Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC), formerly known as Lanka Lutheran Church, is a Lutheran body in Sri Lanka.[1] It is a denomination of around 5000 members and has been in fellowship with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) since 2001. It is a full member of the International Lutheran Council.

Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church
AbbreviationCELC
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationLutheran
PolityEpiscopal
AssociationsInternational Lutheran Council
RegionSri Lanka
Origin
  • 1978 (as Lanka Lutheran Church)
  • 2017 (as CELC)
Branched fromLutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Congregations16
Members5,000
Pastors4
Places of worship5
Other name(s)Lanka Lutheran Church
Official websitecelc.lk

History

In the 1927, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod began missionary work in what was then known as Ceylon as an outgrowth of its work in India. The work was centered on the Tamil-speaking Hindus in the tea estate region central Sri Lanka.[2] In 1978, the churches were registered with the Sri Lankan government.[3] In 1998, the LCMS resident missionaries were withdrawn from the country.[4] The name Lanka Lutheran Church was adopted in about the year 2000.[3] In 2001, the Lanka Lutheran Church became a partner church of the LCMS[3][5] and joined the International Lutheran Council. It also joined the Lutheran World Federation, reporting a membership of 1,200.[6] The church lost its government registration in about 2006.[3] By 2009 it reported having 5,324 baptized members.[7]

In 2013, LCMS missionaries returned and worked to revive the church body. In September 2017, the first convocation of the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church adopted a new constitution; previous constitutions had merely been copies of those of the India Evangelical Lutheran Church. The new name of the church was chosen to show that the Lutheran church had been in the country since at least the 1920s. The convocation also ordained a new pastor for the first time in ten years and established the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Publishing House.[3]

On October 9, 2022, the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC) consecrated its first bishop, Rev. Arumanayagam Arulchelvan. The consecration was conducted by Archbishop Joseph Omolo of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK), joined also by ELCK Bishops Kispin and Titus.[8]

Statistics

The CELC has 16 congregations, of which 5 have their own church buildings. Most of the congregations are located in the Central Province, with one each in the Northern, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, and Western provinces.[9]

The CELC is served by four pastors[10] and five evangelists.[11] Given that there are fewer pastors than congregations, the pastors attempt to visit each congregation at least once a month to administer Holy Communion.[10]

See also

References
  1. Fahlbusch, Erwin; Bromiley, Geoffrey William. The Encyclopedia of Christianity. Vol. 3. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 357. ISBN 0-8028-2415-3.
  2. "Sri Lanka". Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  3. Magness, Cheryl (23 October 2017). "Built on the rock: New church, pastor, publishing house in Sri Lanka". Reporter. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  4. "Sri Lanka". LCMS International Mission. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  5. "A first: LCMS convention gives 100 percent approval to fellowship vote". Worldwide Faith News. 17 July 2001. Archived from the original on 18 November 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
  6. "Sri Lanka". Lutheran World Federation. Archived from the original on 3 July 2002.
  7. "The Lutheran World Federation 2009 Membership Figures" (PDF). Lutheran World Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2010.
  8. Block, Mathew (16 February 2023). "Sri Lankan Lutherans consecrate first bishop, seek ILC membership". International Lutheran Council. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  9. "Congregations". The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  10. "Ministerium". The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  11. "Church Workers". The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2022.


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