Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Christian denominationAndhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC)[1] was constituted in the year 1927 in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the Indian successor to the United Lutheran Church in America which was started as a self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating church among Telugu Christians.[2]

Memberships

In India

Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg and Heinrich Plütschau of the Danish-Halle Missionary Society at Tranquebar were the first Protestant Missionaries to India who were Lutherans.

In Andhra Pradesh

The AELC was founded as a mission field of the then General Synod of the Lutheran Church in America by John Christian Frederick Heyer (known as Father Heyer) on 31 July 1842.[6] AEL Church, Polepally

The first Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church in Polepally, near Macherla Mandal, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh, was first established by Father Hyer, serving as a cornerstone of Christian faith in the region. Over time, the original structure deteriorated and was demolished.

In 2015, Rev. Gera Ananda Pratap revitalized the church during his seven years of service. Under his leadership, the church was rebuilt, restoring its prominence as a center of worship and community life.



As a first step, schools were established. With new baptisms, the confidence of the missionaries increased. Later hospitals were established.

Structures

Administration

At present, w.e.f. 25 April 2025, vide judgement dated 3 April 2025 of High Court of Andhra Pradesh, W.A. No. 1033 of 2023 along with W. A. No. 746, 1052, 1053, and 1163 of 2023, the administration is taken up by,

  • Controller, Justice Sri Kurian Joseph,
  • Administrator, Sri P. S. Joseph,
  • Secretary to Controller, Sri Nelaturi Jesu Ratna Kumar

For administrative purposes, six synods have been established, each taken care of by a Synod President. A 32-member Executive Council whose members are drawn from the six synods administers the Church society.[7]

Moderator / Bishop

The Executive Council of this Church Society elects a set of office-bearers each quadrennium.[8] The Moderator / Bishop heads this century-old Church Society. In earlier nomenclature, the term President was used. However, with the arrival of Rev. G. Emmanuel, the nomenclature was changed to Moderator / Bishop to denote a more ecclesiastical term. However, the term President also continues to be used.


Succession of Presidents

Sl. No Tenure Name Domicile Earned academic credentials
I. 1927-1927 Sylvester Clark Burger United States B. A. (Gettysburg),
II. 1928-1932 Roy Martin Dunkelberger United States B.A. (Dickinson), M.A. (Dickinson), B. D. (Gettysburg), S. T. M.

(Gettysburg)

III. 1932-1934 James Russell Fink United States B.A. (Gettysburg), S.T.M. (Gettysburg)
IV. 1935-1936 Ernst William Neudoeffer United States B.D. (LTSP)
V. 1936-1937 John Roy Strock United States B.A. (Dickinson), M.A. (Dickinson), B.D. (Gettysburg)
VI. 1938-1940 Luther Walter Slifer United States B.A. (Gettysburg), M.A. (Columbia), B.D. (UTS)
VII. 1940-1944 James Russell Fink United States B.A. (Gettysburg), S.T.M. (Gettysburg)
VIII. 1944–1950 Prakasam, Ethakoti India L. Th. (Serampore)
IX. 1951–1955 A. N. Gopal India L. Th. (Serampore), Th. M. (LSTC)
X. 1956–1960 Devasahayam, Garikapudi India L. Th. (Serampore), S.T.M. (LTSP)
XI. 1961–1962 K. Krupadanam India L. Th. (Serampore)
XII. 1963–1964 Devasahayam, Garikapudi India L. Th. (Serampore), S.T.M. (LTSP)
XIII. 1965–1969 Devasahayam, Kirlampudy India B.A. (Andhra), B.D. (Serampore), Th. M. (LTSP)
XIV. 1969–1981 Samuel William Schmitthenner India B.A. (Gettysburg), B.D. (Gettysburg)
XV. 1981–1989 Nathaniel, Kaki India L. Th. (Serampore)
XVI. 1993–1997 Victor Paul, Mortha India B. A. (Andhra), BEd (Andhra), B. D. (Serampore), M. Th. (Serampore), S. T. M. (LS), D. Min. (LS)
XVII. 1997–2000 Emmanuel, Gangavarapu India L. Th. (Serampore)
XVIII. 2000–2001 N. Ch. Joseph India
XIX. 2001–2005 Victor Moses, Chukka India B. Th. (Serampore), B. D. (Serampore), M. Th. (Serampore)
XX. 2005–2009 Christopher, Vardanapu India B. Th. (Serampore), B. D. (Serampore)
XXI. 2009–2013 Suneel Bhanu, Busi[9] India B. D. (Serampore), Th. M. (SEAGST)
XXII. 2013-2025 Frederick Paradesi Babu, Kollabathula India B. Th. (Serampore), B. D. (Serampore)

Women's ordination

For long, women's ordination in the AELC was taboo. One of the first theologically trained women of this Church, the Fuller Theological Seminary-educated Rev. Dr B. V. Subbamma[10] could have been ordained long ago. But Church leaders, fearing her leadership kept the issue of women's ordination aside.[11]

However, with sustained efforts and dialogue of Dr. K. Rajaratnam, Rev. Dr. Prasanna Kumari Samuel, and Dr. Monica J. Melanchton of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute (GLTCRI), the dream of women's ordination became a reality. With the active cooperation of the then President, Bishop G. Emmanuel, seventeen women were ordained into pastoral ministry on 20 February 1999.[10]

Synod Presidents of the AELC[12]
  • Visakha Synod

Rev.P Sudarsan Kumar

  • East Godavari Synod

Rev. A Samuel Raju

  • West Godavari Synod

Rev. B.Anand kumar

  • East Guntur Synod

Rev. K. Ratna Mohan

  • Central Guntur Synod

Rev. S.J Babu Rao

  • West Guntur Synod

Rev. J.Prabhakar

References

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  1. ↑ United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". AELC
  2. ↑ Kolluri Luther Richardson, Towards Self-Reliance : A historical survey of the programmes and efforts of Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church from 1927–1969, Published by Christopher and Kanakaiah, Vijayawada, 2003.
  3. ↑ Lutheran World [1] Worldwide Faith News
  4. ↑ National Council of Churches in India Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Affiliate Members
  5. ↑ UELCI [2] Template:Webarchive Member Churches
  6. ↑ Luther Richardson, Kolluri, Rev., Towards Self-Reliance, p. xi, Editorial by Rev. Dr. D. V. Daniel
  7. ↑ Almanac 2008, pp. 1–8
  8. ↑ Ibid.
  9. ↑ Professor B. Suneel Bhanu was elected as the President of the AELC for a term of four years beginning from 1 June 2009 replacing Bishop V. E. Christopher. Professor Bhanu pursued theological studies up to M. Th. under the Senate of Serampore College (University). Prof. Bhanu taught at the prestigious Bishop's College in Kolkata and thereafter at the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College in Chennai. [3]Template:Category handler[<span title="Script error: No such module "string".">usurped]Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
  10. ↑ a b Lutheran World [4] Template:Webarchive Worldwide Faith News
  11. ↑ Victor Premasagar, Indian Women in Evangelism and Theology, Published by Dr. B. V. Subbamma, October 2005. pp. 12–15
  12. ↑ Almanac 2008, p. 3

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Further reading

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