United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India,

Gurukul Campus, 94 Purasawalkam High Rd.,

Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu-600 010.

Ph: 044-6421575, 6427563. Fax: 044-6421870, 600 010.

E-mail: prasanna@gltc.edu

President: Most Rev. John Franklin, Bishop, Arcot Lutheran Church, ALC Campus, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu-607 001. Ph. And Fax: 04142-30668

Vice Presidents: Most Rev.G. Emmanuel, President, Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, P.B.205, Guntur, A.P.-522 002. Ph: 0863-241623. Fax: 0863-249030

Most Rev. Ch.P.H.Prokash, Bishop, Jeypore Evangelical lutheran Church, JELC Central Office, Jeypore, Koraput Dt., Orissa-764 001. Ph: 06854-31440. Fax: 06854-30925

Executive Secretary: Rev.Dr. Prasanna Kumary, Gurukul Campus, 94 Purasawalkam High Rd., Kilpauk, Chennai-600 010. Ph: 044-6521575, 6427563, 6421007. Fax: 044-6421870. E-mail: prasanna@gltc.edu

Joint Secretary: Prof. S.A.Brown, Church Compound, Chindwara Dt., M.P.-480 001 Ph: 07162-42692. Fax: 07162-42220

Treasurer: Ms Grace Subbiah, 45, Nesamany Nagar, Nagercoil, kanyakumari Dt., Tamil Nadu-629 001. Ph: 04652-24884

History:- The Lutheran Churches, emerged from the Protestant Reformation, began in Germany in 1517.  Martin Luther’s teaching against some Roman Catholic practices gave birth to the Protestant Reformation movement.  Luther broke with the Catholic Church over the issue of how mankind attains salvation.  According to Luther, the undeserved death of Jesus Christ absolved mankind from the penalty of its disobedience to God and rendered mankind righteous.  Luther preached that humanity no longer needed to live in fear of God’s punishment.  This pivotal teaching affected all aspects of faith and practices to from Lutheranism.

            Lutherans rejected the notion that the Roman Catholic Church was the only channel of God’s message.  They also rejected the power of pope over all peoples and held that all Christians were equal before God as they share the priesthood of Christ.  In Lutheran Churches priests have no special status, except by virtue of being called to exercise specific ministries based on ability and training.

           While the Catholic Church maintains seven sacraments, Lutheran Churches recognize only two-baptism and communion-and consider confirmation, marriage, ordination and burial as rites.  As for Lutherans, were as the sacraments were specifically instituted by Jesus Christ during his ministry, rites are traditions, some of which need not be performed by a Church.

            Lutheranism came to North America with the colonists and immigrants from Europe.  English gradually became the language for most American Lutherans. In the 20^th century several Lutheran Churches found they had more in common than those which separate them.  While ethnic heritages have not been forgotten, there have been a number of mergers.  The Evangelical Church of America was formed in 1987 coalescing the Lutheran Church in America, the American Lutheran Church and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches.

            An international co-operative body, the Lutheran World Federation, was established in 1947.  It is a free association of Lutheran Church bodies.  Its purpose is to co-ordinate the activities of these Churches.

The basic unit of administration in Lutheran practice is the congregation.  It normally is administered by a council headed by the senior pastor or a layman elected from the council.  The Council consists of elected representatives of the congregation and the clergy.

            In India there is a united forum for the Lutheran Churches.  It is called United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India which has its headquarters at Chennai, Tamilnadu.  Address: United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, Gurukul Campus, 94, Purusavalkam High Road, Kilpauk, Chennai-600 010.

The member Churches are:-

1. Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church,
2. Arcot Lutheran Church,
3. Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church,
4. Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church,
5. India Evangelical Lutheran Church,
6. Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church,
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church of Madhya Pradesh,
8. Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church,
9. South Andhra Lutheran Church,
10. Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church,
11. Evangelical Lutheran Church,
12. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northeast India.

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