Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC)United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India AELC 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.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.

Memberships Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad Lutheran World Federation (LWF),Lutheran World Worldwide Faith News Geneva It is an affiliate member of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI),National Council of Churches in India Affiliate Members Nagpur It is a member church in the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) – a communion of Lutheran Churches,UELCI Member Churches Chennai

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.Luther Richardson, Kolluri, Rev., Towards Self-Reliance, p. xi, Editorial by Rev. Dr. D. V. Daniel 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

Theological Andhra Lutheran Theological Seminary, Rajahmundry Andhra Christian Theological College, Hyderabad Medical Kugler Hospital, Guntur Ruth Sigmon Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Guntur Augustine Hospital, Bhimavaram Baer Christian Hospital, Chirala, Prakasam District Educational Andhra-Christian College, Guntur Andhra-Lutheran College, Guntur Stall School, Guntur Lutheran High School, Bhimavaram Shade Girls High School, Rajahmundry

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.Almanac 2008, pp. 1–8

Moderator / Bishop The Executive Council of this Church Society elects a set of office-bearers each quadrennium.Ibid. 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.1927-1927Sylvester Clark BurgerUnited States B. A. (Gettysburg), II.1928-1932Roy Martin DunkelbergerUnited StatesB.A. (Dickinson), M.A. (Dickinson), B. D. (Gettysburg), S. T. M. (Gettysburg) III.1932-1934James Russell FinkUnited States B.A. (Gettysburg), S.T.M. (Gettysburg)IV.1935-1936Ernst William NeudoefferUnited StatesB.D. (LTSP) V.1936-1937John Roy StrockUnited StatesB.A. (Dickinson), M.A. (Dickinson), B.D. (Gettysburg) VI.1938-1940Luther Walter SliferUnited StatesB.A. (Gettysburg), M.A. (Columbia), B.D. (UTS) VII.1940-1944James Russell FinkUnited States B.A. (Gettysburg), S.T.M. (Gettysburg)VIII.1944–1950Prakasam, EthakotiIndiaL. Th. (Serampore)IX.1951–1955A. N. GopalIndiaL. Th. (Serampore), Th. M. (LSTC)X.1956–1960Devasahayam, GarikapudiIndiaL. Th. (Serampore), S.T.M. (LTSP)XI.1961–1962K. KrupadanamIndiaL. Th. (Serampore)XII.1963–1964Devasahayam, GarikapudiIndiaL. Th. (Serampore), S.T.M. (LTSP)XIII.1965–1969Devasahayam, KirlampudyIndiaB.A. (Andhra), B.D. (Serampore), Th. M. (LTSP)XIV.1969–1981Samuel William SchmitthennerIndiaB.A. (Gettysburg), B.D. (Gettysburg)XV.1981–1989Nathaniel, KakiIndiaL. Th. (Serampore)XVI.1993–1997Victor Paul, MorthaIndiaB. A. (Andhra), BEd (Andhra), B. D. (Serampore), M. Th. (Serampore), S. T. M. (LS), D. Min. (LS)XVII.1997–2000Emmanuel, GangavarapuIndiaL. Th. (Serampore)XVIII.2000–2001N. Ch. JosephIndiaXIX.2001–2005Victor Moses, ChukkaIndiaB. Th. (Serampore), B. D. (Serampore), M. Th. (Serampore)XX.2005–2009Christopher, VardanapuIndiaB. Th. (Serampore), B. D. (Serampore)XXI.2009–2013Suneel Bhanu, BusiProfessor 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. IndiaB. D. (Serampore), Th. M. (SEAGST)XXII.2013-2021Frederick Paradesi Babu, KollabathulaIndiaB. Th. (Serampore), B. D. (Serampore)XXIII.2021-2025Ch. EliaIndiaB. D (Serempore), Bib.Lang (Serempore), M.Th. (Serempore), M.Phil (A.N.University)

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. SubbammaLutheran World Worldwide Faith News could have been ordained long ago. But Church leaders, fearing her leadership kept the issue of women's ordination aside.Victor Premasagar, Indian Women in Evangelism and Theology, Published by Dr. B. V. Subbamma, October 2005. pp. 12–15

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.

Synod Presidents of the AELCAlmanac 2008, p. 3 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

Further reading