wfn.org | Indian churches merge into United Evangelical Lutheran Church

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

German churches seen as model

MADRAS, India/GENEVA, 26 March 1998 (lwi) - Representatives of the member
churches of the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI) have
adopted a constitutional amendment to form a United Evangelical Lutheran
Church in India, according to UELCI Executive Secretary Prasanna Kumari.
The 11 Lutheran member churches with over one million members will retain
their internal autonomy while the new United Evangelical Lutheran Church in
India (UELCI) acquires the dimension of "church" with the functions of
undertaking proclamation and development, ordination of its own personnel
and the signing of unity agreements with ecumenical churches, not merely as
an organization.

Kumari says the foundations of the decision were laid at least ten years
ago and that the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) has
served as a model. The merger is expected to lead to strengthening of
Lutheran identity in the Indian context.

The step is all the more timely, she says, as the Lutherans' agreement with
the Mar Thoma Church on pulpit and altar fellowship nears completion and
soon will be signed by both churches. The new merger also will have
important consequences at the level of the National Council of Churches in
India. There are plans for a merger of the Church of North India, Church of
South India, Mar Thoma Church, Methodist Church, Baptist Church and the
Lutheran churches to form one Protestant church in India.

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