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Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
(Andhra Suvisesha Lutheran Sangham)
MISSION
Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of the largest Lutheran churches in
Asia. It has 800,000 congregational members. There are more than 5000
congregations and 500 pastors serving in this church. Serving the poor is the
motive of the church. AELC serves the people through education, medicine and
social service.
HISTORY
The Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) traces its beginnings from the
missionary efforts of the first Lutheran missionary to Guntur, C. F. Heyer, in
1842. "Father" Heyer was deployed by the Ministerium of Pennsylvania, the oldest
synod in North America. Work started by the North German Missionary Society in
1845 was turned over to the American Lutherans in 1850. As the work spread,
Guntur became the center for general and higher education, and Rajahmundry, an
old Telugu center of learning and culture, became the center for theological
education. The Bible training school set up there in 1885 later became
Luthergiri Seminary. The AELC was constituted in 1927. Prior to this it was a
mission of the United Lutheran Church in America (now part of the ELCA).
PRESENT SITUATION
With more than 400,000 members, the AELC is considered the third largest
Lutheran church in Asia. It is served by 500 ordained pastors and a large number
of workers in areas of evangelism, education, health, and other diaconic
ministries. The church is led by Bishop Victor Moses.
AELC's work is mainly in the state of Andhra Pradesh, a Telugu-speaking
region. Evangelism is carried out through film, radio, and personal work. Bible
women are effective in gaining access to Hindu and Muslim homes. The AELC runs
500 Sunday schools. Over 30,000 women regularly study the Bible and promote the
Christian faith. Five ashrams give people of various castes and ethnic
backgrounds opportunities to live and study together.
The church operates a college of education, 19 secondary schools, a school of
law, and cooperates in running an interdenominational college. For vocational
training, it operates an agricultural school, a sewing school, two industrial
schools for boys and girls, and a Bible school.
The Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church once had eight hospitals, products of
the work of pioneer missionary Dr. Anna S. Kugler of Philadelphia. Beginning in
1883, her work attracted many influential Indian women and men. In recent years,
many of the hospitals have been turned over to the government, but the AELC
continues to operate two. The AELC works with people suffering from leprosy, and
includes health education in its community development work. The Christian
Medical College and Hospital in the city of Vellore is a major center for
healing and teaching.
Two important theological schools are located in AELC territory. The United
Theological College in Bangalore, founded in 1910, is the main Protestant
institution for graduate theological studies. It has one of the best theological
libraries in Asia. The Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Center
in Madras relates to all Lutheran churches in India. It has a strong program
relating to issues of urbanization and an accredited women's study program.
The AELC is one of ten members of the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in
India. The UELCI is a member of the World Council of Churches and the Christian
Conference of Asia. The UELCI carries out mission development in India, and has
also become a member of the United Mission to Nepal.
QUICK FACTS
Bishop/President: Rev. Dr. V.E. Christopher, Bishop
Location Indian states: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Headquarter Guntur
Languages Telugu
Member 800,000
Church Worker 500 pastors
Church Structure 6 Synods Visakha, East
Godavari, West Godavari, East Guntur, Central Guntur, West Guntur, 5000
congregations
Memberships
Lutheran World Federation (LWF), since 1950
World Council of Churches (WCC)
United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI)
National Council of Churches in India (NCCI)
Christian Conference of Asia (CCA)
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