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The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States (ELCROS)
HISTORY
Lutheran congregations in Russia have three roots: (mostly German) immigrants
from Europe to all the large cities of the Russian Empire, starting in the 16th
century; indigenous Lutheran Christians who came under tsarist rule when Peter
the Great conquered the areas around the Baltic Sea; and German farmers who were
invited to the settled along the Volga river and in the Black Sea region during
the reign of Catherine the Great (starting in the 1760’s). Lutheran
congregations in Russia remained very close to their ethnic roots, since it was
a requirement of the law that worship take place in a language other than
Russian, and it was a criminal offense to change religions in the Russian Empire
until 1905.
After World War I and the Russian Revolution, the Baltic territories of Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania became independent. Those Lutheran congregations that
remained in the former Russian Empire remained for a time, but suffered
persecution in the late 1920s and 1930s. The result was the closure or complete
destruction of many Lutheran church buildings and the complete demolition of all
Lutheran church structures. In the years leading up to World War II, many
Lutherans were deported to Soviet Republics in central Asia and the Far East
because they, as ethnic minorities, were seen as a threat to Soviet state
security. The church survived, however, not as an organization, but as
underground faith communities led by lay leaders.
While Lutheran churches appeared once again the Soviet Union with the
(re-)occupation of the Baltic countries during WWII, it was only in 1988 that
Lutheran churches of ethnic German heritage were able to begin functioning again
in Russia itself. In 1989, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other
States (ELCROS) became a member of the Lutheran World Federation. When the
Baltic States once again gained their independence, national Lutheran churches
were formed in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. Today ELCROS consists of 7 member
churches and a number of affiliated congregations and groups (For details see
below: Regional Churches).
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, with a Finnish background,
also re-established itself in Russia with its own identity and traditions. There
is a moderate degree of cooperation between ELCROS and the Church of Ingria.
PRESENT SITUATION
It is estimated that there are about 40,000-50,000 members of ELCROS in 400
congregations. This number is approximately one quarter of what it was 10 years
ago, since very many people of German ethnicity living in the former Soviet
Union have chosen to emigrate to Germany in the past decade. However, the flow
of church members to Germany seems to be ebbing, and new, young, ethnically
mixed congregations are growing, especially in the west. For the first time in
history, Lutherans in Russia are forming an identity based on a commonly-held
faith rather than ethnicity.
Priorities for the church include the training of pastors, reorganization of
congregational life, and developing a tradition of worship and diaconal
activities. A number of pastors are from Germany, while the Novosaratovka
Theological Seminary has been established near St. Petersburg for the training
of local pastors and other church workers; two of its graduates are already
serving as bishops in ELCROS member churches.
A Companion Synod relationship exists between the ELCROS churches in European
Russia (ELCER) and the ELCA Northwest Washington Synod, while the Central States
Synod is partnered with the church in Siberia (ELCSUF).
REGIONAL CHURCHES
ELCROS is present in the form of national churches or congregations in ten (10)
independent states: Azerbaijan, Belorussia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz
Republic, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in European Russia (ELCER)
ELCER consists of about 160 congregations and churchlike groups which are united
in 13 deaneries, 12. In 2002 40 full-time pastors and 80 lay preachers were
serving the church. The ELCER’s administrative offices are located in the
capital Moscow.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Georgia (ELCG)
ELCG has 4 registered congregations and about ten groups in the region. There is
also a congregation in Sukhumi which is situated in Abkhazia. In 2002 there were
two full-time pastors and two lectors serving the church. The administrative
offices of the church are located in Tbilisi.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kyrgyz Republic (ELCKR)
ELCKR has 17 congregations served by 4 full-time pastors and 24 lay preachers.
Its administrative offices are located in Bishkek.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Kazakhstan (ELCRK)
ELCRK has about 80 congregations and church-like groups forming six deaneries.
There are 10 full-time pastors and about 35 lay preachers who serve the church.
The administrative offices are located in Astana.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Uzbekistan (ELCU)
ELCU has 8 congregations served by two full-time pastors and 10 lay preachers.
The administrative offices are situated in Tashkent.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Urals, Siberia and Far East (ELUSF)
ELCUSF has about 200 congregations and church-like groups. It is the largest of
the regional churches within ELCROS. It is divided into 4 regions with 10
deaneries. ELCUSF’s administrative offices are located in Omsk. In 2002 7
full0time pastors and about 75 lay preachers were serving the church.
German Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Ukraine (GELCU)
GELCU has about 40 congregations served by 10 full-time pastors, three vicars
and about 49 lay preachers. GELCU’s administrative offices are located in
Odessa.
REGIONAL CONGREGATIONS
Azerbaijan
The Republic of Azerbaijan officially registered the congregation of Salvation
Lutheran Church in Baku on February 6, 2002. The congregation has 73 adult
members and more than 30 children.
Union of Evangelical Lutheran congregations in Belorussia
UELCB is a union of 7 autonomous Lutheran congregations belonging to ELCROS.
Tajikistan
There is one Lutheran congregation in Dushanbe with around 40 members. After
more than ten years the congregation is now served by its own pastor. There are
small groups of Lutherans in Khojent, Kurgan-Tyube, and Kolkhozabad
Turkmenistan
There is one congregation in Serakhs near the border to Iran and larger groups
of Lutherans in Ashgabat and Turkmenabashy as well as a smaller on in Yoloeten.
QUICK FACTS
Web Page http://www.elkras.org
(Russian and German only)
Church Leader: Rev. Dr. Edmund Ratz, Arch Bishop
Location: Azerbaijan, Belorussia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian
Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Headquarters: St. Petersburg
Languages: German, Russian
Membership: 40,000-50,000
Church Workers: pastors, evangelists, lay leaders
Church Structure: 7 member churches and regional congregations in 10 independent
states
Memberships: Lutheran World Federation (LWF), since 1989, World Council of
Churches (WCC)
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