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Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church

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Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church
AbbreviationCELC
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationLutheran
PolityEpiscopal
AssociationsInternational Lutheran Council
RegionSri Lanka
Branched fromLutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Congregations16
Members5,000
Pastors4
Official websitecelc.lk

The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC) is a Lutheran body in Sri Lanka.[1] The CELC was recognized as a partner church with the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS) in 2023. It is an associate member of the International Lutheran Council.

History

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In 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 of central Sri Lanka.[2] In 1978, the churches were registered with the Sri Lankan government,[3] and in 1998, the LCMS resident missionaries were withdrawn from the country.[4] The name Lanka Lutheran Church was adopted in about the year 2000.[3] In 2001, the Lanka Lutheran Church became a partner church of the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 2007.

In 2013, LCMS missionaries returned and worked to revive the church body. In 2017. The missionaries obtained a registration under the name Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church. Most of the congregations, pastors (priests), and evangelists who had belonged to Lanka Lutheran Church joined the CELC

Christian in Sri Lanka (2012 census)[7][8]

  Catholic (81.94%)
  Protestantism (10.63%)
  Oriental Orthodox (5.21%)
  Other Christianity (2.22%)

The first pastor ordained into the CELC was Rev. P. Gnanakumar, who had served as a vicar in the Lutheran church for more than a decade, and was ordained on 2 September 2017 by Rev. Charles Ferry,[9] the LCMS regional director for Asia.[10] On the same day, Rev. Dr. Edward Naumann,[11] LCMS Theological Educator for South Asia, launched the church's official publishing house, the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Publishing House (CELPH).[12]

In October 2017 all three pastors who had served in the Lanka Lutheran Church, Rev. Nadaraja, Rev. Arulchelvan, and Rev. Devanesanin, applied and were accepted for membership of the CELC Ministerium, bringing the total number of Sri Lankan pastors to four.

On 9 October 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.[13]

Statistics

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As of 2022, the CELC has 16 congregations. Most of the congregations are located in the Central Province, with one each in the Northern, Sabaragamuwa, Uva, and Western provinces.[14]

The CELC is served by four pastors[15] and five evangelists.[16] Given that there are fewer pastors than congregations, the pastors attempt to visit each congregation at least once a month to administer Holy Communion.[15]

Relationship with other Lutheran bodies

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The CELC is a member of the International Lutheran Council, but has no official relationship with the Lutheran World Federation. On 26 September 2018, the International Lutheran Council received the CELC as a full member, thus bringing international recognition to the CELC.[17][18]

The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod recognize altar and pulpit fellowship with one another and are church partners.

See also

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References

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  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. ^ a b c 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. ^ "A3 : Population by religion according to districts, 2012". Census of Population & Housing, 2011. Department of Census & Statistics, Sri Lanka.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing 2011". Department of Census and Statistic. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Charles Ferry". Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  10. ^ "'Bless the Lord': The Primacy of Theological Education in Sri Lanka". 28 March 2018.
  11. ^ "Edward Naumann". Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Built on the rock: New church, pastor, publishing house in Sri Lanka". Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  13. ^ Block, Mathew (16 February 2023). "Sri Lankan Lutherans consecrate first bishop, seek ILC membership". International Lutheran Council. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Congregations". The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church. 24 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Ministerium". The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church. 24 April 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Church Workers". The Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  17. ^ "CELC Joins International Lutheran Council". 2 October 2018.
  18. ^ "ILC welcomes 17 new member churches representing 4.15 million Lutherans worldwide". 26 September 2018.
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