom there can be mutual blessings and encouragement. We counted God’s blessings, listened to each other, prayed for each other, and encouraged each other.

Finally, we recognized the need to keep learning and to keep growing spiritually and professionally. Many of the participants said, “Let’s keep learning from and with each other.”

GTEC is grateful for the feedback it received about the conference. The commission has a number of ideas about ways to continue the conversation and collaboration that was begun in the conference.

Submitted by Prof. Bradley Wordell of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, GTEC Chairman

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

 

 

                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