Partner Church Bodies
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
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.
Africa
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Nigeria
South Africa
South Sudan
Togo
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Asia
Hong Kong
India
Japan
* 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
Papua New Guinea
† Gutnius means “Good News”
Philippines
Taiwan
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Eurasia
Belgium
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Germany
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Portugal
Russia
Siberia
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Latin America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Guatemala
Mexico
Paraguay
Uruguay
Venezuela
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North America
Canada
Haiti
United States of America
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