Joint outlook on world outreach

WINNIPEG –  Representatives from Lutheran Church–Canada and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod met May 4-6 to discuss overseas missions. The agenda included areas of mutual interest and concern such as Central America and Southeast Asia.  

(front l-r) Dr. Leonardo Neitzel, LCC Mission executive; Rev. Robert Bugbee, LCC President; Dr. Thomas Zehnder, executive director of LCMS World Mission. (Back l-r) Dr. Daniel Mattson, LCMS mission executive for Theological Education; Kurt Buchholz, LCMS World Mission chief operations officer; Rev. David Birner, LCMS World Mission associate director for International Areas.

LCC President Robert Bugbee and mission executive Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel met with Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Zehnder, director of LCMS World Mission, Rev. David Birner, international mission; Kurt Buchholz, planning and administration; Rev. Jotham Johann Jhang, US missions; and Rev. Dr. Daniel Mattson, missional education.

The agenda included discussion of inter-church relations in Haiti, Guatemala, Thailand and Cambodia and how the two North American church bodies can cooperate in the proclamation of the Gospel both in word and deed.

 “These were good discussions,” noted LCC’s mission executive Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel. “Although we approach overseas mission with differing philosophies, we can still work together.” Outreach in Honduras is an example of cooperation between LCC and the LCMS. 

Participants received a full briefing on current overseas mission activities by both church bodies and identified areas for further consultation. 

 The Winnipeg meeting was called following a visit to St. Louis by the president and Dr. Neitzel in November 2009. Although they met with LCMS World Mission representatives, both groups realized the need for a longer consultation based on a more comprehensive agenda. This was the first visit of the LCMS leadership team to LCC’s office.

Print this article