1. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil (IELB) and the Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB), which constitute the two largest Churches of Lutheran confession in the country, affirm and seek the unity of the body of Christ and therefore, are committed to the following objectives:

1. To seek conditions to reach communion in the use of the Word and the Sacraments, according to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ and the yearning of the Church as expounded in the Apology of the Augsburg Confession: “To Christ we beseech to regard his afflicted and scattered churches and to restore them to a godly and abiding harmony.” (Preface, § 19).

2. To promote the confessional identity in the sense of manifesting the Catholic (universal) tradition of the Lutheran Church and meeting the challenges of our times.

3. To witness to the truth of the Gospel to the world, especially to the Brazilian and Latin-American society.

4. To promote cooperation in common and related activities, in order to obtain better results through joint action.

2. Both Churches admit that, in spite of their origin and commitments in common, they have not invested due effort in mutual approach and in developing joint projects resulting from their mandate.

3. Although certain theological differences persist, and that a full communion of altar and pulpit still does not exist between both Churches , they do recognize the need to celebrate an agreement of cooperation to lend support to and make official projects which already exist, and to propose others, in the different fields of work of both Churches , always with the objective of moving ahead in attaining the above mentioned objectives.

4. Both Churches accept and declare the canonical books of the Scriptures as God’s revealed Word. Both accept the Confessions of the ancient church, the Augsburg Confession and other basic documents of the Lutheran Reformation.

5. Considering the above, the IELB and the IECLB celebrate the present agreement of cooperation with the purpose of complying with the obligations of the Christian Church in the country, giving special emphasis to the following areas:

I – LITERATURE

1. Both Churches support the work of the Interlutheran Literature Commission (CIL), set up in 1974 and made up of members of both Churches.

2. Both Churches sponsor the project “Martin Luther – Selected Works” as a great joint endeavor.

3. Both Churches promote the co-publication of the devotional book “Castelo Forte”, with texts written by members of both Churches.

4. Besides the books already published, both Churches propose to CIL that other co-publications be promoted.

5. Both Churches propose to CIL that it examine texts in common to avoid duplicity of publications.

II – PUBLISHING HOUSES

1. Both Churches recognize that, in spite of their differing characteristics as businesses, Concórdia Editora and Editora Sinodal are instruments that help the Churches follow their evangelical objectives.

2. Both Churches urge the directors of both publishing houses to promote and sell publications and materials from each other whenever possible.

3. Both Churches encourage the directors of the publishing houses to examine all church office materials in use by the congregations (such as certificates, membership forms, index cards, software programs ) and submit them to evaluation by the publishing committees or boards of administration to consider the possibility of shared use in both Churches, as well as keeping common versions of Luther’s Catechisms and hymns.

III – THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION

1. Both Churches encourage their theological faculty, that is, from Seminário Concórdia and from Escola Superior de Teologia in São Leopoldo, to promote regular meetings with a view to provide “ mutual instruction and counseling” in the area of research and theological education.

2. Both Churches recognize the post-graduate courses of these Theology schools and recommend that one school consider the academic credits of the other.

3. Both Churches emphasize the importance of carrying out an exchange of qualified professors in the post-graduate courses, whenever appropriate and feasible.

IV – AGREEMENTS AND CONFERENCES

1. Both Churches recommend promoting the cooperation between the Churches openly and concretely, inviting top level church representatives to participate in each other’s councils and general conventions and other such important events on a national, regional or district level.

2. Both Churches propose that bilateral seminars and meetings be conducted with the participation of clergy at all levels, as well as between seminarians of both theology schools, in order to promote mutual understanding and a common awareness of a confessional identity and the importance of this in the Brazilian and Latin American context.

3. Both Churches propose that theological discussions be carried out in depth at all levels and that advances be made on talks about themes that are important for the life and work of the Churches. (Examples: chaplainries, ecumenical challenges, diversification of ministries, religious movements).

V – WORSHIP SERVICE AND MUSIC

1. Both Churches recommend the importance of using common texts in the liturgy and in the hymnal books. (Examples: lectionary, periscopes, liturgies, hymns).

2. Both Churches recommend mutual exchange and incentive in the area of sacred and instrumental music.

VI – MISSION

1. Both Churches propose that joint missionary conferences be held, so that, together, they may deepen their theology of mission and seek appropriate missionary strategies.

2. Both Churches point out the importance of making and sharing mission research both in Brazil and abroad.

3. Both Churches emphasize the need for common planning in the mission area, especially in remote areas, avoiding competition and animosity.

4. Both Churches recognize that proselytism is not the way to do the mission of Christ, and therefore, recommend that common criteria concerning the transferal of members between the Churches be elaborated and adopted.

VII –SOCIAL SERVICE

1. Both churches affirm the need to assume responsibility for and develop common projects in all activities of social service, such as hospitals, laboratories, homes for children and elderly, private social insurance, etc.).

VIII –EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY

1. Both Churches recognize the common origin and confession in their schools based on the importance given by Luther to schooling and to the integral and ethical education of the citizen.

2. Both Churches seek to join efforts of their schools at primary, secondary and tertiary levels with respect to the practice of a Lutheran philosophy of education, involving all available human and material resources.

3. Both Churches will develop a joint action with the objective of cooperating with the public institutions in fulfilling its responsibility toward the quality of public education for all Brazilian people.

IX – PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY

1. Both Churches recognize that Martin Luther, in his writings and public manifestations, asserted his citizenship, thus giving evidence that , firmly grounded in the Gospel, the confessional basis and the Lutheran service have practical applications to day-to-day life.

2. Both Churches recommend that the social and economic context of Brazil and Latin-America should be constantly analyzed and that the churches should be aware of their responsibility and specific mission in this context.

3. Both Churches recommend the importance of taking a coordinated stand against the specific challenges of our time, with a view to bringing about the will of God the Creator in service to life, justice and the common good.

X –METHODOLOGIC STEPS

For the purpose of turning the proposal of joint efforts into concrete action, there should be at least one annual meeting between the hierarchical levels responsible for respective sectors.

XI – PRAYER

Both Churches share the prayer of the Lord of the Church:

“May the almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
grant us the grace of his Holy Spirit that we may all be of one heart in him
and constantly abide in this Christian and God-pleasing concord. Amen.”
(FC-Epitome, Art. XI, 23. Book of Concord, p. 497).