The ELCA is one of the LWF's 131 member churches. The 10th round of talks in the United States builds on the recommendations, content and method of the Joint Declaration. The Rev. Alvin L. Barry, president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, died March 23. Other dialogue participants spent part of their meeting time in prayer for the Missouri Synod, recalling the memory of Barry. The second largest Lutheran church in the United States, the Missouri Synod is an observer to the dialogue but did not sign the Joint Declaration.
Participants meet twice each year.
The next meeting will be Dec. 6-9 in Baltimore.