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International Lutheran Council (ILC)

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ILC welcomes Lutheran Bible Translators as a Recognized Organization

by | Sep 9, 2025

USA – The International Lutheran Council (ILC) has welcomed Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT) into the ILC as a Recognized Organization.

The decision to accept Lutheran Bible Translators into membership was made by the ILC’s Board of Directors earlier this year. LBT is an independent American-based mission organization which focuses on Bible translation and engagement. Founded in 1964, LBT partners with local church leaders in Africa, the Middle East, Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia, and the United States to increase access to God’s Word in peoples’ heart languages.

“For over 60 years, LBT has been dedicated to making God’s Word accessible to all people in the languages they understand best,” noted Rev. Dr. Richard C. Rudowske Jr., Executive Director/CEO of LBT, in LBT’s application to the ILC. “We believe that a formal partnership with the ILC would strengthen our shared mission of proclaiming the Gospel throughout the world.”

Lutheran Bible Translators highlighted several reasons for seeking membership in the ILC, including LBT’s and the ILC’s shared confessional commitment and the opportunity for global Lutheran collaboration, among others. “Our current and planned initiatives align closely with the ILC’s mission to ‘encourage, strengthen, and promote confessional Lutheran theology and practice around the world,’” Dr. Rudowske said. “By ensuring that God’s Word is accessible in the heart languages of people worldwide, we contribute to the spiritual growth of existing Lutheran communities and support the proclamation of the Gospel in unreached areas.”

The International Lutheran Council is a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies and organizations which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of an unconditional commitment to Holy Scripture and to the Lutheran Confessions.

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Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee, long-serving ILC board member, steps down

by | Sep 3, 2025

ILC General Secretary Klaus Detlev Schulz presents Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee with a plaque in honour of his long service to the International Lutheran Council.

CANADA – Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee has stepped down as a member of the board of directors of the International Lutheran Council (ILC). Dr. Bugbee informed the board of his plans to do so in early 2025. He intends to continue serving in pastoral ministry in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

“Dr. Bugbee’s warm personality, long pastoral experience, and deep understanding of the life of the Church and our Lutheran Confessions have been an invaluable aid in the building of the International Lutheran Council over the years,” said ILC Chairman Juhana Pohjola. “We thank the triune God for Robert and for his long service, and we pray he will continue to find joy and strength in his pastoral ministry in the service of Christ’s Gospel.”

In announcing his decision to step down from leadership in the ILC, Dr. Bugbee thanked the board for the opportunity to serve with them over the years and assured them of his continued prayers. “I thank you all sincerely for your many kindnesses toward me,” he said, “and commend the vital work of our Council to the Lord.”

At the time of his resignation, Dr. Bugbee was the longest-serving member on the board. Dr. Bugbee first joined the executive leadership of the ILC following his 2008 election as President of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC). He became Vice-Chairman of the ILC in 2010, and continued in that role until 2017 when he stepped down as President of LCC in order to return to parish ministry.

At that time, Past President Bugbee notes, he expected it also to be the end of his service with the ILC. But the board requested Dr. Bugbee continue serving on the board as a member at large. He also continued to serve the ILC as a member of the board’s Executive Leadership Group.

Dr. Bugbee’s service with the ILC’s board of directors officially came to a conclusion on June 1, 2025. In gratitude for his many years of leadership in the International Lutheran Council, the board presented Dr. Bugbee with a plaque on August 29, 2025.

The International Lutheran Council is a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of an unconditional commitment to Holy Scripture and to the Lutheran Confessions.

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Lutherans in Almaty, Kazakhstan, join the ILC

by | Sep 1, 2025

President Alexander Burtsev (second from right) and other clergy of the ELCHAPPA.

KAZAKHSTAN – The International Lutheran Council (ILC) has accepted the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Almaty (Евангелическо-лютеранская церковь святых апостолов Петра и Павла – ELCHAPPA) of Kazakhstan as an observer member.

The ILC’s board of directors voted to accept the Almaty church as an observer member during a board meeting in May 2025. The church has further applied for full membership in the ILC, but decisions on full membership can only take place during a world assembly of the ILC, the next of which will take place in September 2025 in the Philippines.

“It’s a pleasure to formally welcome the Almaty church into the International Lutheran Council,” said Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz, General Secretary of the ILC. “The ILC has been delighted to welcome President Alexander Burtsev as a guest in the past, and we look forward to deepening the relationship between the ILC and Almaty’s Lutherans in the years to come. May God bless our work together on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

President Burtsev noted the importance of cooperation between the faithful as an important factor in deciding to join the ILC. “Fellow believers must always be together,” he writes. “On behalf of all our congregations, I would like to express my gratitude once again: for us this is a new path and a great blessing.”

Lutheranism first came to northwestern Kazakhstan in the mid-18th century, but faced severe persecution under communism during the 20th century. A Lutheran community was established in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan in 1974. In 1992, German Lutherans in the area invited representatives of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) to assist them, eventually leading to the establishment of new congregations in the area. The church was officially registered in 1995.

Today, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Almaty counts five congregations, five pastors, and more than 1,000 members. The church enjoys fellowship agreements with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as well as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR).

The International Lutheran Council is a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of an unconditional commitment to Holy Scripture and to the Lutheran Confessions.

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LLDP focuses on Lutheran Missiology and Pastoral Office

by | Aug 27, 2025

LLDP participants in the March 2025 session. From left: Rev. Dr. Detlev Schulz, ILC General Secretary and The Roemer-Baese Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, CTSFW; Rev. Ambele Mwaipopo, retired Bishop of the Lake Tanganyika Diocese (LTD) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT); Rev. Charles Bameka, National Presiding Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Uganda (LCU); Rev. John Lanbon, Director of National Young Adult Fellowship, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG); Rev. Jackson Mushendwa, Bishop of Western Diocese, ELCT; Rev. Peter Abia, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan and Sudan (ELCSS/S); Rev. Fredirick Flores, Secretary of North Luzon Highland District, the Lutheran Church of the Philippines (LCP); Rev. Martin Paul, Third Pastor in the Synodical Council, the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA); and Rev. Dr. Naomichi Masaki, LLDP Director and The Reverend Victor H. and Lydia Dissen Professor of the Lutheran Confessions, CTSFW.

USA – Church leaders from seven Lutheran church bodies and dioceses in six countries in Africa and Asia travelled to Fort Wayne, Indiana, for another session of the International Lutheran Council’s (ILC) Lutheran Leadership Development Program (LLDP) from March 3-14, 2025.

Lutheran Missiology with ILC General Secretary Schulz

ILC General Secretary Schulz teaching a class on Lutheran Missiology.

The first week was spent diving into Lutheran missiology, with the ILC’s General Secretary Rev. Dr. Detlev Schulz ably guiding participants in exploring and understanding the width and the depth of proper missiological thinking and practice from a biblical and confessional foundation. Dr. Schulz passionately taught the class with many examples and with his own stories as a former missionary in Botswana. “Where are we in mission in our churches?” he challenged the participants, and exhorted them to engage in all “four levels” of missiology: martyria, koinonia, leiturgia, and diakonia both intentionally and directly. He also wanted participants to cultivate the proper missiological reflections.

Dr. Schulz explained that the majority of Lutheran churches around the world have shifted their main focus in missions from justification of sinners before God to a socio-political agenda. In such a context, Dr. Schulz insisted, it is all the more crucial to stay focused on the delivery of forgiveness that goes with the proper understanding of the pastoral office, the royal priesthood, and ecclesiology. Speaking from a missiological perspective, he stressed the vitality that residential seminaries provide, so that pastors and missionaries are sufficiently trained in both Lutheran theology and missiological reflections and practice.

Students appreciated Dr. Schulz’s teaching very much. “This course was very important for me,” one said. “I learned especially the place of missiology in theology in the contemporary discussions.” Other comments included: “God’s mission is the at the heart of Lutheran theology” and “It provided a great help for my church body.”

The Office of the Holy Ministry with LLDP Director Masaki

LLDP Director Professor Masaki teaching a course on the Office of the Holy Ministry.

The first week’s reflections on Lutheran missiology naturally flowed into the second week’s study of the doctrine of the Office of the Holy Ministry, taught by LLDP Director Rev. Dr. Naomichi Masaki. This is because our Lord has instituted the office for the delivery of forgiveness of sins and not for service in the left-hand kingdom. We know that in theology all articles of doctrine are interrelated in an organic whole. The improper practice of missions indicates a prior unsound confession of the Chief Article in the Scripture. Confusion in the area of the Office of the Holy Ministry is not unrelated to misunderstanding in missiology.

For the gathered Lutheran leaders, it was very important to confess the pastoral office as instituted by our Lord instead of accepting the notion popular among neighbouring church bodies that appear to be flourishing. For this reason, LLDP students stuck to Scripture and the Book of Concord in studying the doctrine of the Office of the Holy Ministry, beginning with the Lord’s mandating words, continuing with apostolic instructions in the Epistles, and observing the life of the first century church in the Book of Acts. The entire Book of Concord was also examined concerning the pastoral office. The class took a careful look at a variety of nomenclatures applied to the office in the New Testament. Contemporary issues such as priesthood of all believers, lay ministry, and women’s ordination were discussed as well.

Participants feedback included: “This course let me evaluate my misunderstanding of the pastoral office, making me aware where that had come from;” “The Office of the Holy Ministry is the heart of this program. For this reason a church without a good knowledge and understanding of this course is liable to false doctrine that endangers the church;” “This course is very crucial for the church, particularly leaders, in this challenging time. I strongly recommend that this course be taught to all Lutherans, not only bishops and pastors. I appreciated that all issues on the ministry have been thoroughly discussed on the basis of the Scripture and the Book of Concord;” and “It is very helpful to look at the Office of the Holy Ministry not from a legalistic point of view, but from a Gospel perspective.”

The LLDP participants visit with CTSFW President, Jon Bruss.

During the March session, participants enjoyed the hospitalities of several faculty from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne (CTSFW) who graciously opened their homes for dinner and fellowship. On the Sunday between the two courses, the group visited St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bingen/Decatur, Indiana, and shared with the members there various stories from their home church bodies and countries. In this way, they enriched the lives of local faithful Lutherans, even as they were themselves recipients of good teaching in the LLDP classes.

The LLDP participants speak about their churches to the saints of St. John Lutheran Church in Bingen/Decatur, Indiana.

Next Session

“It was another great two weeks,” commented Dr. Masaki, LLDP Director, concerning the March session. “We pray that the church bodies represented by the participants may be richly blessed by our Lord, so that what they acquired in the areas of mission and ministry bear much fruit in their ecclesial contexts.”

Another LLDP session was scheduled to take place at CTSFW in August 2025 with a particular focus on liturgy, hymns, and communion practices—at which time the program anticipated celebrating an additional three graduates.

You are invited to support the work of the LLDP by making a donation online. You can also mail a donation by cheque to:

International Lutheran Council
P.O. Box 10149
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46850 USA

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SELK pastoral convention offers clarity on ordination

by | Aug 14, 2025

SELK’s 2025 General Pastoral Convention.

GERMANY – The Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche – SELK) in Germany held its 15th General Pastoral Convention in Hofgeismar from June 23-27, 2025, during which time the clergy of SELK rejected the possibility of introducing women’s ordination as a parallel practice for a portion of congregations.

Discussion of women’s ordination has been ongoing in the German church for some time, and this year’s pastoral convention dedicated significant time to addressing the issue. As part of the discussion, delegates were offered a choice: to request “further work” on this issue in the wider church or instead to “provide clarity” to the church. The convention overwhelmingly chose to provide clarity (with just 3 votes against and 1 abstention).

“The direction of our further deliberations is now clear,” said SELK Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigtin response to the vote. “The convention is striving for clarity on the [women’s ordination] issue.”

A secret ballot subsequently gauged the positions of delegates on the issue. This survey revealed that a strong majority of SELK pastors (53 to 28) do not consider viable any structure that would introduce women’s ordination as a parallel option for a portion of SELK congregations. The survey also revealed that a majority of voting delegates (42 to 37) do not consider it theologically possible for the SELK to have some members who practice women’s ordination while others reject it.

On the basis of these discussions, the convention went on to adopt the following resolutions by a strong majority:

“The 15th General Pastoral Convention of the SELK… concludes, as a result of its deliberations, that currently viable structures for the introduction of the ordination of women are not conceivable if this service is only possible in a portion of SELK congregations. The General Pastoral Convention assures those who advocate for the ordination of women of brotherly cooperation, respect for their position, and a willingness to listen to their concerns.” (66 to 16, with 1 abstention).

“The 15th General Pastoral Convention ascertains that, for theological reasons, a majority of its members currently consider it impossible for the practice of the ordination of women and the rejection of this practice to coexist on equal terms in the SELK. The General Pastoral Convention assures those who advocate for the ordination of women of brotherly cooperation, respect for their position, and a willingness to listen to their concerns.” (62 to 19, with 2 abstentions).

After further discussion, the convention also adopted a third resolution:

“The members of the 15th General Pastoral Convention of the SELK commit themselves to continuing to promote the services of women in the SELK as provided for in the church regulations: pastoral assistants, lectors, church council members, church councilors, deacons, catechists, lecturers at the Lutherischen Theologischen Hochschule, etc.” (67 to 9, with 7 abstentions).

Following these decisions, SELK issued a release, stating “that, in the opinion of the General Pastoral Convention, church unity can best be maintained through the path now chosen.” It further noted that “the results of the three votes underscore this strong desire for unanimity.”

The resolutions of the SELK’s General Pastoral Convention have been welcomed by other confessional Lutherans worldwide. “We are grateful that SELK’s pastors have decided in convention to reject the introduction of an alternate, parallel practice on ordination,” said Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz, General Secretary of the International Lutheran Council (ILC). “We offer our continued prayers and support for the German church, asking God to grant them clarity and unity on this issue.”

SELK is a member church of the ILC, a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. The ILC recognizes only male ordination as legitimate, in keeping with the clear teaching of Scripture and the historic witness of the church.

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Liberian Lutherans elect new bishop

by | Aug 7, 2025

A session of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia’s 2025 national convention.
The ELCL’s newly-elected Bishop James N.S. Kollie.

LIBERIA – The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia (ELCL) held its fifth national convention from May 15-18, 2025 in Gbarnga, Bong County, during which time the church elected a new bishop/president: Rev. James N.S. Kollie. The theme for the convention was “Draw Near to the Throne of Grace,” drawn from Hebrews 4:14-16.

“Elections come and go, but the job to be done lies ahead: to work very hard for the betterment and growth of God’s church,” said Bishop Kollie. He noted the Liberian church has a need for more pastors and greater theological education. To that end, the ELCL welcomes additional missionary support from partner churches as they seek to “serve God’s holy and loving people.”

Bishop Kollie’s father served as a Lutheran evangelist in Liberia. As a result of civil war in Liberia, Bishop Kollie and his family were displaced as refugees to Ivory Coast. During that time, he became acquainted with a Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) missionary, joined a mission congregation, and began Theological Education by Extension studies. Following completion of his studies, Bishop Kollie served first as a mission teacher and then as an assistant for LCMS missions in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Some of the participants in the ELCL 2025’s national convention.

Bishop Kollie attended seminary studies at Jonathan Ekong Memorial Lutheran Seminary in Obot Idim, Nigeria, after which he returned to Liberia where he founded Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cotton Tree—a church he continues to serve. Bishop Kollie was ordained in 2007. In 2016, he began studies through Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, Indiana), where he earned an S.T.M. degree and is currently pursuing doctoral studies.

Outgoing ELCL Bishop Martin F. Kamara speaks during the convention.

Bishop Kollie succeeds Bishop Martin F. Kamara, who did not stand for reelection. “We hope and pray that God’s blessings will continue to shower on us as a church and on our new leadership,” said Bishop Emeritus Kamara. Bishop Emeritus Kamara served two-terms —four years in total—as interim bishop of the Liberian church. He continues to serve as pastor of James Evangelical Lutheran Church in Monrovia.

The ELCL’s convention also saw the election of other church leaders, including Rev.  Edward M. Kollie as Vice Bishop/Vice President, Rev. Simon Dapaye as General Secretary, and Rev. James Kamara as Treasurer.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Liberia is a member church of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), a global association of confessional Lutheran church bodies which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of an unconditional commitment to Holy Scripture and to the Lutheran Confessions.

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Bolivian Lutherans celebrate fellowship with LCMS

by | Jul 24, 2025

ICEL President Limberth Fernández preaches for a Divine Service celebrating the recognition of fellowship between the ICEL and the LCMS. Photo: LCMS/Sarah Hjulberg.

Dominican Republic – The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the Evangelical Christian Lutheran Church of Bolivia (Iglesia Cristiana Evangélica Luterana de Bolivia – ICEL) recently celebrated the recognition of altar and pulpit fellowship between the two churches with their first joint Divine Service. The service was held May 24 in Palmar Arriba in the Dominican Republic, following the conclusion of this year’s symposium of LCMS partners in the Latin America and Caribbean region.

Formal fellowship talks between the two church bodies began in 2022 and concluded earlier this year. While fellowship agreements in the LCMS are formally recognized during the church’s triennial conventions, the LCMS authorizes its president to recognize fellowship with small church bodies in between conventions, provided the church’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations also gives its approval.

ICEL President Limberth Fernández preached for the joint Divine Service, while Rev. Ted Krey (LCMS Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean) led the Service of the Word in Spanish and Rev. Dr. Jonathan E. Shaw (LCMS Director of Church Relations) conducted the Service of the Sacrament in English.

A more extensive report on the recognition of fellowship between the two churches is available from the LCMS here.

The LCMS and the ICEL are both member churches of the International Lutheran Council, a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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Latvian Lutherans elect a new archbishop

by | Jun 18, 2025

LELB Archbishop Elect Rinalds Grants. (Photo: LELB).

LATVIA – On June 7, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (Latvijas Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca – LELB) elected Bishop Rinalds Grants to serve as its new archbishop. The election took place during the LELB’s 30th Synod, which was held June 6-7 in Riga.

At the time of his election, Bishop Grants was serving as Auxiliary Bishop of Riga. Two candidates for archbishop were put forward for consideration at the synod, with Bishop Grants receiving 161 votes and Dean Dzintars Laugalis receiving 152 (five additional votes declined both candidates).

Bishop Grants holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the Latvian Police Academy and a Master of Theology degree from the University of Latvia. He received his pastoral education through Luther Academy, an educational institute of the LELB. Bishop Grants has served as a pastor with St. Gertrude Church in Riga since 2000. In 2017, he became the Vice-Rector of Luther Academy, and in 2022, he was consecrated as a bishop.

Bishop Grants will succeed Archbishop Jānis Vanags, who had previously announced his decision to retire. In the Latvian church, the archbishop is permitted to retire at the age of 65 and must retire by the age of 70 (Archbishop Vanags is 67).

“I offer my congratulations to Bishop Grants on his election as the next archbishop of Latvia, and I look forward to working with him,” said Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz, General Secretary of the International Lutheran Council (ILC). “I also want to thank Archbishop Vanags for his long service to the church. May God continue to bless the LELB as it offers Christ and His mercy to the people of Latvia.”

Bishop Rinalds Grants, Archbishop Jānis Vanags, and Dean Dzintars Laugalis. (Photo: LELB).

Archbishop Vanags became archbishop of the Latvian church in 1993. Among other notable events, his tenure saw the LELB enter into fellowship with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in 2001; reinstate male-only ordination in 2016; and enter into membership in the ILC in 2022, first as an observer and then as a full member.

Archbishop Vanags will continue to serve until August 29—thirty-two years to the day since his consecration as archbishop. Bishop Grants will be installed as archbishop the following day on August 30.

In addition to the election, the LELB’s 30th Synod in Riga discussed issues related to church governance and ministry, and adopted new church regulations.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia is a member church of the International Lutheran Council, a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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Mexican Lutherans elect new president

by | Jun 6, 2025

Outgoing SLM President Isaac G. García Castillo (right) installs new President Omar Marín Garza Martínez (kneeling) and other officers of the Mexican church.

MEXICO – The Lutheran Synod of Mexico (Sínodo Luterano de México – SLM) held the closing service of its 54th General Assembly on June 1, during which time the church installed its newly-elected president: Rev. Omar Marín Garza Martínez.

Outgoing SLM President Castillo welcomes Rev. Martínez as the new president of the Mexican church.

Rev. Martínez is the pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Matamoros, and was serving as treasurer of the SLM at the time of his election. President Martínez graduated in 2019 from Seminario Concordia El Reformador in the Dominican Republic. He also holds a Master of Arts from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, which he received in 2025.

SLM President Martínez succeeds Rev. Isaac G. García Castillo, who had served the Mexican church as president for more than eleven years. During his tenure, the SLM grew from three pastors to eleven today. The church also saw the establishment of three new congregations, the reopening of three previous congregations, and the creation of the Instituto Martin Lutero. President Emeritus Castillo will continue to serve as pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in Mexico City.

SLM President Martínez blesses the congregation.

During its General Assembly, the church also elected other officers, including Rev. Isaac Neftalí García Castillo as Vice President, Rev. Job Jiménez Tejeda as Secretary, and Rev. Benjamín Quezada Guzmán as treasurer.

The Lutheran Synod of Mexico is a member church of the International Lutheran Council, a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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Chilean Lutherans elect Rev. Omar Kinas as bishop

by | May 23, 2025

Participants in the ILC-Chile’s 2025 National Assembly.

CHILE – The Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile (Iglesia Luterana Confesional de Chile – ILC-Chile) held its 27th National Assembly in Talca on May 3, during which time the church elected Rev. Gerardo Omar Kinas to serve as bishop/president for the next triennium (2025-2028).

Bishop Omar Kinas and outgoing Bishop Juan Pablo Lanterna.

Bishop Kinas is a graduate of Seminario Concordia in Argentina, his home country. Rev. Kinas first arrived in Chile in 2010, serving first in Santiago and then in Talca, where he currently serves. He previously led the Chilean church for nearly six years prior to Bishop Juan Pablo Lanterna’s service, and has also served as president of the Fundación Casa Betesda, a rehabilitation centre for adults with disabilities operated by the ILC-Chile. At the time of his new election as bishop, Rev. Kinas was also serving as president of Instituto Bíblico Luterano, the church’s theological institute, in addition to his service as a pastor for Chile’s Maule Region.

Bishop Kinas succeeds Bishop Lanterna, who had led the Chilean church since 2022, first in an interim capacity (2022-2025) and then after election (2022-2025). The ILC-Chile limits presidents to two consecutive terms of six years in a row before another leader must be selected. In addition to his pastoral duties, outgoing Bishop Lanterna will now take on the role of president of Instituto Bíblico Luterano.

The 2025 National Assembly also saw the church elect other officers for the ILC-Chile’s board of directors, including Rev. Pablo González as secretary, Jesús Rojas as treasurer, Edgardo Jara as deputy secretary, and Coralí García as deputy treasurer.

The Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile is a member church of the International Lutheran Council (ILC), a global association of confessional Lutheran churches which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, grounded in the authority of Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

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