Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) is the federation of Lutheran churches in Tanzania and one of the largest Lutheran denomination in the world with more than 6 million members.[3]

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
Logo of the ELCT
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationLutheran
LeaderFredrick Onael Shoo[1]
AssociationsGlobal Forum, LWF, AACC, WCC, CCT
RegionTanzania
Origin1963
Branched fromFederation of Lutheran Churches in Tanganyika
Congregations1,104
Members6,531,336 (2015)[2]
Ministers1,500
Official websitehttp://www.elct.org/

The church is led by a presiding bishop and twenty-five diocesan bishops, representing 25 dioceses, and has a membership of more than 6.5 million.[4] The Head Office of the Church is in Arusha, where it has owned the New Safari Hotel since 1967. The church is affiliated with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), the Christian Council of Tanzania, the Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum, and the Lutheran World Federation.

The ELCT is an organization which reaches out to the people of Tanzania offering worship opportunities, Christian education, and numerous social services.

History

In 1938, seven Lutheran churches founded a federation known as the Federation of Lutheran Churches in Tanganyika. On June 19, 1963, the churches merged to become a single church known as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.[5]

In 1964, Johannes Lilje, then presiding bishop of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany, consecrated Stefano Moshi, who had been elected as the first president of the newly formed church body and who had been an advocate for the establishment of episcopacy, as the first presiding bishop of the ELCT.[6]

Divisions
  • Education (Secondary and University)
  • Finance and Administration
  • Health and Medical Care (21 hospitals and many dispensaries)
  • Mission and Evangelism
  • Planning and Development
  • Social Services and Women's Work

Dioceses

Relations with other churches

The ELCT decided to establish a relationship with the North American Lutheran Church, and both churches approved a "Memorandum of Understanding" at the Convocation held at August 2013, paving the way for full communion between the two churches.[31]

See also
  • List of the largest Protestant bodies

References
  1. "ELCT Press Release 001/05/2004". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  2. "Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania". lutheranworld.org. Lutheran World Federation. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  3. "Tanzania | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  4. "ELCT Press Release". News Releases. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  5. "A Short history". Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
  6. Nehemia Godwin Moshi. "Stretching the Drum Skin" (PDF). Åbo Akademi University Press.
  7. "Central Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  8. "Dodoma Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  9. "East of Lake Victoria Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  10. "Eastern & Coastal Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  11. "Iringa Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  12. "Karagwe Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  13. "Konde Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  14. "Lake Tanganyika Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  15. "Mara Region Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  16. "Mbulu Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  17. "Meru Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  18. "Morogoro Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  19. "Northern Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  20. "North-Central Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  21. "North-Eastern Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  22. "North-Western Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  23. "Pare Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  24. "Ruvuma Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  25. "Southern Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  26. "South-Central Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  27. "South-East of Lake Victoria Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  28. "South-Eastern Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  29. "South-Western Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  30. "Ulanga Kilombero". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  31. Memorandum of Understanding between The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and The North American Lutheran Church, NALC Official Website, 8 August 2013
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