PHILIPPINES – On the final day of its 2025 World Conference, the International Lutheran Council adopted two statements: one on the Nicene Creed and the other on unity in Christ.
The first of these—An Affirmation of the Nicene Creed—was adopted in light of this year’s anniversary commemorations of the Council of Nicaea. “During this 1,700th anniversary year of the Council of Nicaea, we, the member churches of the International Lutheran Council, reassert our commitment to the teachings of the Nicene Creed,” the statement notes. It goes on to cite the creed’s place as a “binding statement of faith” for Confessional Lutherans today, also acknowledging the creed’s importance “as a touchstone for relations between different Christian traditions.”
The second statement adopted—Unity in Christ and His Gospel—reflects on the theme of this year’s ILC World Conference. In the face of the serious “division and confusion” afflicting nations and even church bodies today, the statement says, “the member churches of the International Lutheran Council reassert the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” On the basis of their shared faith, members go on to “encourage each other to seek opportunities for closer unity and cooperation between our churches, recognizing that we share a common mission: proclaiming salvation through Christ alone.”
Other business during the conference’s final day included a series of reports, votes on revisions to the ILC’s bylaws, and other matters.
Closing Service and the Installation of the ILC’s New Board
The 2025 World Conference ended with a service of Vespers, at which time the ILC’s newly-elected board of directors was installed into office. Serving as liturgist was Rev. Michael Blodgett. Serving as organist was Ivy Parotina, who also served in that capacity for all the services during this year’s conference.
Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz, General Secretary of the ILC, preached for the concluding service, reflecting on John 17:20-23. Why does the Lord pray for our unity in this passage, Dr. Schulz asked. “Because our unity with one another is meant to be a compelling witness to the world,” he said. “Jesus prays that believers will be one with each other and with the Father and Son, so that the world will recognize Jesus’ divine mission and the Father’s love for them.”
The unity which Jesus speaks of here is “a spiritual unity—that is, one established through faith,” Dr. Schulz continued. “As Confessional Lutherans, we believe that such a unity transcends denominational lines, and exists as the one church of Christ—the una sancta. All who believe (the vere credentes) in Christ are united in His body.”
This spiritual unity is meant to be “uniform in the faith confessed,” Dr. Schulz explained, on “who Jesus is, what He did, and how we are saved.” But unfortunately, he noted, even on these points Christians sometimes disagree. “That is why Jesus prays for it with his core request ‘that they may all be one.’”
“There is a call to action implied with the understanding that the church on earth is meant to be one united body in Christ, not to exist as single individuals,” Dr. Schulz continued. “We cannot be complacent about it, we cannot say: ‘Oh, Jesus has here a dream, a vision of a unified church. But it will never happen, so let us drop the idea of talking to each other.’ No, work on it. Actively pursue unity through repentance, forgiveness, and striving for understanding and compassion in our relationships. Pursue unity not by compromising the truth of God’s Word, but by holding to it with humility and love. And then live as a witness: Allow the unity within the church to be a powerful testimony of God’s love and presence to a watching world.”
The ILC’s outgoing Asia Region representative, President Antonio del Rio Reyes of the Lutheran Church in the Philippines, then conducted the installation of the ILC’s new board. The service—and with it, the 2025 World Conference—subsequently concluded with the singing of the hymn “For All the Saints.”
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For more news from the ILC’s 2025 World Conference, click here.
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