LCC Recognizes Fellowship with Lutherans in the Philippines and Australia

WINNIPEG – On June 13, Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) unanimously voted in convention to recognize fellowship with the Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP) and Lutheran Mission – Australia (LM-A).

Fellowship discussions with both the LCP and LM-A took place in 2025, and LCC’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations recommended the recognition of fellowship.

Photographed by Sura Tulu

On June 15, the presidents of LCP and LM-A addressed the convention, celebrating LCC’s declaration of fellowship with their churches. “The unity of the church is not something we create,” LCP President Antonio del Rio Reyes noted. “It is a gift that God has given through Christ Jesus. We are one because Christ is one, and we share one faith because we have one Gospel.”

“We thank God that our church bodies stand together in confessing the Holy Scriptures” and “the Lutheran Confession in the Book of Concord,” President Reyes continued. “We also give special thanks and grace to God for graciously leading our churches to a godly, Spirit-filled agreement to officially establish altar and pulpit fellowship. This is a significant blessing from the Lord, and it is a joyful public recognition of the unity in doctrine and confession that He has granted upon us.”

LM-A President Matt Anker thanked LCC members for their long-standing partnership with Australian Lutherans. “We are incredibly grateful for the many years of solidarity in the Gospel and the encouragement that Lutheran Church–Canada has been to confessional people in Australia,” he said. “We share your sadness that it became necessary to leave the LCA and start Lutheran Mission-Australia as the continuing confessional Lutheran church in the country. But we rejoice that our steadfast friends in LCC have stood with us from the earliest days.”

Photographed by Thomas Winger

“LM-A is deeply humbled that LCC would so readily consider and, indeed, resolve to declare altar and pulpit fellowship with us in these early days,” he continued. “We recognize the vital importance of such relationships as a small and very isolated Synod which has arisen out of the need to take a stand for our confession.” It is LM-A’s prayer that the partnership between LCC and LM-A will “provide opportunity for mutual encouragement, partnership in mission, and a common confession to the glory of God and the blessing of all people.”

LM-A and LCP will both hold conventions later this year, at which time they will hold their own votes to recognize LCC as a fellowship partner.

LCC’s 13^th convention also had the sad responsibility of formally recognizing the loss of fellowship with the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ). In 2024, the LCANZ voted to approve the ordination of women, contrary to the teaching of Scripture. LCC President Timothy Teuscher was present at their convention, at which time he expressed his sorrow, noting that they had effectively voted to break fellowship with LCC.

Despite this recognition of lost fellowship, LCC committed itself to the possibility of future doctrinal discussions with the LCANZ in the hope agreement in doctrine and practice might one day be regained.

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