2025 Conference
September 29-30, 2025
Zion Lutheran Church, Ellendale, ND
Church Fellowship in the LC-MS
It is no secret that the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod has congregations and pastors that cover a wide range of practices and doctrinal positions. This brings up a number of important questions: what does church fellowship mean in the LC-MS? Is it possible to have church division inside of a church body? What unites the LC-MS as a denominational fellowship?
2025 Papers
(These papers may not be published without the express permission of the presenter.)
Rev. Rolf Preus – The Christian’s Fellowship with God
Rev. Dr. Matthew Richard – True Christian Fellowship? An Examination of Koinonia & 4 False Views
Rev. Bernie Worral – The Ecumenical Sacrament: Baptism and the Holy Christian Church
Rev. Rolf Preus – The Christian’s Fellowship with Christians
Rev. Rolf Preus – Confessional Fellowship
Rev. Michael Grieve – Church Fellowship is Altar and Pulpit Fellowship
Rev. Tom Park – The Lutheran Theology of Church Fellowship in the Mission Field
Rev. Matthew Christiansen – The Divine Service in the LCMS: Is Unity or Diversity our Strength? Strategic Analysis from an Army Chaplain’s Perspective
Rev. Rolf Preus – The Orthodox Synod and the Orthodox Confession
Rev. Christopher Neuendorf – The Biblical Doctrine of Fellowship as the Primary Rationale for the Practice of Closed Communion
2024 Conference
September 16-17, 2024
Zion Lutheran Church, Ellendale, ND
Exercising Authority
Women and the Church
We as Confessional Lutherans agree that Christ does not call women to be pastors in His Church, but we are not in agreement about other issues regarding women exercising authority in the Church. Many congregations have women lectors. Others object to this practice. Is the public reading of Scripture exercising authority? Many congregations have women leading children’s messages in worship. Others object to this practice. Is this exercising authority? Many congregations have adopted women’s suffrage. Others object to this practice. Is this exercising authority? What does the Bible say? What do our Confessions say? Are these issues adiaphora? Or do they go against the teaching of Scripture? Though it may be uncomfortable to talk about this issue, it is important to seek clarity for the sake of the Gospel and our unity in Christ.
2024 Papers
(These papers may not be published without the express permission of the presenter.)
Rev. Dr. David Hasselbrook – First Keynote
Rev. Michael Grieve – And He Shall Rule Over You: Rule in the Church After the Fall
Rev. Josef Muench – How to Behave in the Household of God: Insights from the Early Church
Rev. Dr. David Hasselbrook – Second Keynote
Rev. Dr. David Hasselbrook – Third Keynote
Rev. Martin Diers – The Vocation of Woman
Rev. Joseph Greenmeyer – Because of the Angels, As Saith the Law: Veiling and Silence of Women in 1 Corinthians 11 and 14
Rev. Zelwyn Heide – Philip’s Daughters: Understanding Prophetesses in the New Testament
Rev. Dr. David Hasselbrook – Fourth Keynote