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[1] Council of Churches in India [2] Nagpur
It is a member church in the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) - a communion of Lutheran Churches,[2] Chennai
Its headquarters is in Tamil Nadu.[3] It belongs to the Lutheran World Federation.[4]
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IELC-India Evangelical Lutheran Church
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:[5]