Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church


Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church 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.

Memberships

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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 on 31 July 1842.
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.

Moderator / Bishop

The Executive Council of this Church Society elects a set of office-bearers each quadrennium. 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.

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 could have been ordained long ago. But Church leaders, fearing her leadership kept the issue of women's ordination aside.
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, 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.
Synod Presidents of the AELC
Visakha Synod
Rev.P Sudarsan KumarEast Godavari Synod
Rev. A Samuel RajuWest Godavari Synod
Rev. B.Anand kumarEast Guntur Synod
Rev. K. Ratna MohanCentral Guntur Synod
Rev. S.J Babu RaoWest Guntur Synod
Rev. J.Prabhakar