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United Evangelical
Lutheran Church (Argentina)
Lutheranism came to Argentina during the 19th century.
First German and then Danish and Swedish immigrants formed their separate communities.
Pastors sent from Europe gathered congregations, most of which were incorporated into
three current church bodies, of which the United Evangelical Lutheran
Church (IELU) is the smallest.
The IELU resulted from missionary activities of the
General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the USA, which made an exploratory
trip to Argentina in 1908, organized by its Mission Board and the Women's Missionary
Society. In 1919 Pastor Edward H. Muller went to Argentina. He began preaching in Spanish,
and the first congregations were established.
 Established in 1948, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELU) has served as host for
the many strands of Lutheranism that have converged in Argentina since World
War II. Today, all but two of its 30 congregations have regular
Spanish services, and worship is also conducted in Estonian, German, Hungarian, Latvian,
and occasionally, Swedish and Slovak.
Presently there are 10,000 members, 28
pastors and 30
congregations grouped in four districts (North, West, River Plate and South). The church
has a synodical structure and the highest authority is the Assembly which nominates an
Executive Council.
 Six parish schools help alleviate a general shortage of
public schools and also provide Christian education for children of non-practicing and unchurched parents. There also is a youth program in the church and much work among women.
The IELU has ordained women since 1981.
In recent years, the IELU has refocused its attention on
mission responsibilities. There is a renewed climate of cooperation within the church as
it re-establishes participation in the ecumenical arena. Traditionally, the IELU served
the middle class of Argentinian society. Now it is reaching out to poor and marginalized
communities growing around the capital city of Buenos Aires. The IELU is preparing
pastoral teams to develop an outreach ministry program for university students at La
Plata, and carry out a redevelopment in Berizo, a Hungarian community.
Popular mission activities are given
priority; in the development field, and important number of community
development projects are carried out and supervised by the joint project
office; work with women and youth is done through ad hoc secretariats, and
the IELU produces its own review. Special emphasis was given in the last
years to the improvement of social projects. A pilot experience in the South
of Argentina among the indigenous population (Mapuches) is bearing its first
fruits.
A major mission outreach project is in Florencio Varela, a
low income community southeast of Buenos Aires. Many working poor people have migrated to
this area in recent decades. Programs include a nursery and preparatory school, a social
assistance program, and literacy courses for adults.
The IELU participates in an interdenominational seminary,
the Higher Institute for Theological Studies (ISEDET) in Buenos Aires. ISEDET offers a
five-year program to prepare candidates for ordination and graduate programs for training
professors. There is a two-year residence program for lay persons and an extension program
for theological instruction outside Buenos Aires.
In cooperation with the South to South program of the
Division for Global Mission, ELCA, the IELU sent a missionary to assist the Lutheran
Church of Venezuela. The IELU is also preparing a clergy couple to work in outreach to the
indigenous Mapuche people in Southern Argentina.
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