Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Encyclopedia
Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church is a Christian denomination in India
. It has about 80,000 members.It is a member of the World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches in India and Lutheran World Federation Council of Churches in India http://www.nccindia.in/affiliates/memberchurches2.htm Nagpur
It is a member church in the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India
(UELCI) - a communion of Lutheran Churches, Chennai
Its headquarters is in Tamil Nadu
. It belongs to the Lutheran World Federation
.
The India Evangelical Lutheran Church is a body of organized congregations registered under the societies registration Act.XXI of 1860, bearing S.No.11 of 1959.The IELC
maintains church fellowship with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and recognizes fellowship with all confessional Lutheran churches in India and throughout the world. The IELC enters into alter and pulpit fellowship the other confessional Lutheran churches.It is spread over Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Southern Karnataka, parts of Andhra Pradesh and Mumbai. It has Mission base at New Delhi, Chandigarh and Orissa.
Administration
President of India Evangelical Lutheran Church is an ordained minister of the IELC selected by the IELC convention for a three-year time, which may be repeated once in succession. He is the spiritual leader and chief executive liaison officer of the IELC.Present President of India Evangelical Lutheran Church is Rev. Dr. J. Samuel
Office bearers of the IELC
President of IELC: Rev. Dr. J. Samuel
Vice President of IELC: Rev.Y. Sukumaran
General Treasurer of IELC: Mr. K. Baul Sundar
Secretary of IELC: Rev. P N Gopinathan
Comptroller of IELC: Rev. Jacob M. B. Sudhakaran
Trust Association Secretary of IELC: Mr. J. Gnanjothy
Administrative divisions
For administrative purpose, the Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church is divided into three synods and two mission fields. Three synods, three groups of congregations are organized into pastorates and circles for edification and administration and the chief administrative organizations to assure pastoral care of congregations. The three synods are:
Ambur
Synod
Nagercoil
Synod
Thiruvananthapuram
Synod
Two Mission Circles called:
Mumbai Mission Circle
Malabar Mission Circle
History
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LC MS) was supporting the Leipzig Lutheran Mission (LLM) during 19the century. K. G. T. Naether and T. F. Mohn who were working in the South East part of Tamil Nadu
broke away from LLM due to doctrinal difference with the Leipzig Church in Germany. These two missionaries then applied to LC MS to support their work in India directly. LC MS agreed to their request and the two missionaries moved to Krishnagiri
and Ambur
of Northern Tamil Nadu
to start a new Mission enterprise in 1895. The work was carried out under the banner of Missouri Evangelical Lutheran India Mission (MELIM). This marked the beginning of establishment of a number of churches in that part of India. However, the work of Naether lasted only for about four years. He sowed the seed of the Gospel and died of Plague along with his two daughters. His wife then returned home. Mohn continued his work for a few more years. Then, several batches of LC MS Missionaries arrived one after the other phase by phase. At one stage, the Ambur – Krishnagiri area grew up with an increased number of churches, schools and a health care clinic. There was a Macedonian call from the South Travancore
of present Kanyakumari District
to establish MELIM station. LC MS sent a few missionaries to work in South Trivancore area that included the present Kerala. Churches and schools and a seminary were established during the next two decades. The first general assembly called ‘Prathanithikal Sangam’ of native Pastors and Lay representatives from congregations was held in Trivandrum. The Missionaries too participated in this assembly. This was the forerunner of all the three Synod conventions and IELC Convention of today.
The congregations in and around Ambur and Krishnagiri
were organized into Ambur
Synod in 1949. The Tamil congregations around Nagercoil
were organized into Nagercoil
Synod and Malayalam congregations in Kerala
into Trivandrum Synod in 1956. All these three Synods were formed together as India Evangelical Lutheran Church during its General Assembly held on 8 and 9 of January 1958.
Vision
The vision of IELC is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ through the Congregations and the Social Service units among different ethnic groups of India by Word and deed.
Mission
Congregations are primary units of IELC. The members of each congregation are involved in gathering, fellowshipping and worshiping the triune God. Pastors are assigned to conduct worship services and do spiritual and social ministry in the congregations and among others around the location. Human care is integral part of the Mission of IELC.
Services
Diaconal Service of IELC as one of the ministries of the Church done by the laity assists the Pastors in spiritual and social concerns of individuals, families and society in general.
Educational Service of IELC aims to provide quality education to all children irrespective of caste, creed, color and social status and trains Pastors, deacons and deaconesses.
Medical Service of IELC aims to offer health care of all sections of the society and training in Healing Ministry.
Literature Service of IELC does printing and publishing of educational materials, Christian Nurture books, Worship Manuals, Periodical and other literature related to Christian faith and practice.
Special Service of IELC is committed to cater to the needs of children and women in crisis and victims of disasters.
Evangelism Service of IELC is involved in social transformation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ leading to nation building and extension of God’s Kingdom
The India Evangelical Lutheran has:
Concordia Theological Seminary
, Nagercoil
Concordia Printing Press, Vaniyampady
Schools in Ambur, Nagercoil and Thiruvananthapuram Synods
Hospitals in Ambur, Wandoor
and Malapuram
Statistics
Memberships 114,600
Congregations 764
Preaching Stations 635
Concordia Seminary full time faculty 6
Concordia Teachers Training Institute faculty 4
Active Pastors 210
Pastoral Probationers 32
Deaconesses and Bible Women 18
Evangelists (un-ordained and lay fulltime) 46
Volunteer Evangelists 350
Elementary and middle schools 61
High Schools 12
CBSE English medium School 1
Schools for the Handicapped 8
Child Development Centers 4
Hospitals 3
School of Nursing 1
Girls Boarding Homes 2
Boys Boarding Homes 3
Partners
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod – LC MS the founder of IELC through its Missouri Evangelical India Mission (MELIM) is the major partner of IELC offering grants for chapel construction, medical equipments, education resources, infrastructure development and training programs. LCMS WORLD MISSIONS and LCMS WORLD RELIEF & HUMAN CARE are two main arms of LCMS supporting IELC
LWML is another long time parner of IELC
Lutheran Partners in Global Ministries helps poor children to get education through Boarding Homes.
India Christian Research Organisation supports a few pastors and laity of IELC for doing Evangelism and church planting.
IELC as a member of United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, a consortium of all Lutheran denominations in India taps resources for training and social empowerment programs from Lutheran World Federation
.
The other churches belonging to the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India
are:
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It has about 80,000 members.It is a member of the World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches in India and Lutheran World Federation Council of Churches in India http://www.nccindia.in/affiliates/memberchurches2.htm Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
It is a member church in the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India
United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India
United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India is a major Christian denomination in India. It has millions of members. Many of its members are Dalits and/or Adivasi. It is a member of the World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches in India and Lutheran...
(UELCI) - a communion of Lutheran Churches, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
Its headquarters is in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. It belongs to the Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Federation
The Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
.
About IELC
IELC-India Evangelical Lutheran ChurchThe India Evangelical Lutheran Church is a body of organized congregations registered under the societies registration Act.XXI of 1860, bearing S.No.11 of 1959.The IELC
maintains church fellowship with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and recognizes fellowship with all confessional Lutheran churches in India and throughout the world. The IELC enters into alter and pulpit fellowship the other confessional Lutheran churches.It is spread over Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Southern Karnataka, parts of Andhra Pradesh and Mumbai. It has Mission base at New Delhi, Chandigarh and Orissa.
Administration
President of India Evangelical Lutheran Church is an ordained minister of the IELC selected by the IELC convention for a three-year time, which may be repeated once in succession. He is the spiritual leader and chief executive liaison officer of the IELC.Present President of India Evangelical Lutheran Church is Rev. Dr. J. Samuel
Office bearers of the IELC
President of IELC: Rev. Dr. J. Samuel
Vice President of IELC: Rev.Y. Sukumaran
General Treasurer of IELC: Mr. K. Baul Sundar
Secretary of IELC: Rev. P N Gopinathan
Comptroller of IELC: Rev. Jacob M. B. Sudhakaran
Trust Association Secretary of IELC: Mr. J. Gnanjothy
Administrative divisions
For administrative purpose, the Indian Evangelical Lutheran Church is divided into three synods and two mission fields. Three synods, three groups of congregations are organized into pastorates and circles for edification and administration and the chief administrative organizations to assure pastoral care of congregations. The three synods are:
Ambur
Ambur
Ambur Ambur is a developed Industrial Town of Vellore District in Tamil Nadu, India. Ambur is located at the 'Palaar' River Bank,on the Chennai - Bangalore Highway, both sides at a distance of approx 180 – 200 km....
Synod
Nagercoil
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
Synod
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
Synod
Two Mission Circles called:
Mumbai Mission Circle
Malabar Mission Circle
History
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LC MS) was supporting the Leipzig Lutheran Mission (LLM) during 19the century. K. G. T. Naether and T. F. Mohn who were working in the South East part of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
broke away from LLM due to doctrinal difference with the Leipzig Church in Germany. These two missionaries then applied to LC MS to support their work in India directly. LC MS agreed to their request and the two missionaries moved to Krishnagiri
Krishnagiri
-Tourism:Thousands of visitors visit Krishnagiri each year. Majority come from Hosur/Bangalore and Chennai. KRP dam constructed in 1960's during the rule of the then Chief Minister Kamaraj located near the town, is a nice picnic spot. Nearby, Sayed Basha hills has a fort that was the fortress of...
and Ambur
Ambur
Ambur Ambur is a developed Industrial Town of Vellore District in Tamil Nadu, India. Ambur is located at the 'Palaar' River Bank,on the Chennai - Bangalore Highway, both sides at a distance of approx 180 – 200 km....
of Northern Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
to start a new Mission enterprise in 1895. The work was carried out under the banner of Missouri Evangelical Lutheran India Mission (MELIM). This marked the beginning of establishment of a number of churches in that part of India. However, the work of Naether lasted only for about four years. He sowed the seed of the Gospel and died of Plague along with his two daughters. His wife then returned home. Mohn continued his work for a few more years. Then, several batches of LC MS Missionaries arrived one after the other phase by phase. At one stage, the Ambur – Krishnagiri area grew up with an increased number of churches, schools and a health care clinic. There was a Macedonian call from the South Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
of present Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
to establish MELIM station. LC MS sent a few missionaries to work in South Trivancore area that included the present Kerala. Churches and schools and a seminary were established during the next two decades. The first general assembly called ‘Prathanithikal Sangam’ of native Pastors and Lay representatives from congregations was held in Trivandrum. The Missionaries too participated in this assembly. This was the forerunner of all the three Synod conventions and IELC Convention of today.
The congregations in and around Ambur and Krishnagiri
Krishnagiri
-Tourism:Thousands of visitors visit Krishnagiri each year. Majority come from Hosur/Bangalore and Chennai. KRP dam constructed in 1960's during the rule of the then Chief Minister Kamaraj located near the town, is a nice picnic spot. Nearby, Sayed Basha hills has a fort that was the fortress of...
were organized into Ambur
Ambur
Ambur Ambur is a developed Industrial Town of Vellore District in Tamil Nadu, India. Ambur is located at the 'Palaar' River Bank,on the Chennai - Bangalore Highway, both sides at a distance of approx 180 – 200 km....
Synod in 1949. The Tamil congregations around Nagercoil
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
were organized into Nagercoil
Nagercoil
Nagercoil is the 12th largest city in the southernmost Indian state of Tamil Nadu and a municipality and administrative headquarters of Kanyakumari District...
Synod and Malayalam congregations in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
into Trivandrum Synod in 1956. All these three Synods were formed together as India Evangelical Lutheran Church during its General Assembly held on 8 and 9 of January 1958.
Vision
The vision of IELC is to proclaim the Gospel of Christ through the Congregations and the Social Service units among different ethnic groups of India by Word and deed.
Mission
Congregations are primary units of IELC. The members of each congregation are involved in gathering, fellowshipping and worshiping the triune God. Pastors are assigned to conduct worship services and do spiritual and social ministry in the congregations and among others around the location. Human care is integral part of the Mission of IELC.
Services
Diaconal Service of IELC as one of the ministries of the Church done by the laity assists the Pastors in spiritual and social concerns of individuals, families and society in general.
Educational Service of IELC aims to provide quality education to all children irrespective of caste, creed, color and social status and trains Pastors, deacons and deaconesses.
Medical Service of IELC aims to offer health care of all sections of the society and training in Healing Ministry.
Literature Service of IELC does printing and publishing of educational materials, Christian Nurture books, Worship Manuals, Periodical and other literature related to Christian faith and practice.
Special Service of IELC is committed to cater to the needs of children and women in crisis and victims of disasters.
Evangelism Service of IELC is involved in social transformation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ leading to nation building and extension of God’s Kingdom
The India Evangelical Lutheran has:
Concordia Theological Seminary
Concordia Theological Seminary
The Concordia Theological Seminary is an institution of theological higher education of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod , located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, dedicated primarily to the preparation of pastors for the congregations and missions of the LCMS...
, Nagercoil
Concordia Printing Press, Vaniyampady
Schools in Ambur, Nagercoil and Thiruvananthapuram Synods
Hospitals in Ambur, Wandoor
Wandoor
Wandoor is a small town in Malppuram district of Kerala, India at. It is located near to Manjeri.The town is fast growing thanks to hundreds of NRIs...
and Malapuram
Statistics
Memberships 114,600
Congregations 764
Preaching Stations 635
Concordia Seminary full time faculty 6
Concordia Teachers Training Institute faculty 4
Active Pastors 210
Pastoral Probationers 32
Deaconesses and Bible Women 18
Evangelists (un-ordained and lay fulltime) 46
Volunteer Evangelists 350
Elementary and middle schools 61
High Schools 12
CBSE English medium School 1
Schools for the Handicapped 8
Child Development Centers 4
Hospitals 3
School of Nursing 1
Girls Boarding Homes 2
Boys Boarding Homes 3
Partners
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod – LC MS the founder of IELC through its Missouri Evangelical India Mission (MELIM) is the major partner of IELC offering grants for chapel construction, medical equipments, education resources, infrastructure development and training programs. LCMS WORLD MISSIONS and LCMS WORLD RELIEF & HUMAN CARE are two main arms of LCMS supporting IELC
LWML is another long time parner of IELC
Lutheran Partners in Global Ministries helps poor children to get education through Boarding Homes.
India Christian Research Organisation supports a few pastors and laity of IELC for doing Evangelism and church planting.
IELC as a member of United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, a consortium of all Lutheran denominations in India taps resources for training and social empowerment programs from Lutheran World Federation
Lutheran World Federation
The Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
.
The other churches belonging to the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India
United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India
United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India is a major Christian denomination in India. It has millions of members. Many of its members are Dalits and/or Adivasi. It is a member of the World Council of Churches, Christian Conference of Asia, the National Council of Churches in India and Lutheran...
are:
- Andhra Evangelical Lutheran ChurchAndhra Evangelical Lutheran ChurchAndhra Evangelical Lutheran Church was constituted in the year 1927 in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the Indian successor to the United Lutheran Church in America which was started as a self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating church among Telugu Christians.-Memberships:* Andhra...
- Arcot Lutheran ChurchArcot Lutheran ChurchArcot Lutheran Church is a Christian denomination in India. It has about 40,000 members. It belongs to National Council of Churches in India, United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, Lutheran World Federation and World Council of Churches....
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya PradeshEvangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya PradeshEvangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh is a Church belonging to the Lutheran denomination in India. It has about 17,000 members. It is affiliated with United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, National Council of Churches in India, Lutheran World Federation and Christian Conference of...
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan StatesEvangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan StatesEvangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States is a Christian denomination in India. It has about 25,000 members. It belongs to the Lutheran World Federation.Its president is Godwin Nag....
- Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and AssamGossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and AssamGossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam is a major Christian denomination in India. It has hundreds of thousands of members. It has been established in 1919...
- Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran ChurchGood Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran ChurchGood Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church is a Christian denomination in India. It has about 40,000 members. Its headquarters is in Bhadrachalam, Madhya Pradesh.It has been founded in 1972. It is led by T...
- Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran ChurchJeypore Evangelical Lutheran ChurchJeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church is a major Christian denomination in India. It has more thanm 150,000 members. It belongs to National Council of Churches in India, United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, Lutheran World Federation and World Council of Churches.It is led by Bishop Chandra...
- Northern Evangelical Lutheran ChurchNorthern Evangelical Lutheran ChurchNorthern Evangelical Lutheran Church is a multi-lingual Lutheran Christian church that is centred mainly in three states of North India - Bihar, Assam and Bengal. The reach of the Church extends into Nepal and the NELC also works in Bhutan....
- South Andhra Lutheran ChurchSouth Andhra Lutheran ChurchSouth Andhra Lutheran Church is a Christian denomination in India. It is Telugu-speaking.It is led by Bishop K.S. Chandra Sekhar. It has tens of thousands of members...
- Tamil Evangelical Lutheran ChurchTamil Evangelical Lutheran ChurchTamil Evangelical Lutheran Church is a Christian denomination in south India. It has been established in 1919.Its headquarters is in Tamil Nadu. It has about 100,000 members.. The bishops has the title "Bishop of Tranquebar". It belongs to the Lutheran World Federation...