Church Fellowship a Bible study course for adults By Professor John F. Brug PowerPoint: Angi Kinsley, Pastor Mark A. Cordes New Life Evangelical Lutheran Church Shoreview, Minnesota

The History of Fellowship The Early Church; WELS and LCMS Relations Church Fellowship, pp

Goals 1. To see that our fellowship practices are not a new invention but follow the example of the early church and the church of the Reformation. 2. To understand the process that led to the establishment of fellowship between the Wisconsin Synod and the Missouri Synod and to the termination of that fellowship. 3. To understand the differences that still separate the Wisconsin Synod from the Missouri Synod today.

Opening Prayer Lord Jesus, your church has had to fight against error in every age. Help us learn from the example of those who faithfully fought the battle for the truth in the past, so that we may carry on the battle for the truth until you return. Amen.

Church fellowship in the early church How would you respond to people who claim that the WELS fellowship and Communion practices are different from those of most other churches? This may be true today, but this is because most contemporary churches have departed from the principles taught in Scripture that were practiced by the church in the past.

Church fellowship in the early church Describe the Communion practices of the early church. The early church practiced “closed Communion” and insisted on complete agreement in doctrine as a basis for fellowship (p. 62).

Church fellowship in the early church What degree of doctrinal agreement did Luther believe was necessary for church fellowship? He required complete agreement in all doctrine (p. 63). What were Luther’s Communion practices? Luther practiced “closed Communion” (p. 64 quotation).

Church fellowship in the early church What was the belief of the orthodox Lutheran teachers of the 1600’s concerning joining in worship with people with whom they were not in doctrinal agreement? They believed they could not worship with those with whom they were not in complete doctrinal agreement.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What doctrinal controversy has had the greatest impact on the Wisconsin Synod? The doctrinal controversy with the Missouri Synod concerning church fellowship. What were the early fellowship practices of the Wisconsin Synod? They were somewhat lax (p. 69).

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What were the early fellowship practices of the Missouri Synod? Under the leadership of Walther, the Missouri Synod played the leading role in the restoration of a strong confessional position and sound fellowship practices in Lutheranism.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What enabled the Missouri Synod and Wisconsin Synod to establish church fellowship in 1868? The Wisconsin Synod, under the influence of new leaders, reached a sound confessional position, which enabled it to reach agreement with the Missouri Synod on the principles and practices of church fellowship (p. 69).

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What was the Synodical Conference? It was a cooperative organization in which the Missouri Synod, the Wisconsin Synod, and several other synods were joined together from 1872 till Among the joint activities of the conference was mission work in Nigeria.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What degree of doctrinal agreement did the Synodical Conference require for church fellowship? It called for complete agreement in all doctrine, as the Scripture teaches. What degree of doctrinal agreement was required by the Lutheran churches that are now part of the ELCA? They did not believe that full agreement in doctrine was necessary or possible.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What was the practice of the Synodical Conference concerning prayer fellowship? It maintained that doctrinal agreement was necessary for joint prayer with other Christians (pp ). What change in the Missouri Synod was the first indication that they no longer held to the former fellowship practices of the Synodical Conference? They began to practice joint prayer with other Lutherans without doctrinal agreement.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What practical situation led to the Missouri Synod’s desire to compromise its fellowship principles? A major factor was their desire to achieve fellowship with the American Lutheran Church (ALC).

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods How did the Missouri Synod attempt to escape from its earlier position that prayer fellowship requires the same degree of doctrinal agreement as any other form of church fellowship? They created a distinction between “prayer fellowship,” which requires doctrinal agreement, and “joint prayer,” which does not. There is no scriptural basis for such a distinction (p. 73).

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What was “The Statement of the 44”? How did it contribute to the decline of the Missouri Synod? “The Statement” was a public challenge of the Synodical Conference’s position on church fellowship by prominent leaders of the Missouri Synod. It showed that the Missouri Synod was a house divided. The Synod’s failure to discipline the signers of the statement was a warning of the beginning of the breakdown of doctrinal discipline in the Missouri Synod (pp. 73,74).

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What were some of the further fellowship issues that created friction between the Wisconsin and Missouri Synods? 1. Missouri’s participation in the Boy Scouts and the military chaplaincy (p.75). 2. The vague doctrinal statements that were being produced as part of the efforts of Missouri and the ALC to achieve fellowship (pp. 74,75). 3. The Missouri Synod was engaging in more joint church work with the National Lutheran Council under the guise of “cooperation in externals” (p. 76).

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods How long did the Wisconsin Synod work to resolve the doctrinal differences with the Missouri Synod? From approximately 1938 until 1961, almost 25 years. The Wisconsin Synod was certainly not impatient or hasty.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What finally led to the break of fellowship with the Missouri Synod in 1961? The failure of efforts to restore the doctrinal agreement that had formerly existed between the Wisconsin and Missouri Synods and Missouri’s rejection of our admonition. It had now become clear the Missouri Synod was persisting in their error. A break was necessary.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods Define the difference in doctrine of fellowship between the Wisconsin and Missouri Synods? The Wisconsin Synod maintained that agreement in all doctrine is necessary of any expression of church fellowship. The Missouri Synod maintained that some expressions of fellowship, such as joint prayer, are possible without full doctrinal agreement. The ELCA – none.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What course did the Missouri Synod follow in the 1960s? More liberal, ecumenical Negative critical views of Scripture at Concordia Seminary. Joined inter-Lutheran organization LCUSA. Entered fellowship with the ALC. In 1967, formally adopted false view of fellowship that it had been practicing.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What improvements were made in Missouri’s position – 1970’s – 1980’s? Liberal professors left Concordia Seminary. LCMS broke fellowship with the ALC and refused to enter the ELCA merger. LCMS protested against some of the most liberal tendencies of the ELCA (pp. 78,80).

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What are the fellowship principles and practices of the ELCA? They believe that complete agreement in doctrine is neither necessary nor possible (pp ). Tolerate extreme departures from scriptural doctrine. Considering Communion fellowship with Reformed churches and closer relations with Roman Catholicism – all without full doctrinal agreement.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods What differences continue to separate the Wisconsin Synod and the Missouri Synod? 1. The difference concerning the doctrine of church fellowship remains unresolved. 2. The Missouri Synod continues to practice joint worship with those with whom it is not in doctrinal agreement (p. 83). 3. Unionistic practices by some members of the Missouri Synod, such as open Communion, too often remain undisciplined.

The Wisconsin and Missouri Synods 4. The Missouri Synod is divided on the doctrine of church and ministry.  Some accept the same doctrine as the Wisconsin Synod, but…  …the public doctrine of the Missouri Synod rejects our position. 5. Although the Missouri Synod does not ordain women as pastors, it does allow them to fill other roles in the church that involve the exercise of authority over men, contrary to Scripture.

Summary The Wisconsin Synod and the Missouri Synod shared a common confession of the scriptural principles of church fellowship during most of the years they were in the Synodical Conference. When the Missouri Synod began to depart from their former position, the Wisconsin Synod for about 25 years urging them to abandon unionistic practices. After this failed, the Wisconsin Synod severed fellowship with the Missouri Synod. Although in recent years the Missouri Synod has taken some positive steps, unclarity in doctrine and errors in practice remain, making renewed fellowship with the Wisconsin Synod impossible.

Closing Prayer We thank you, Lord Jesus, for all who have courageously contended for the truth throughout the history of the church. We thank you especially that you kept our synod faithful to the truth during the struggle that finally split the Synodical Conference. We thank you for the faithful leaders you gave to guide us in those difficult days. Now we pray that you make us as faithful and courageous as they were, so that we may guard the heritage they have passed on to us. Amen.

During the week Read Church Fellowship, pp