Canadian and Thai Lutheran churches agree to working relationship

President Pornprom (Ted) NaThalang (Thailand Concordia Lutheran Church) and President Robert Bugbee (Lutheran Church–Canada) sign an Agreement of Relationship between the two church bodies.

The Day of Pentecost, Sunday, June 12 provided an appropriate background for Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and Thailand Concordia  Lutheran Church (TCLC) to sign an Agreement of Relationship.

The ceremony at Saint James Lutheran Church in Winnipeg followed the Sunday morning services at which TCLC president, Rev. Pornprom (Ted) NaThalang preached and gave a presentation to the Bible study class.

The agreement between the two church bodies calls for LCC to continue its participation in preparing Thai pastors for service in Thailand and help enable church planting. It also asks the Thai church to help LCC with its outreach to new Canadians from Southeast Asia.

In his Pentecost sermon Rev. NaThalang described the role of the spirit world in Thailand noting that in the Buddhist tradition the spirits are evil bringing bad things and exercising control. By contrast, the Holy Spirit is good and brings people to faith in Jesus Christ. The Christian population in Thailand is less than two percent, with Buddhism the major influence on the culture.

Rev. NaThalang preached at Saint James Lutheran Church

“Our church are all first generation Lutherans, including me” the president explained. “For the Buddhist, the Gospel is beyond imagination because salvation comes as a gift from God and not something earned by keeping laws.”

Rev. NaThalang believes the relationship with LCC is a good fit because the Canadian church is small and keeps focused on God’s mission. He views LCC as a good mentor. “We see the Holy Spirit has worked among your people.”

Lutheran Church–Canada began working with a small group of Lutherans in southern Thailand in the mid-1990s and currently supports Missionary Suchat Chujit in Kok Kloi.

“This is a relationship we cherish,” commented LCC president Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee. “Our goal in any overseas work is to nurture these new and growing church bodies so they may become rooted in Scripture and stand firm in their confession.”

Theological education in Thailand and Cambodia is coordinated by Lutheran Institute Southeast Asia (LISA), which until this year was headed by retired LCC mission executive Rev. Dr. Leonard Harms. Rev. NaThalang expressed his appreciation to the many Canadian seminary professors and pastors who volunteered their time and talents to help prepare Thai pastors.

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