Evangelical Lutheran Confessional Church—Puerto Rico

Work began in the 1960s in Guayama and Humacao. A chapel was built in Barrancas in 1972. In the late 1980s, work was started in the San Juan area.

In 1990, the national church body was organized. Two years later, the national church assembly adopted goals for maturity and independence by 2004. The first seminary student began his studies in 1993. During the same year, the church began doing exploratory mission work in the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

The Evangelical Lutheran Confessional Church hosted the CELC convention in 1996. Three years later, the national church called Seminarian Sergio Cortijo to pastor the Barrancas congregation and to begin work in Ponce. Seminarian Manuel Monroig was also called to pastor the San Juan congregation that same year.

Church Body Statistics

Baptized: 216

Established Congregations: 4
National Pastors: 2
Bible Institute Students: 6
Seminary Students: 2

Contact Information

Contact Information

Pastor Sergio Cortijo
PO Box 1381
Guayama, PR 00785
787-929-0298 (Cell)
E-mail

The Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference is a worldwide fellowship of Lutheran church bodies, committed to the teachings of the Lutheran Church found in the Book of Concord of 1580. Established in 1993 with thirteen churches, the CELC has grown by God’s grace to include thirty-four church bodies today.

Every three years, representatives from CELC churches gather for fellowship and theological study at an international convention. Regional meetings are held in alternate years. These gatherings provide spiritual encouragement for confessional Lutherans who often find themselves quite isolated. Visitors are always welcome at these gatherings

Joint work of the CELC includes the writing of The Eternal Word: A Lutheran Confession for the Twenty-First Century, which testifies to the unity of doctrine enjoyed by CELC churches. The CELC also has a commission to help coordinate and improve theological training in CELC churches.

Speaking about the heart and core of the CELC, former President Gaylin Schmeling wrote: “The CELC stands ready to give answer to the confident hope of salvation in Christ that is within us. It is a refuge for those seeking confessional homes and a beacon shining the light of the Gospel in a sin-darkened world. Here the central truth of the Reformation, justification by faith alone, continues to be proclaimed. We are declared righteous by nothing we do or accomplish, but alone on the basis of Christ’s redemptive work which is counted as ours through faith in the Savior. He accomplished salvation for all on the cross and announced it to all by His resurrection, declaring the whole world righteous in Christ. This treasure is brought to us personally through the means of grace and is received by faith alone in the Savior which is worked through those very means of grace.”