News

LCC President joins ILC Board of Directors

by Mathew Block | Sep 24, 2026

WORLD – Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) new President, Rev. David Haberstock, has been elected to serve as the ILC’s new North American regional representative, following the departure of outgoing LCC President, Rev. Dr. Timothy Teuscher.

“The International Lutheran Council plays a crucial role in supporting Confessional Lutherans worldwide in their proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” President Haberstock said. “It also is a fulfillment of our Lord’s desire ‘that they may all be one’ and provides Confessional Lutherans a worldwide brotherhood. That support is vital in our day.”

“I am honoured to join the ILC in this work,” he continued. “May God bless our service together as we seek to make Christ known to a world in need.”

President Teuscher completed his term of service with Lutheran Church–Canada at the end of August, at which time he also completed his service as a regional representative and vice-chairman on the ILC’s Board of Directors. Between World Conferences, the ILC Board of Directors is authorized to fill vacancies. In August, the board voted to appoint LCC President Haberstock to serve as the North America Region representative for the remainder of the current triennium.

“All four of my predecessors in the role of LCC President have also served with the ILC,” President Haberstock went on to note. “I’m grateful for their example, and I look forward to carrying on their tradition of service, God helping me.”

*LCC President Emeritus Timothy Teuscher (right) installs new LCC President David Haberstock.*

Rev. Haberstock was installed as LCC President in Winnipeg on September 6. He was elected as President in June 2026.

The International Lutheran Council (ILC) is a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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Lutheran Mission – Australia holds first Synodical Assembly

by Mathew Block | Sep 8, 2026

*Participants in the LM-A’s inaugural Synodical Assembly.*

AUSTRALIA – Lutheran Mission – Australia (LM-A) held its inaugural Synodical Assembly from August 28-30 in Hamilton, Victoria, during which time the church reelected Rev. Dr. Matt Anker to continue serving as President.

President Anker has led LM-A since its formation, and was formally installed as its president in December 2024. President Anker, who received an honorary doctorate from Concordia Seminary (St. Louis, Missouri) in 2025, previously served as Assistant to the Bishop in the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ). LM-A emerged out of the LCANZ over concerns that church body was declining from historic Lutheran teaching and practice.

In 2025, President Anker was elected to serve as the Asia Region’s representative on the International Lutheran Council’s (ILC) Board of Directors.

At the time of its inaugural Synodical Assembly, the LM-A had grown to include 22 congregations and 3 missions. One highlight from the assembly was the recognition of fellowship with several church bodies. On August 29, the LM-A unanimously voted to recognize fellowship with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC).

LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison was present for the event and formally recognized fellowship with the Australian church on behalf of the American church, in keeping with a resolution to that effect adopted during the LCMS’ 2026 Synodical Convention. LCC President Elect David Haberstock was also present, bringing greetings to the Australian church. LCC voted to recognize fellowship with LM-A in June 2026.

*LCMS President Matthew Harrison and LM-A President Matt Anker.*

LM-A also unanimously voted to recognize fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF). The ELMDF will hold its own vote on the recognition of fellowship at its next Diocesan Assembly. While ELMDF Bishop Juhana Pohjola was not able to be present in person, he sent greetings to LM-A both on behalf of the church in Finland as well as in his capacity as ILC Chairman.

“It has been wonderful to witness the birth of Lutheran Mission –Australia,” Chairman Pohjola noted. “The Holy Spirit has worked to awaken the desire and courage to live as Christ’s own people and to partake fully in His gifts and His Word. Although much struggle and sorrow lie behind you, what has come through to me is a joy in belonging to Jesus’ flock and a desire to build new sheepfolds.”

“What a gift and privilege you have to share the abundance that flows from Christ’s wounds to us as the forgiveness of sins,” Chairman Pohjola continued. “What could you lack, and what could you fear, when you have Jesus, the Good Shepherd, with you, and all the promises of His Word? Before you lie pastures as wide and open as only Australia can offer.”

The LM-A’s inaugural assembly also saw the election of Rev. Matthias Prenzler as Vice-President; elections for the National Church Council and various boards and committees; and the installation of officers, including Dcs. Kathleen Mills as Registrar of Lutheran Theological Seminary – Australia. Rev. Michael Frese, Deputy Director of Church Relations for the LCMS, served as Bible Study leader over two days, presenting an essay entitled “If Moses Had Glory, How Much More Christ? A Biblical and Confessional Case for Reverent, Liturgical Worship from 2 Corinthians 3:7-11.”

The leadup to the assembly also saw the LM-A hold a Pastors’ Conference.

Lutheran Mission – Australia is a member church of the International Lutheran Council, a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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IELC-Rwanda reelects bishop

by Mathew Block | Aug 26, 2026

RWANDA – The Independent Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Rwanda (Itorero ry’Umudendezo w’lvugabutumwa Luteriyani mu Rwanda – IELC-Rwanda) held its General Assembly on August 22, during which time the church reelected Rev. Dr. Mbarushimana Bernard to another six-year term as bishop.

Also elected during the assembly was Rev. Iyamuremye Bonaventure as Assistant to the Bishop. District deaneries will be led by Bishop Mbarushimana (Eastern), Rev. Iyamuremye (Western), and Rev. Habineza Gerald (Northern).

Elections were also held for the offices of General Secretary, Treasurer, and departments for youth and women’s ministry.

Following its General Assembly, the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Rwanda is looking ahead to November, when the church will celebrate the consecration and ordination of new church workers.

*IELC-Rwanda members visit during the 2026 General Assembly.*

Formally established in 1995, the IELC-Rwanda has 14 congregations throughout the Eastern Province of Rwanda. In 2019, it became an observer member in the International Lutheran Council (ILC), a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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LCMS holds 69th Regular Convention

by Mathew Block | Aug 15, 2026

USA – The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) held its 69^th Regular Convention from July 18-23 in Phoenix, Arizona. The theme for the convention was “Christ is Risen Indeed,” drawing on 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.

During convention, the LCMS held elections for numerous offices. Elected as Vice-Presidents were Rev. Peter K. Lange (First Vice-President), Rev. Benjamin T. Ball (Second Vice-President), Rev. Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa (Third Vice-President), Rev. Christopher S. Esget (Fourth Vice-President), Rev. Nabil S. Nour (Fifth Vice-President), and Rev. Eric C. Skovgaard (Sixth Vice-President). Elections were also held for Synod Secretary, the Board of Directors, various commissions, and other church offices.

The LCMS holds its presidential election in advance of convention. President Matthew C. Harrison was reelected to a sixth term as president on June 24. An installation service for the LCMS President, Vice-Presidents, and other officers will be held September 18 at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.

Among other business, the LCMS unanimously voted to “support and encourage recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with Lutheran Mission – Australia” (LM-A). The resolution authorizes President Harrison to formally recognize fellowship with the LM-A at its Synodical Assembly at the end of August, when the Australian church will also vote on recognizing fellowship with the LCMS.

The LCMS convention also formally ratified its recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Christian Church of Bolivia (Iglesia Cristiana Evangélica Luterana de Bolivia – ICEL). President Harrison had recognized fellowship with the Bolivian church in 2025, but the LCMS is required to ratify such declarations at its next convention.

Numerous guests were present for convention. Notable among these was President Mark Schroeder of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), who brought greetings. The LCMS, WELS, and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) have been holding regular meetings together since 2012.

The LCMS also held an International Church Relations Conference (ICRC) in conjunction with Convention, from July 16-27, during which time 51 church leaders from 43 different countries gathered together.

Additional news from the LCMS’ 2026 Convention can be found at its website here.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a member of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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ILC partners with CPH to provide thousands of books for churches around the world

by Mathew Block | Aug 10, 2026

Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana show off some of the resources church workers in the country will receive thanks to an ongoing initiative of Concordia Publishing House and the International Lutheran Council.

WORLD – Near the end of May, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana celebrated the reception of a large shipment of Lutheran books from Concordia Publishing House (CPH) and the International Lutheran Council (ILC)—an event being repeated in numerous countries around the world.

“These books are valuable gifts that will greatly enrich our individual libraries, enhance our learning, and strengthen our teaching and ministry to our congregations,” said ELCG President John Shadrack Donkoh, noting the works are being distributed to pastors, evangelists, and vicars across the country. The new resources, he said, will contribute “to the growth of theological education and the spiritual development of church workers in Ghana.”

Ghana is just one of many ILC member church bodies to benefit from an ongoing initiative of the ILC and CPH to get faithful Lutheran resources into the hands of Lutheran seminaries and local pastors around the world. Under the program, CPH has provided the ILC with hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to sponsor the purchase of CPH products for ILC member churches, while the ILC handles administration and shipping. The ILC consults with member churches to identify their specific needs and ensure those are the works they receive.

“We’re delighted to partner with Concordia Publishing House in this endeavour,” said ILC General Secretary Klaus Detlev Schulz. “CPH is the premier English-language provider of books faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, and we are deeply grateful for their generosity and partnership in this project. May God bless the ILC member churches who are receiving these resources as they put them to use!”

*Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan and Sudan (ELCSS/S) celebrate after receiving new CPH resources.*

Popular works selected so far have included Lutheran Study Bibles, Pastoral Care Companions, Lutheran Service Books, Small Catechisms, and Concordia Commentary volumes. Other resources selected have ranged from school curriculum to homiletics to Reformation-era works, among numerous other subjects.

In 2026, the CPH has granted the ILC $200,000 in books and resources to expand the church libraries of parish pastors in ILC member church bodies. This year’s focus is intended to support the ministry of pastors and congregations on the ground level in a meaningful and tangible way.

Books distributed in 2025, meanwhile, focused on supplying additional resources to the seminaries of church bodies participating in the ILC’s Lutheran Leadership Development Program (LLDP), a program which is also supported by Concordia Publishing House. In total, CPH provided $100,000 in books to the ILC in 2025 for seminaries around the world.

ILC member churches which have been recipients under the program so far hail from numerous countries, including Argentina, Canada, Finland, Ghana, Kenya, Korea, Madagascar, Mexico, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and the United Kingdom.

In addition, participants in ILC events—like last year’s World Conference, June’s World Seminaries Conference, and July’s Extraordinary Assembly—have also received CPH resources under the program.

The International Lutheran Council is a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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AALC reelects Presiding Pastor

by Mathew Block | Aug 3, 2026

*Clergy at the AALC’s 2026 General Convention.*

USA – The American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) held its 30^th General Convention in Plymouth, Minnesota, from June 23-25, during which time the church reelected Rev. Dr. Cary G. Larson to a second term as Presiding Pastor.

President Larson was first elected to lead the AALC at its 2022 General Convention. Prior to that, Presiding Pastor Larson had served the church as Assistant Presiding Pastor and Assistant to the President Pastor. Presiding Pastor Larson also serves on the faculty of the AALC’s seminary, the American Lutheran Theological Seminary (ALTS).

The theme for this year’s convention was “Christ Jesus – Our Hope – Our Future!” based on Hebrews 10:23. Rev. Dr. Jordan B. Cooper of ALTS served as keynote speaker, giving a two-part presentation entitled “Toward a Gracious Confessionalism.”

Among other business, the convention conducted other elections; heard reports; and welcomed three congregations into the AALC.

The American Association of Lutheran Churches is a member of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies dedicated to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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LCMS reelects President Harrison

by Mathew Block | Jul 10, 2026

*LCMS President Matthew C. Harrison. Photo: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford.*

USA – The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has reelected Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison to a sixth term as President. The result was announced on June 24.

President Harrison was reelected on the third ballot, receiving 2,524 votes (50.1 percent). Also on the ballot were Rev. Dr. Joel D. Biermann, receiving 2,414 votes (47.9 percent) and Rev. Benjamin T. Ball, receiving 100 votes (2.0 percent). Two other candidates—Rev. Peter K. Lange and Rev. Brady L. Finnern—were dropped from the slate after the first and second ballots respectively.

“Thank you for this amazing opportunity to serve a final term,” President Harrison said following his reelection. “Please forgive me my many faults and sins. I plead for your prayers for fidelity to the Gospel of Christ’s blood-bought forgiveness, and prayers that I may serve all of you as Christ would have me do in these final three years.”

President Harrison also thanked the other candidates who had allowed their names to stand.

President Harrison was first elected to office in 2010. In addition to his service to the LCMS, President Harrison serves worldwide Lutheranism as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), of which the LCMS is a member church.

The LCMS holds elections for its synodical president in advance of the church’s triennial convention. Nominations for the position closed in February, and voting took place throughout June.

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod will hold its 69^th Regular Convention from July 18-23 in Phoenix, Arizona.

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The ILC’s 2026 World Seminaries Conference in Brief

by Mathew Block | Jul 9, 2026

*Participants in the ILC’s 2026 World Seminaries Conference in South Africa.*

SOUTH AFRICA – The International Lutheran Council’s (2026) World Seminaries Conference took place in Pretoria from June 22-25. The theme for the conference was: “Being Human, Being Christian: Theological Anthropology in Church and Seminary.”

A total of 32 theological schools in 30 nations were represented at the conference, with more than 60 participants in total attending. The host seminary for this year’s event was the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane, and leaders of the ILC’s three member church bodies in South Africa—the Confessional Lutheran Synod in South Africa (CLCSA), the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA), and the Lutheran Synod in South Africa (LCSA) all participated in the event.

Lectures on Theological Anthropology

*Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz presents.*

*Rev. Dr. Guntis Kalme, Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Boafo, and Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann.*

The first day of the conference featured a keynote presentation by ILC General Secretary Klaus Detlev Schulz (Fort Wayne, Indiana), presenting a lecture entitled: “Between Atoms and Illusion: Theological Anthropology Framed by False Epistemologies.” The first day also featured presentations by Rev. Dr. Joel Biermann (St. Louis, Missouri) speaking on “Views on Personhood”; Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Boafo (Accra, Ghana) on “The Incarnated Christ as a Basis for Gospel Communication”; and Rev. Dr. Guntis Kalme (Riga, Latvia) on “The Nicene Pro Nobis: A Lutheran Anthropology for the Digital Age.”

The morning of the second day saw three presentations by Rev. Konstantin Subbotin on “Homo Deus: Anthropotheism as a New Religion of the Modern Age”; Rev. Prof. Clécio Leocir Schadech (Buenos Aires, Argentina) on “Proclaiming the Death of the Lord in the Age of Transhumanism”; and Prof. Dr. Armin Wenz (Oberursel, Germany) on “The Challenge of Transhumanism for Lutheran Dogmatics and Ethics.”

The afternoon of the second day continued with two additional presentations by Rev. Dr. Samuel Furhmann (São Leopoldo, Brazil) on “Towards a Lutheran Theological Response to Secular Egalitarianism” and Rev. Dr. Daniel Johansson (Gothenburg, Sweden) on “Unsuccessful Sanctification as an Argument Against the Biblical View of Sexuality and a Lutheran Response.”

The third day saw parallel presentations by Rev. Dr. Christoph Weber (South Africa) on “Lutheran Anthropology and Sin in Societal Structures” and Rev. Nicholas Kumbo Louis (Sudan and South Sudan) on “Male and Female Relationships in the Church.”

Papers from the conference will be published online at a later date.

Other sessions included a discussion of accreditation led by Dr. Cynthia Lumley of Westfield House (Cambridge, U.K.), as well as a discussion of pedagogy also led by Dr. Lumley. Participants also met for regional meetings, later presenting on regional issues to the wider assembly.

New ILC Seminaries Committee and Closing Service

*Installation of ILC Seminary Committee members.*

The conference also saw the announcement of the new ILC Seminaries Committee. Serving for the next three years are:

Rev. Dr. Heinz Hiestermann (Africa)
Rev. Dr. Jun Hyun Kim (Asia)
Dr. Cynthia Lumley (Europe)
Rev. Dr. Sergio Schelske (Latin America)
Rev. Kirk Radford (North America)

Members of the committee were installed during the conference’s closing service, which was hosted by St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pretoria, a local FELSISA congregation. After the service, participants enjoyed a braai dinner hosted by the congregation, and had the opportunity to visit the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (Pretoria) just down the street.

The final day of the conference saw participants take a historical tour of the region, including visits to the Apartheid Museum, Mandela House, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial.

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For more news from the ILC’s 2026 World Seminaries Conference, click here.

2026 World Seminaries Conference comes to a close

by Mathew Block | Jun 27, 2026

*LCU Bishop Charles Bameka preaches for the final service of the 2026 World Seminaries Conference.*

SOUTH AFRICA – The closing service of the International Lutheran Council’s 2026 World Seminaries Conference took place the evening of June 25 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pretoria, a local congregation of the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA).

The ILC’s Africa Region representative, Bishop Charles Bameka of the Lutheran Church of Uganda (LCU), preached for the event.

*LCU Bishop Charles Bameka installs members of the ILC’s Seminaries Committee.*

The service also saw the announcement of the new ILC Seminaries Committee, with four of five members present for the installation. Serving for the next three years are:

Rev. Dr. Heinz Hiestermann (Africa)
Rev. Dr. Jun Hyun Kim (Asia)
Dr. Cynthia Lumley (Europe)
Rev. Dr. Sergio Schelske (Latin America)
Rev. Kirk Radford (North America)

The service also featured special music by the choir of St. Paul’s, which sang Heinrich Schütz’ Das ist je gewisslich wahr (“This is most certainly true”).

*Conference attendees visit Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (Pretoria).*

Following worship, participants enjoyed a braai dinner hosted by St. Paul church and had the opportunity to visit the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (Pretoria), which is just down the street from the church.

The next day—the final one of the conference—saw participants take a historical tour of the region, including visits to the Apartheid Museum, Mandela House, and the Hector Pieterson Memorial before preparing to depart.

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For more news from the ILC’s 2026 World Seminaries Conference, click here.

2026 World Seminaries Conference: Exploring Pedagogy

by Mathew Block | Jun 26, 2026

SOUTH AFRICA – The third day of the International Lutheran Council’s (ILC) 2026 World Seminary Conference continued in the afternoon with a working session devoted to a discussion of pedagogy.

*Dr. Cynthia Lumley presents on pedagogy.*

Dr. Cynthia Lumley, Principal of Westfield House (United Kingdom), led the session, presenting on education as formation. By using terms like “formation,” she explained, we are acknowledging that seminary education is about more than just the acquisition of knowledge; it involves rather the shaping of the whole person. As Dr. Lumley writes in her paper: “The transmission and acquisition of knowledge is of course a key focus of education. But perhaps more important than what students should know is the question of who students should become.”

That “becoming” or formation involves enculturation in a specific context, self-formation, and support from theological educators as students encounter the Word of God—an encounter which often involves tentatio, Dr. Lumley noted.

As the conference broke into small groups, Dr. Lumley left them with a number of questions to inform their discussions:

What is the mission of a seminary?”
Who does the forming?
How can a seminary create an environment that promotes formation?
How can we encourage students to value formation and recognize it as a life-long process?
Do seminary faculty understand their role in encouraging formation?
How can we know forming is taking place?
How can seminaries move away from an instrumental approach to theological education?

After small group discussion, the whole conference continued the conversation in plenary discussion.

The afternoon continued with a choice of two parallel presentations, one addressing sin in societal structures and the other addressing the roles of men and women in the church.

Rev. Dr. Christoph Weber (Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa) addressed “Lutheran Anthropology and Sin in Societal Structures.” In his lecture, which was drawn from his doctoral thesis, Dr. Weber discussed apartheid and the differing historic responses by three Lutheran theologians: Karl Meister, Hermann Sasse, and Friederich W. Hopf. Meister had approved of apartheid. Theological principles developed by Sasse, meanwhile, lay a foundation for the rejection of apartheid (and Sasses did so explicitly in a letter to Hopf, saying no Lutheran could support apartheid). Finally, Hopf openly rejected segregation and apartheid. Dr. Weber’s lecture would prove a valuable introduction to a subject attendees would continue to learn about on the next day during a visit to the Apartheid Museum and other historic sites.

The other parallel presentation was offered by Rev. Nicholas Kumbo Louis of Concordia Lutheran Institute for Holy Ministry (South Sudan and Sudan), who spoke on “Male and Female Relationships in the Church.” Drawing on biblical concepts like the order of creation and headship, Rev. Louis explained that men and women are fully equal before God while still having unique vocations. In the family, this manifests in the different vocations of father and mother, Rev. Louis noted, while in the church, it manifests in the vocation of pastor being restricted to men.

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For more news from the ILC’s 2026 World Seminaries Conference, click here.

Lectures on Theological Anthropology

New ILC Seminaries Committee and Closing Service

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