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	April 11, 2005 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 25

	AALC, LCMS plan talks to explore fellowship

	Following a March 22 meeting in St. Louis, representatives of
the American Association of Lutheran Churches (AALC) and The Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod have set dates for official theological
discussions that could lead to the establishment of altar and pulpit
fellowship.

	The meeting was the latest between the two church bodies since
the formation of the AALC. The AALC is made up primarily of
congregations that chose not to become members of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America when it was established in 1987. The AALC has
83 congregations and a baptized membership of 11,732. Its headquarters
are in Minneapolis.

	In 1989, an agreement with the LCMS allowed AALC students to
study for the pastoral ministry at LCMS seminaries. The AALC established
its own seminary in 1991 and has talked with officials at Concordia
Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, about relocating its seminary to that
campus.

	"We had a very positive meeting with the AALC representation,"
said LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick. "Each of our church bodies
accepts the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God,
and both accept the Lutheran Confessions without qualification as the
correct exposition of the Scriptures."

	The AALC Presiding Pastor, Rev. Thomas Aadland, agreed, adding,
"The basis clearly exists for discussing our respective positions on a
number of specific issues such as church and ministry, communion
practices and charismatic issues."

	The next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 6 at an AALC congregation
in Albuquerque, N.M.

	In addition to Kieschnick, LCMS representatives included Rev.
William Diekelman, first vice president; Dr. Raymond Hartwig, secretary;
Dr. Charles Arand, chairman of the systematics department at Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis; and Dr. Samuel Nafzger, CTCR executive director.

	AALC representatives included Aadland, Rev. Darell Deuel,
chairman of the Commission on Doctrine and Church Relations; Rev. Frank
Hays, interim seminary president; and Rev. Harold Johnson, secretary.

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	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

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