Partner Churches
A partner church is a church body with whom the LCMS has full altar and pulpit fellowship.
Argentina — Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina
Brazil — Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil
Canada — Lutheran Church—Canada
Chile — Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile
Denmark — Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark
France — Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod of France
Germany — Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church
Ghana — Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
Guatemala — Lutheran Church in Guatemala
Haiti — Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti
Hong Kong — Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod
India — India Evangelical Lutheran Church
Japan — Japan Lutheran Church*
* 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.
Kazakhstan — Evangelical Lutheran Church in Almaty
Kenya — Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya
Korea — Lutheran Church in Korea
Latvia — Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Liberia — Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia
Lithuania — Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania
Mexico — Lutheran Synod of Mexico
Nigeria — Lutheran Church of Nigeria
Norway — Lutheran Church in Norway
Papua New Guinea — Gutnius Lutheran Church
Paraguay — Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay
Philippines — Lutheran Church in the Philippines
Russia — Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria
Russia — Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church
South Africa — Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
South Africa — Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa
Taiwan — China Evangelical Lutheran Church
Togo — Lutheran Church of Togo
United Kingdom — Evangelical Lutheran Church of England
United States — The American Association of Lutheran Churches
Uruguay — Lutheran Church of Uruguay
Venezuela — Lutheran Church of Venezuela