CleanupBot II at 18:03, 13 August 2023

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2011}}

{{Infobox Christian denomination
| icon =
| icon_width =
| icon_alt =
| name = Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = AELC logo.jpg
| imagewidth = 150
| alt =
| caption =
| abbreviation = AELC
| type =
| main_classification = Protestant
| orientation = Lutheran
| scripture =
| theology =
| polity = [[Episcopal polity|Episcopal]]
| governance =
| structure =
| leader_title = Moderator
| leader_name =Bishop [[K.F Paradesi Babu]]
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 =
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| fellowships_type =
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| division =
| division_type1 =
| division1 =
| division_type2 =
| division2 =
| division_type3 =
| division3 =
| associations = Synods
| area = [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Karnataka]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Telangana]] and [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
| language = [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[English language|English]]
| liturgy =
| headquarters = [[Guntur]]
| origin_link =
| founder = [[Evangelical Lutheran General Synod of the United States of America]]
| founded_date = 1842
| founded_place = [[Guntur]]
| separated_from =
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| defunct =
| congregations_type =
| congregations = 5,000+
| members = 800,000+ <ref>{{cite web |URL=https://nwmnsynod.org/ministry/andhra-evangelical-lutheran-church-aelc-of-india/ |title=Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC) of India |website=North West Missouri Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America}}</ref>
| ministers_type =
| ministers = [[B. V. Subbamma]], [[R. R. Sundara Rao]], [[P. Solomon Raj]], [[G. D. Melanchthon]]
| missionaries =[[John Christian Frederick Heyer]], [[Anna Sarah Kugler]], [[W. D. Coleman]], [[W. P. Peery]],
| churches =
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| footnotes =
}}

{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; font-size: 85%; background:#ffffcc; color:black; width:20em; max-width: 25%;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
! style="background-color:#cccccc;" | Office Bearers of the AELC
|-
| style="text-align: left;" |
* '''President Most Rt Rev K.F.Paradesi Babu'''

* '''Vice-President Rev. K.V. Prasanna Kumar'''

* '''Secretary' Smt. Ch.Kishore Babu'''
* '''Treasure K .Moses Arnold''

|}

'''Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC)'''<ref>United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India {{cite web|url=http://uelci-india.org/aelc.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-02-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218043247/http://www.uelci-india.org/aelc.htm |archive-date=18 December 2005 |df=dmy }} AELC</ref> 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 Christian]]s.<ref name="Kolluri">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.</ref>

==Memberships==
* [[Andhra Christian Theological College]], [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabad]]
* Lutheran World Federation (LWF),<ref>Lutheran World [http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/1760.EN.html] Worldwide Faith News</ref> [[Geneva]]
* It is an affiliate member of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI),<ref>National Council of Churches in India {{cite web|url=http://www.nccindia.in/affiliates/memberchurches2.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-03-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125103118/http://www.nccindia.in/affiliates/memberchurches2.htm |archive-date=25 January 2009 |df=dmy }} Affiliate Members</ref> [[Nagpur]]
* It is a member church in the [[United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India|United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India]] (UELCI) – a communion of Lutheran Churches,<ref>UELCI [http://uelci-india.org/memberchurches.asp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070401191845/http://uelci-india.org/memberchurches.asp |date=1 April 2007 }} Member Churches</ref> [[Chennai]]
* [http://www.asia-lutheran.org Asia Lutheran Communion]

==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.<ref>Luther Richardson, Kolluri, Rev., ''Towards Self-Reliance'', p. xi, Editorial by Rev. Dr. D. V. Daniel</ref>

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

==Structures==

* [[Theological]]
** [[Charlotte Swenson Memorial Bible Training School]], [[Rajahmundry]]
** Andhra Lutheran Theological Seminary, [[Rajahmundry]]
** [[Andhra Christian Theological College]], [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|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==
The current Moderator / Bishop of the AELC is Most Rt. Rev. Dr. Elia,Ch. In the recent elections of the AELC, Bishop Ch. Elia was elected as the President of the AELC for a term of four years replacing Bishop K. Frederick Paradesi Babu.

For administrative purposes, six synods have been established, each taken care of by a Synod President. A 24-member Executive Council whose members are drawn from the six synods administers the Church society.<ref>Almanac 2008, ''pp.'' 1–8</ref>

===Moderator / Bishop===
The Executive Council of this Church Society elects a set of office-bearers each [[quadrennium]].<ref>''[[Ibid.]]''</ref> The Moderator / Bishop heads this century-old Church Society. In earlier [[nomenclature]], the term ''President'' was used. However, with the arrival of [[Reverend|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==
{| class="wikitable" style="border: 5px solid #BBB; margin: .96em 0 0 .9em;"
|- style="font-size: 86%;"
|'''Years''' || '''Succession of Presidents '''|| '''Academic Credentials '''
|-
|1944–1950||[[E. Prakasam]]||[[Licentiate in Theology|L. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]])
|-
|1951–1955||[[A. N. Gopal]]||[[Licentiate in Theology|L. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Theology|Th. M.]] ([[Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago|LSTC]])
|-
|1956–1960||[[G. Devasahayam]]||[[Licentiate in Theology|L. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Sacred Theology|S. T. M.]] ([[Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia|LTSP]])
|-
|1961–1962||[[K. Krupadanam]]||[[Licentiate in Theology|L. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]])
|-
|1963–1964||[[G. Devasahayam]]||[[Licentiate in Theology|L. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Sacred Theology|S. T. M.]] ([[Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia|LTSP]])
|-
|1965–1969||[[K. Devasahayam]]||[[Bachelor of Arts|B. A.]] ([[Andhra University|Andhra]]), [[Bachelor of Divinity|B. D.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Theology|Th. M.]] ([[Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia|LTSP]])
|-
|1969–1981||[[S. W. Schmitthenner]]||[[Master of Divinity|M. Div.]] ([[Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg|LTSG]])
|-
|1981–1989||K. Nathaniel||[[Licentiate in Theology|L. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]])
|-
|1993–1997||[[M. Victor Paul]]||[[Bachelor of Arts|B. A.]] ([[Andhra University|Andhra]]), [[Bachelor of Education|B. Ed.]] ([[Andhra University|Andhra]]), [[Bachelor of Divinity|B. D.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Theology|M. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Sacred Theology|S. T. M.]] ([[Luther Seminary|LS]]), [[Doctor of Ministry|D. Min.]] ([[Luther Seminary|LS]])
|-
|1997–2000||G. Emmanuel||[[Licentiate in Theology|L. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]])
|-
|2000–2001||[[N. Ch. Joseph]]||
|-
|2001–2005||[[Ch. Victor Moses]]||[[Bachelor of Theology|B. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Bachelor of Divinity|B. D.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Theology|M. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]])
|-
|2005–2009||[[V. E. Christopher]]||[[Bachelor of Theology|B. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Bachelor of Divinity|B. D.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]])
|-
|2009–2013||[[B. Suneel Bhanu]]<ref name="Bhanu">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]]. [http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=345] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710014811/http://www.asia-lutheran.org/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=345 |date=10 July 2009 }}</ref>||[[Bachelor of Divinity|B. D.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Master of Theology|Th. M.]] ([[South East Asia Graduate School of Theology|SEAGST]])
|-
|2013-2017||[[K. Frederick Paradesi Babu]]||[[Bachelor of Theology|B. Th.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]]), [[Bachelor of Divinity|B. D.]] ([[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore]])
|-
|2017-2021
|K. Frederick Paradesi Babu
|B. Th. (Serampore), B.D. (Serempore)
|-
|2021-2025
|Ch. Elia
|B. 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 [[Reverend|Rev.]] Dr [[B. V. Subbamma]]<ref name="wfn.org">Lutheran World [http://www.wfn.org/1999/03/msg00016.html] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927051454/http://www.wfn.org/1999/03/msg00016.html |date=27 September 2007 }} Worldwide Faith News</ref> could have been ordained long ago. But Church leaders, fearing her leadership kept the issue of women's ordination aside.<ref>[[Victor Premasagar]], Indian Women in Evangelism and Theology, Published by Dr. B. V. Subbamma, October 2005. ''pp. 12–15''</ref>

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.<ref name="wfn.org"/>

{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; font-size: 85%; background:#ffffcc; color:black; width:20em; max-width: 25%;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
! style="background-color:#cccccc;" | Synod Presidents of the AELC<ref>Almanac 2008, p. 3</ref>
|-
| style="text-align: left;" |
* '''Visakha Synod'''
[[Reverend|Rev.]] V. G. Devadas
* '''East Godavari Synod'''
[[Reverend|Rev.]] P.David Raju
* '''West Godavari Synod'''
[[Reverend|Rev.]] M.A.S.Martinss
* '''East Guntur Synod'''
[[Reverend|Rev.]] K. Aseerivadam
* '''Central Guntur Synod'''
[[Reverend|Rev.]] Ch. Elia
* '''West Guntur Synod'''
[[Reverend|Rev.]] Ch. Isaiah Raju
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal
| author=Kolluri Luther Richardson
| title=''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
| year=2003
}}
* {{cite journal
| author=Martin Senftleben
| title=''Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh.'' Unpublished PhD thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati
| year=1992
| volume=I
| url=http://www.drmartinus.de/bio/de/thesis1.pdf
| access-date=23 February 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209131403/http://www.drmartinus.de/bio/de/thesis1.pdf
| archive-date=9 December 2008
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy-all
}}
* {{cite journal
| author=_______________
| title=''Influences of Hinduism on Christianity in Andhra Pradesh.'' Unpublished PhD thesis, Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati
| year=1992
| volume=II
| url=http://www.drmartinus.de/bio/de/thesis2.pdf
| access-date=23 February 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209131418/http://www.drmartinus.de/bio/de/thesis2.pdf
| archive-date=9 December 2008
| url-status=dead
| df=dmy-all
}}
* {{cite journal
|author=B. C. Paul
|title=''The Emergence of a Church in South India: A Study of the Growth and Development of the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church: 1905–1927.''
|type=Unpublished [[Th. D.]] thesis submitted to the [[Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago]].
|year=1984
|url=http://archive.elca.org/archives/dgm/India.html
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712112221/http://archive.elca.org/archives/dgm/India.html
|archive-date=12 July 2011
}}

{{Lutheran World Federation Churches}}
{{Churches in India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Christianity in Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Lutheran World Federation members]]
[[Category:Lutheranism in India]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1927]]
[[Category:Lutheran denominations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Affiliated institutions of the National Council of Churches in India]]

Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 18:03, 13 August 2023