Convention Essays

2026

Exegesis of 1 Corinthians 14 – David Bivens
Baptism – David Kamwata
Formula of Concord V: Law and Gospel – Kalyan Gollapalli
Pietism – Holger Weiss
The Strategy and Success of Academia Cristo – Henry Herrera

2023

With the Lord Always: An Exegesis of I Thessalonians 4:13-18 – Nickolas Proksch
Civil Government: In the Light of Luther’s Two Kingdoms – Ugis Sildegs
The Formula of Concord Article I: Original Sin and Article II: Free Will – Kebede Getachew Yigezu
Lutheranism in East Asia – Angus K.F. Cheung
The Training of Lay People for Evangelism – Mario Gálvez Pérez

2021

The Trinity: Glory Be the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit – Bradley D. Wordell
The Formula of Concord Article III: The Righteousness of Faith – Juhani Viitala
Luther’s Three Essays from 1520: From Roman Captivity to Christian Liberty – Andrés San Martin
Promoting Christian Marriage in the 21st Century – Anthony Phiri
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2017

The Lutheran Reformation Then and Now – Holger Weiß
The Reformed Reformation Then and Now – SungGyu Choi
The Radical Reformation Then and Now – Julio Ascarrunz
The Catholic Reformation Then and Now – Timothy R. Schmeling, Ph.D.
All Essays

2014

God Sanctifies Us—He Makes Us Holy After He Declares Us Holy – John M. Brenner
God Gives Us Power—His Gospel in the Means of Grace Gives the Power for a God-Pleasing Life – Gottfried Herrmann, Ph.D.
God Guides Us—His Law in the Bible Guides Us in Godly Living – Brester Msowoya
Honoring God—We are Created to Love God According to the First Table of the Law – Petr Krakora
Sanctification—Serving Others is the Christian’s Seal – Guillermo Carrera
All Essays

2011

The Invisible and the Visible Church – Lyle Lange
The Mission of the Church – Davison Mutentami
Governance of the Church: Ways the Visible Church Has Been and Is Governed – John Vogt
Fellowship at Jesus’ Feet: Challenges and Opportunities for Confessional Lutherans in the 21st Century – Andreas Drechsler
The Distinctive Blessings in Which the Lutheran Church Rejoices and Lives – Esequiel Sánchez
All Essays

2008

The Source of Our Outreach Message – Yuriy Fizer
The Theme of Our Outreach Message – Egil Edvardsen
The Enabler of Our Outreach Message – Igor Logvinov
The Focus of Our Outreach Message – Takeshi Nidaira
The Urgency of Our Outreach Message – Segundo Gutierrez
All Essays

2005

Eagerly Await the Savior as You Prepare for Death – Mikhail Starikov
Eagerly Await the Savior as You Anticipate Resurrection and Glorification – Frackson Chinyama
Eagerly Await the Savior as You Look Forward to Christ’s Return – Gundars Bakulis
Eagerly Await the Savior Even Though You Must Face Divine Judgment – Mitsuo Haga
Waiting for Heaven with Joy – Ezequiel Sánchez
All Essays

2002

The Person of Christ – Takeshi Nidaira
The Two States of Christ – Jonas Schroeter
The Work of Christ as Prophet – Mutebele Chijoka
The Work of Christ as Priest – Segundo Gutierrez
The Work of Christ as King – Stefan Sjoqvist
All Essays

1999

The Holy Spirit is God – Walter Westphal
The Holy Spirit is the Giver of Faith – Gottfried Herrmann
The Holy Spirit Uses Word and Sacrament to Carry Out His Work – Frackson B. Chinyama
The Holy Spirit Comforts the Church – Stefan Hedkvist
The Holy Spirit Sanctifies and Preserves the Church – Samuel M. Kawiliza
The Holy Spirit Gives Spiritual Gifts to His Church – David Haeuser
Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord Preserve Our Unity of Faith – William A. Meier
All Essays

1996

Justification is by Grace – Mark W. Tuffin
Justification is Complete – Oto Rodriguez
Justification is for All – Takeshi Nidaira
Justification is Received Through Faith – Daison Mabedi
Justification Through Faith Produces Sanctification – Adolph Harstad
Justification Through Faith Gives Innumerable Blessings – Martin Hoffmann
Justification by Grace Through Faith is the Doctrine by Which the Church Either Stands or Falls – Arnold Koelpin
All Essays

1993

We Have a Common Mission: To Make Disciples of Christ – Duane K. Tomhave
We Have a Common Message: We Are Forgiven Through Jesus Christ – Salimo Hachibama
We Have a Common Means: The Gospel in Word And Sacraments – Gaylin Schmeling
We Have a Common Foundation: God’s Pure Word – Egil Edvardsen
We Have a Common Confession: Unity in the Spirit – Gerhard Wilde
We Have a Common Concern: Properly Dividing the Word of Truth – Wilhelm W. Petersen
All Essays

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.”