One of Latvia's few female priests, Sarmite Fisher, said her position was now in doubt because of the Missouri Church's opposition to women priests. "There are more changes to come," she said.
Ishmael Noko, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation warned that relationships with "other churches should not create alienation among or between Lutheran churches."
The Missouri Synod will vote on establishing altar and pulpit fellowship with both Latvia's and Lithuania's Lutheran churches at a convention in Missouri on July 14-20. The Latvian church's resolution on establishing altar and pulpit fellowship was passed in Riga at a synod meeting on June 11-12, by 182 votes to 11, with 20 abstentions.
Latvia's Archbishop Janis Vanags defended the move to formalize what he said was already a close relationship. "This gives us the chance to maintain our identity. The Latvian church is well known for its conservative theology, so it is no miracle that we understand each other."
Relations with Missouri have developed since the end of the Soviet era, he said. The Missouri Synod has contributed to the cost of establishing a Lutheran academy, to train people for ordination.
But he added that he did not wish to damage relations with the Lutheran World Federation, of which the Latvian church is a member.
"There is tension between the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the Lutheran World Federation, but we shouldn't play games according to their rules. We establish our own rules and develop friendly relations with all churches."
Fisher, who is pastor of two rural parishes in the Dobele region, said that as a result of Missouri's increasing influence she fears for her future ministry.
"The church's senior hierarchy promotes a very correct form of Christianity. This was a very rushed step and symbolizes our conservatism. European churches will look at us differently. There is so much prejudice against women priests. I don't know what will happen to me. I cannot become a man."
Women have been ordained in Latvia's Lutheran Church at various times since 1975, depending on who was archbishop. But Vanags has not ordained women since taking up office in 1993. "Ordination of women is quite clearly forbidden in the Bible," he said.
Noko said Lutheran fellowship was damaged when a pastor traveling to another country could not function in one of its Lutheran churches.
"They are not being forced, but encouraged, to realize there is no sound theological basis for such limits.
"Latvia's Lutheran Church is part of the Lutheran World Federation and will remain so. The federation encourages ordination of baptized men and women who are called. Baptism is the basis, not gender."
Bishop Jonas Kalvanas of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania, said the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod had helped meet the cost of printing theological and religious books since the end of the Soviet era. "The relationship has been growing each year. Parts of the Lithuanian Church in exile have been members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod since czarist times.
"In economically developed countries people find other gods and idols and try to change the Bible to suit their own reasons. But during Soviet times, true biblical faith supported us and we want to keep this teaching. We will go to the convention in St. Louis to decide on altar and pulpit fellowship."
Juris Calitis, dean of Latvia University's theological faculty, was keen to counter the impression that Vanags' conservatism is in line with the traditions of Latvia's Lutheran Church.
"Before World War II this was a very liberal church in the German tradition. For ecumenicism not to be a priority is not characteristic.
"By linking to Missouri it is linking itself to a church that is completely outside all ecumenical endeavors - which were a hallmark of the whole church in the 20th century. It also endangers the likelihood of our ratifying the Porvo agreement, which provides for communion between Anglican churches and Lutheran churches.
"Women are slowly being removed from positions of responsibility. Their position in other areas of church life is being put in question."
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