Partner Church Bodies

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

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The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has partner churches around the world. A partner church is a church body with whom the LCMS has full altar and pulpit fellowship.

Many LCMS partner churches are also members of the International Lutheran Council, a worldwide association of confessional Lutheran church bodies.

Some LCMS partner churches came into existence through LCMS-supported mission efforts, while others have historic roots that pre-date the LCMS or that are sourced in the mission efforts of other Lutheran church bodies.

Learn more about partner church bodies on the International Lutheran Council website.

 

Africa

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Ghana

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG) — Rev. John Shadrak Donkoh, President
  
  

Kenya

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) — Rev. Joseph Ochola Omolo, Bishop
  
  

Liberia

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia (ELCL) — Rev. Martin Kamara, Bishop
  
  

Nigeria

• The Lutheran Church of Nigeria (LCN) — Rev. Christian Ekong, President
  
  

South Africa

• Confessional Lutheran Church of South Africa (CLCSA) — Rev. David Tswaedi, Bishop (Interim)
  
  
• Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA) — Rev. Dr. Dieter Reinstorf, Bishop
  
  
• Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (LCSA) — The Right Rev. S.M.A. Modise Maragelo, Bishop
  
  

South Sudan

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan/Sudan (ELCSS/S)* — Rev. Peter Anibati Abia
  *Fellowship is pending until officially approved by the 2023 Synod convention.
  
  

Togo

• Lutheran Church of Togo (ELT) - Eglise Luthérienne du Togo — Rev. LARE Kolani Lambon, President
  
  
  

Asia

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Hong Kong

• The Lutheran Church - Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS) — Rev. Dr. Allan Yung, President
  
  

India

• India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC) — Y. Suviseshamuthu Muthu
  
  

Japan

• Japan Lutheran Church (JLC)^* — Rev. Tatsuomi Yoshida

* For over 13 years, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has encouraged, exhorted, and convened theological discussions with the Japan Lutheran Church (JLC) to uphold the clear teaching of the infallible Word of God, as held by the historic confessional Christian Church, that only men may be ordained to the pastoral office, that is, the preaching office.

Sadly, tragically, and against the clear teaching of Holy Scripture, the JLC in its April 2021 convention codified the ordination of women to the pastoral office as its official doctrine and practice. This adoption of false doctrine and practice breaks the confession and unity of the true faith and makes it impossible for the LCMS to continue to recognize and practice altar and pulpit fellowship with the JLC.

Barring a change in the doctrine and practice of the JLC, the serious matter of the formal cessation of altar and pulpit fellowship will be brought before the Synod at its next convention in July 2023.

Korea

• Lutheran Church in Korea (LCK) — Rev. Young-Seok Jin, President
  
  

Papua New Guinea

• Gutnius^† Lutheran Church (GLC) (Papua New Guinea) — Rev. Nicodemus Aiyene, Head Bishop

† Gutnius means “Good News”

Philippines

• The Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP) — The Rev. Antonio Reyes, President
  
  

Taiwan

• China Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC) (Taiwan ROC) — Rev. Andrew Miao, President
  
  
  

Eurasia

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Belgium

• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium (ELKB) — Rev. Gijsbertus van Hattem, President
  (Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk in België)
  
  

Denmark

• Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark (ELFD) — Rev. Leif G. Jensen, President
  (Den evangelisk-lutherske Frikirke i Danmark)
  
  

England

• The Evangelical Lutheran Church of England (ELCE) — Rev. Jon Ehlers, Chairman
  
  

Finland

• Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland (ELMDF) — Rev. Risto Soramis, President
  
  

France

• Evangelical Lutheran Church - Synod of France (EEL-SF) — Rev. Dr. Gleisson Schmidt, President
  (Église Évangélique Luthèrienne - Synode de France)
  
  

Germany

• Independent Evangelical - Lutheran Church (SELK-Germany) — Rev. Hans-Jörg Voigt, Bishop
  (Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche)
  
  

Kazakhstan

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Almaty — Rev. Alexander Burtsev, President
  
  

Latvia

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (ELCL) — Rev. Janis Vanags, Archbishop
  
  

Lithuania

• Consistory of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania (CELCL) — Rev. Mindaugas Sabutis, Bishop
  
  

Norway

• The Lutheran Church in Norway — Rev. Torkild Masvie, Bishop
  
  

Portugal

• Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church — Rev. Adalberto Hiller, President
  (Igreja Evangélica Luterana Portuguesa)
  
  

Russia

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR) — Rev. Arri Kugappi, Bishop
  
  

Siberia

• Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC) — Rev. Vsevolod Lytkin, Bishop
  
  
  

Latin America

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Argentina

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina (IELA) — Rev. Arturo Truenow, President
  (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Argentina)
  
  

Brazil

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB) — Rev. Dr. Rudi Zimmer, President
  (Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil)
  
  

Chile

• Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile (IELCHI) — Rev. Gerardo Omar Kinas, President
  (Iglesia Luterana Confesional de Chile - ILC-CHILE)
  
  

Guatemala

• Lutheran Church of Guatemala (ILG) — Rev. Ignacio Chan, President
  (Iglesia Luterana en Guatemala)
  
  

Mexico

• Lutheran Synod of Mexico — Rev. Isaac Guadalupe Garcia Castillo, President
  (Sinodo Luterano de Mexico)
  
  

Paraguay

• The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay (IELP) — Rev. Eugenio Wentzel, President
  (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana del Paraguay)
  
  

Uruguay

• The Lutheran Church of Uruguay — Rev. André Luiz Müller, President
  Iglesia Luterana San Pablo (San Pablo Lutheran Church)
  
  

Venezuela

• Lutheran Church of Venezuela (ILV) — Rev. Eduardo Flores, President
  (Iglesia Luterana de Venezuela)
  
  
  

North America

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Canada

• Lutheran Church - Canada (LCC) — Rev. Timothy Teuscher, President
  
  

Haiti

• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH) — Rev. Eliona Bernard, President
  (Eglise Evangelique Lutherienne D’Haiti)
  
  

United States of America

• The American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) — Rev. Curtis E. Leins, Presiding Pastor
  
  
• The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) — Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, President
  
  

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