Southeast Circuit Reformation Update: Week Forty Six Southeast Circuit Reformation Update: Week Forty Six Lutherans Today Lutherans Today Rev. Matthew Tooman Rev. Matthew Tooman

Have you ever heard of “Altar and Pulpit” fellowship? This refers to Have you ever heard of “Altar and Pulpit” fellowship? This refers to a close connection between two church bodies. They are not the a close connection between two church bodies. They are not the same church body, but they have the same confession. With a same church body, but they have the same confession. With a common confession, two or more church bodies can share pastors, common confession, two or more church bodies can share pastors, and their people can take the Lord’s Supper at each other’s altars. and their people can take the Lord’s Supper at each other’s altars. Altar and Pulpit Fellowship happens when distinct church bodies dis- Altar and Pulpit Fellowship happens when distinct church bodies dis- cover that they are together in a common confession. cover that they are together in a common confession. Altar and Pulpit Fellowship should happen in an organic fashion. If Altar and Pulpit Fellowship should happen in an organic fashion. If Altar and Pulpit Fellowship arises through manipulation or some other Altar and Pulpit Fellowship arises through manipulation or some other contrived means with ulterior motive, then what is called Fellowship contrived means with ulterior motive, then what is called Fellowship is a dangerous lie that mocks the Lord’s table and the preaching/ is a dangerous lie that mocks the Lord’s table and the preaching/ teaching of His Word. If church bodies maintain Altar and Pulpit Fel- teaching of His Word. If church bodies maintain Altar and Pulpit Fel- lowship where disagreement persists they deny the requirement for lowship where disagreement persists they deny the requirement for unity in the fellowship as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11. “But unity in the fellowship as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11. “But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.” you may be recognized.” Some church bodies come to Altar and Pulpit Fellowship very slow- Some church bodies come to Altar and Pulpit Fellowship very slow- ly. That is because there are areas of disagreement regarding doc- ly. That is because there are areas of disagreement regarding doc- trine that prevent Altar and Pulpit Fellowship. Over time, length of trine that prevent Altar and Pulpit Fellowship. Over time, length of conversation and the persuasion of the Holy Spirit, they come to conversation and the persuasion of the Holy Spirit, they come to agreement and discover that they now hold together a common agreement and discover that they now hold together a common confession. Other church bodies develop separately, either through confession. Other church bodies develop separately, either through missionary work or through some other historically independent missionary work or through some other historically independent means. It can happen that these different church bodies discover means. It can happen that these different church bodies discover each other, and as their leaders talk they find agreement in confes- each other, and as their leaders talk they find agreement in confes- sion. sion. 500 Years of the Lutheran Reformation 500 Years of the Lutheran Reformation Southeast Circuit North Dakota District Southeast Circuit North Dakota District “Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation.” (Psalm “Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation.” (Psalm 35:9) When Altar and Pulpit Fellowship exists, the Lord gladdens our hearts. 35:9) When Altar and Pulpit Fellowship exists, the Lord gladdens our hearts. In the end, Altar and Pulpit Fellowship happens and gets recognized In the end, Altar and Pulpit Fellowship happens and gets recognized through the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Without that through the work of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. Without that work, we would all live separated and alone. With the work of the Holy work, we would all live separated and alone. With the work of the Holy Spirit, we have fellowship!!! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!!! Spirit, we have fellowship!!! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good!!!

The churches listed below rejoice in their fellowship with one another. The churches listed below rejoice in their fellowship with one another. · Evangelical Lutheran Church of · Independent Evangelical - Luther- · Evangelical Lutheran Church of · Independent Evangelical - Luther- Ghana (ELCG) an Church (SELK-Germany) Ghana (ELCG) an Church (SELK-Germany) · Evangelical Lutheran Church in · Kazakhstan — Evangelical Lutheran · Evangelical Lutheran Church in · Kazakhstan — Evangelical Lutheran Kenya (ELCK) Church of Almaty Kenya (ELCK) Church of Almaty · Evangelical Lutheran Church of · Evangelical Lutheran Church of · Evangelical Lutheran Church of · Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia (ELCL) Latvia (ELCL) Liberia (ELCL) Latvia (ELCL) · The Lutheran Church of Nigeria · Consistory of the Evangelical Lu- · The Lutheran Church of Nigeria · Consistory of the Evangelical Lu- (LCN) theran Church of Lithuania (CELCL) (LCN) theran Church of Lithuania (CELCL) · Free Evangelical - Lutheran Synod · The Lutheran Church in Norway · Free Evangelical - Lutheran Synod · The Lutheran Church in Norway in South Africa (FELSISA) · Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran in South Africa (FELSISA) · Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran · Lutheran Church in Southern Africa Church · Lutheran Church in Southern Africa Church (LCSA) · Evangelical Lutheran Church of (LCSA) · Evangelical Lutheran Church of · Lutheran Church of Togo (ELT) Ingria in Russia (ELCIR) · Lutheran Church of Togo (ELT) Ingria in Russia (ELCIR) · China Evangelical Lutheran Church · Siberian Evangelical Lutheran · China Evangelical Lutheran Church · Siberian Evangelical Lutheran (CELC) (Taiwan ROC) Church (SELC) (CELC) (Taiwan ROC) Church (SELC) · The Lutheran Church - Hong Kong · Evangelical Lutheran Church of · The Lutheran Church - Hong Kong · Evangelical Lutheran Church of Synod (LCHKS) Argentina (IELA) Synod (LCHKS) Argentina (IELA) · India Evangelical Lutheran Church · Evangelical Lutheran Church of · India Evangelical Lutheran Church · Evangelical Lutheran Church of (IELC) Brazil (IELB) (IELC) Brazil (IELB) · · Confessional Lutheran Church of · Japan Lutheran Church · Confessional Lutheran Church of · (LCK) Chile (IELCHI) · Lutheran Church in Korea (LCK) Chile (IELCHI) · (GLC) · Lutheran Church of Guatemala · Gutnius Lutheran Church (GLC) · Lutheran Church of Guatemala () (ILG) (Papua New Guinea) (ILG) · The Lutheran Church in the Philip- · Lutheran Synod of Mexico · The Lutheran Church in the Philip- · Lutheran Synod of Mexico pines (LCP) · The Evangelical Lutheran Church of pines (LCP) · The Evangelical Lutheran Church of · (LLC) (Sri Paraguay (IELP) · Lanka Lutheran Church (LLC) (Sri Paraguay (IELP) Lanka) · The Lutheran Church of Uruguay Lanka) · The Lutheran Church of Uruguay · Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bel- · Lutheran Church of Venezuela (ILV) · Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bel- · Lutheran Church of Venezuela (ILV) gium (ELKB) · Lutheran Church - Canada (LCC) gium (ELKB) · Lutheran Church - Canada (LCC) · Evangelical Lutheran Free Church · Evangelical Lutheran Church of · Evangelical Lutheran Free Church · Evangelical Lutheran Church of in Denmark (ELFD) Haiti (ELCH) in Denmark (ELFD) Haiti (ELCH) · The Evangelical Lutheran Church of · The American Association of Luther- · The Evangelical Lutheran Church of · The American Association of Luther- England (ELCE) an Churches (TAALC) England (ELCE) an Churches (TAALC) · Evangelical Lutheran Church - Syn- · The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod · Evangelical Lutheran Church - Syn- · The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod od of France (EEL-SF) (LCMS) od of France (EEL-SF) (LCMS) https://www.lcms.org/leadership/commission-on-theology-and-church- https://www.lcms.org/leadership/commission-on-theology-and-church- relations/documents/partner-church-bodies relations/documents/partner-church-bodies

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