Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference

 

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

Lutheran Church of Central Africa—Malawi

WELS missionaries Hoenecke and Wacker first came to Africa in 1949. A church was founded outside present-day Lusaka, Zambia, in 1953. In November 1955, the “Rhodesian Lutheran Church Conference” was founded. In 1962, the church body was renamed the “Lutheran Church of Central Africa.”

Exploratory trips were made into Malawi from Zambia in 1962. On June 16, 1963, worship services began in Blantyre, Malawi, with missionaries Cox and Mueller. In 1965, missionary R. Mueller was sent back to Zambia and was replaced by seminary graduate John Janosek in 1966.

In 1969, a teacher training school was opened in Lusaka, Zambia. In 1981, part of the worker training school was transferred to Lilongwe, Malawi. Today, Malawi heads the Lutheran Bible Institute while Zambia runs the Seminary.

From its beginning in 1963, Malawi has seen steady growth in every aspect of the work. Today, there are over 47,000 baptized souls in Malawi.

Church Body Statistics

Members: 47,000
Established Congregations: 133
National Pastors: 34
Students training for ministry: 15 (Lutheran Bible Institute – 11, Seminary – 4)
Expatriate Missionaries: 4
Current Church Body President: Rev. R. Matope

 

Contact Information

Rev. Riphat Matope
E-mail 
 
Missionary Mark Panning
Phone from US: 011-265-1-725-162
E-mail

The Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference

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.”

Recording of the Ninety-Five Theses

Ninety-Five Theses for the 21st Century