Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

Christian denomination

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri Tanzania
Classification| Protestant
Orientation| Lutheran
Polity| Modified episcopal polity with some powers reserved to the congregation as in congregationalism
Leader| Rev.ALEX GEHAZ MALASUSA
Associations| Global Forum, LWF, LUCCEA. AACC, WCC, CCT, ACT, MAF, TCRS
Region| Tanzania and Zanzibar
Headquarters| Mbeya, Tanzania
Origin| June 19, 1963 [1]
Branched from| Federation of Lutheran Churches in Tanganyika
Congregations| 1,104
Members| 7,916,253 (2020)[2]
Ministers| 1,500
Official website| http://www.elct.org/

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT; Swahili: Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri Tanzania) is the federation of Lutheran churches in Tanzania and one of the largest Lutheran denominations in the world, with more than 6 million members, or 13% of the Tanzanian population. It is the second largest Lutheran church in the world and the largest Lutheran church in East Africa.[3][4]

The church is led by a presiding bishop and twenty-eight diocesan bishops, representing 28 dioceses. The head office of the church is in Mbeya, 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, including disaster response, healthcare, and AIDS education and relief.[5]

## History

[edit]

The first Lutheran missionaries arrived in what was then German East Africa in 1887, when the Evangelical Missionary Society for East Africa (EMS), based in Berlin, Germany, established a missionary station at Kigamboni, Dar es Salaam. The second group of missionaries was also from Germany, entering via South Africa and settling in the Southern Highlands region of Tanzania. Similar missions from Germany continued to arrive in the region continuously throughout the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. This mission activity continued in spite of the interruption of the Hehe Wars in 1891, the Maji Maji Uprising of 1905–1907, World War I, and World War II.

In 1938, seven Lutheran churches were loosely gathered into the Federation of Lutheran Churches in Tanganyika. The member churches then merged to become the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.[6]

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.[7]

## Organization

[edit]

The seat of the church is in Arusha. It is financed mainly from collections and donations as well as through project grants from churches in the Global North.[8]

The ELCT is led by a presiding bishop, or "Mkuu", who is elected to serve four year terms,[9] and 24 bishops who preside over their local dioceses. The presiding bishop is elected for a four-year term from amongst the bishops of the dioceses. The ELCT's current presiding bishop is Alex Malasusa.

### Presiding bishops

[edit]

Period  | Name

|

1964–1976  | Stefano Moshi
1976–1992  | Sebastian Kolowa
1994–2007  | Samson Mushemba
2007–2016  | Alex Malasusa
2016–2023  | Fredrick Onael Shoo[10]
2024–  | Alex Malasusa[11]

### Clergy and church body

[edit]

The ELCT employs 1360 ordained pastors (28 of them overseas), 3000 lay evangelists, and 300 community officers to aid the work of the church (2014 figures). Women are not ordained in all ELCT dioceses; however, as of 1990, the national church does ordain women. Ordination of women is a sensitive topic in the ELCT and the church is largely split. Currently, local dioceses make their own decision on whether to ordain women or not.

The ELCT is one of the fastest growing churches in the world, with an annual growth in baptized members of around 8%.

### Social services

[edit]

Social service programming is central to the mission of the ELCT. The social services offered by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania include the following departments:[12]

* Education (Secondary and University)
* Finance and Administration
* Health and Medical Care (21 hospitals and numerous local pharmacies)
* Mission and Evangelism
* Planning and Development
* Social Services and Women's Work
* HIV/AIDS Program
* Disaster Response

## Dioceses

[edit]

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania consists of the following regional dioceses:

* Central Diocese[13]
* Dodoma Diocese[14]
* East of Lake Victoria Diocese[15]
* Eastern & Coastal Diocese[16]
* Iringa Diocese[17]
* Karagwe Diocese[18]
* Konde Diocese[19]
* Lake Tanganyika Diocese[20]
* Mara Region Diocese[21]
* Mbulu Diocese[22]
* Meru Diocese[23]
* Morogoro Diocese[24]
* Mufindi Diocese
* Mwanga Diocese
* Northern Diocese[25]
* North-Central Diocese[26]
* North-Eastern Diocese[27]
* North-Western Diocese[28]
* Pare Diocese[29]
* Ruvuma Diocese[30]
* Southern Diocese[31]
* South-Central Diocese[32]
* South-East of Lake Victoria Diocese[33]
* South-Eastern Diocese[34]
* South-Western Diocese[35]
* Ulanga Kilombero[36]
* West Central Diocese

## Beliefs

[edit]

### Lutheranism

[edit]

Lutheranism is associated with the theology of Martin Luther, with its official confessional writings found in the Book of Concord. Lutheranism generally accepts the unaltered Augsburg Confession (not the variata) as a true witness to the Gospel. Lutheran clergy tend not to subscribe to a doctrine of Biblical inerrancy, but see validity in various scholarly methods of analysis to help in understanding the Bible.[37] This is in concord with most moderate Protestant bodies and in contrast to the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in the United States, which practices the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation.

Like other Lutheran church bodies, the ELCT confesses two sacraments: Communion (or the Eucharist) and Holy Baptism (including infant baptism). Confession and absolution is often included as a sacrament; however, as it is a return to the forgiveness given in baptism, strictly speaking, there are only two sacraments.

With respect to the eucharist or communion, the ELCT holds to the Lutheran doctrine of the sacramental union, that is, that Christ's body and blood is truly present "in, with and under" the bread and wine.[38] All communicants orally receive not only bread and wine, but also the same body and blood of Christ that was given for them on the cross.[39] Members of other denominations sometimes refer to this as a belief in consubstantiation. Lutherans, however, reject the philosophical explanation of consubstantiation, preferring to consider the presence of the Lord's body and blood as mysterious rather than explainable by human philosophy. The Lutheran belief in the holy mystery character of the consecrated bread and wine is more similar to that of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox belief than to the views of most Protestants. In contrast, most Protestant church bodies doubt or openly deny that the actual body and blood of Christ is eaten in the Lord's Supper.

## Relations with other churches

[edit]

The ELCT decided to establish a relationship with the North American Lutheran Church, and both churches approved a "Memorandum of Understanding" at a convocation held in August 2013, paving the way for full communion between the two churches.[40]

## See also

[edit]

* List of the largest Protestant bodies

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania -- Homepage". www.elct.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2004-09-26.
2. ^ "Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania". News and Events. EECMY. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
3. ^ "Tanzania | The Lutheran World Federation". Lutheranworld.org. Archived from the original on 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
4. ^ "ELCT Press Release". News Releases. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-02-21. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
5. ^ "ELCT". www.elct.org. Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
6. ^ "A Short history". Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. 2007. Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2007-05-29.
7. ^ Nehemia Godwin Moshi. "Stretching the Drum Skin" (PDF). Åbo Akademi University Press. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-03-09. Retrieved 2020-03-09.
8. ^ "ELCT". www.elct.org. Archived from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
9. ^ "Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania -- Homepage". www.elct.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2004-09-26.
10. ^ 5th Presiding Bishop To Be Installed, ELCT Press Release, Date: January 18, 2016 Press release No. 001/01/2016 Archived September 20, 2021, at the Wayback Machine.
11. ^ Malasusa reelected as head of ELCT, The Citizen August 26, 2023
12. ^ "ELCT Social Services". www.elct.org. Archived from the original on 2022-01-23. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
13. ^ "Central Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
14. ^ "Dodoma Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
15. ^ "East of Lake Victoria Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
16. ^ "Eastern & Coastal Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
17. ^ "Iringa Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
18. ^ "Karagwe Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
19. ^ "Konde Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
20. ^ "Lake Tanganyika Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
21. ^ "Mara Region Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
22. ^ "Mbulu Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
23. ^ "Meru Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
24. ^ "Morogoro Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
25. ^ "Northern Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
26. ^ "North-Central Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
27. ^ "North-Eastern Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
28. ^ "North-Western Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
29. ^ "Pare Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
30. ^ "Ruvuma Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
31. ^ "Southern Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
32. ^ "South-Central Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
33. ^ "South-East of Lake Victoria Diocese". Elct.org. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
34. ^ "South-Eastern Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
35. ^ "South-Western Diocese". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
36. ^ "Ulanga Kilombero". Elct.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
37. ^ See The Bible Archived 2008-08-29 at the Wayback Machine or Higher Criticism Archived October 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine in the Christian Cyclopedia.
38. ^ The Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Article 8, The Holy Supper, paragraph 38 Archived 2019-10-21 at the Wayback Machine.
39. ^ Cf. unaltered Augsburg Confession, Article 10: Of the Lord's Supper Archived 2011-08-10 at the Wayback Machine.
40. ^ "Memorandum of Understanding between The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and The North American Lutheran Church, NALC Official Website, 8 August 2013" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Africa Lutheran Communion

* v
* t
* e

Global Confessional and Missional Lutheran Forum

Africa

Ethiopia

* Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus

Kenya

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya

South Sudan

* Lutheran Church of South Sudan

Tanzania

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

Asia

India

* Christu Suda Communications and Ministries

Indonesia

* Indonesian Lutheran Christian Church

Mongolia

* Mongolian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Europe

Denmark

* Evangelical Lutheran Network
* Lutheran Mission

Germany

* Church Coalition for the Bible and Confession
* International Christian Network

Norway

* Norwegian Lutheran Mission
* Inner Mission Federation

Sweden

* Mission Province

North America

Canada and the United States

* Lutheran CORE
* North American Lutheran Church
* World Mission Prayer League

South America

Bolivia

* Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia

Peru

* Evangelical Lutheran Church - Peru

* v
* t
* e

Lutheran World Federation

Africa

Central and Eastern Africa

| Democratic Republic of the Congo|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo

|

Eritrea|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Eritrea

Ethiopia|

* Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus

Kenya|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya
* Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church

Madagascar|

* Malagasy Lutheran Church

Rwanda|

* Lutheran Church of Rwanda

Tanzania|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

Southern Africa

| Angola|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Angola

|

Botswana|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana

Malawi|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malawi

Mozambique|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mozambique

Namibia|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (GELK)

South Africa|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Cape Church)
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (N-T)
* Moravian Church in South Africa

Zambia|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia

Zimbabwe|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe

Western Africa

| Cameroon|

* Church of the Lutheran Brethren of Cameroon
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon

|

Central African Republic|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic

Republic of Congo|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Congo

Ghana|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana

Liberia|

* Lutheran Church in Liberia

Nigeria|

* The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria
* The Lutheran Church of Nigeria

Senegal|

* The Lutheran Church of Senegal

Sierra Leone|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone

Asia and Pacific

North East Asia

| China – Hong Kong|

* Hong Kong and Macau Lutheran Church
* Chinese Rhenish Church Hong Kong Synod
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
* Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong

|

Taiwan|

* Taiwan Lutheran Church
* Lutheran Church of the Republic of China

Japan|

* Japan Lutheran Church
* Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Kinki Evangelical Lutheran Church

South Korea|

* Lutheran Church in Korea

West and South Asia

| Bangladesh|

* Bangladesh Lutheran Church
* Bangladesh Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church

|

Georgia|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States

India|

* Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Arcot Lutheran Church
* Bodo Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States
* Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chotanagpur and Assam
* India Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
* South Andhra Lutheran Church
* Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church

Israel|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

Jordan|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

Kazakhstan|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States

Kyrgyzstan|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States

Myanmar|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Myanmar
* Lutheran Church of Myanmar
* Myanmar Lutheran Church
* Mara Evangelical Church

Nepal|

* Nepal Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church

Palestinian territories|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

Sri Lanka|

* Lanka Lutheran Church

Uzbekistan|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States

South East Asia

| Australia|

* Lutheran Church of Australia

|

Indonesia|

* Batak Christian Community Church
* Christian Communion of Indonesia Church in Nias
* Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia
* Angkola Protestant Christian Church
* Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church
* Pakpak Dairi Christian Protestant Church
* Protestant Christian Batak Church
* Protestant Christian Church
* Protestant Christian Church in Mentawai
* Simalungun Protestant Christian Church
* United Protestant Church

Malaysia|

* Basel Christian Church of Malaysia
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia
* Lutheran Church in Malaysia
* Protestant Church in Sabah

Papua New Guinea|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea
* Gutnius Lutheran Church

Philippines|

* Lutheran Church in the Philippines

Singapore|

* Lutheran Church in Singapore

Thailand|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand

Europe

| Austria|

* Protestant Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria

|

Belarus|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States

Belgium|

* Lutheran Church of Belgium: Arlon and Christian Mission

Croatia|

* Evangelical Church in the Republic of Croatia

Czech Republic|

* Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
* Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession

Denmark|

* Church of Denmark

Estonia|

* Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Finland|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

France|

* Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine
* United Protestant Church of France
* Malagasy Protestant Church in France

Germany|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baden
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick
* Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover
* Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
* Church of Lippe (Lutheran classis)
* Evangelical Church in Middle Germany
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg
* Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Schaumburg-Lippe
* Lutheran Church in Württemberg

Hungary|

* Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Hungary

Iceland|

* Church of Iceland

Ireland|

* Lutheran Church in Ireland

Italy|

* Lutheran Evangelical Church in Italy

Latvia|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia

Lithuania|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania

Netherlands|

* Protestant Church in the Netherlands

Norway|

* Church of Norway
* Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway

Poland|

* Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland

Romania|

* Evangelical Church of Augustan Confession in Romania
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Romania

Russia|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia

Serbia|

* Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia

Slovakia|

* Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia

Slovenia|

* Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovenia

Sweden|

* Church of Sweden

Switzerland|

* Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein

Ukraine|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States

United Kingdom|

* Lutheran Church in Great Britain
* The Lutheran Council of Great Britain

Latin America and the Caribbean

Central America and the Caribbean

| Costa Rica|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Costa Rica
* Costa Rican Lutheran Church

|

El Salvador|

* Salvadoran Lutheran Church

Guatemala|

* Evangelical Lutheran Congregation "La Epifania"

Honduras|

* Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras

Mexico|

* German-Speaking Evangelical Congregation in Mexico
* Mexican Lutheran Church

Nicaragua|

* Nicaraguan Lutheran Church of Faith and Hope

South America

| Argentina|

* Evangelical Church of the River Plate
* United Evangelical Lutheran Church

|

Bolivia|

* Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church
* German Speaking Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in Bolivia

Brazil|

* Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil

Chile|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile
* Lutheran Church in Chile

Colombia|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia
* St. Martin's Lutheran Congregation
* St. Matthew's Lutheran Church

Ecuador|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ecuador

Guyana|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana

Peru|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru
* Peruvian Lutheran Evangelical Church

Suriname|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname

Venezuela|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Venezuela

North America

| Canada|

* Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

|

United States|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

* v
* t
* e

World Council of Churches (WCC)

Ecumenism

African-initiated

Africa|

* Africa Brotherhood Church
* African Christian Church & Schools
* African Church of the Holy Spirit
* African Israel Church Nineveh
* Church of Christ - Harris Mission (Harrist Church)
* Church of Christ Light of the Holy Spirit
* Council of African Instituted Churches of Southern Africa
* The African Church
* Church of the Lord (Aladura)
* The First African Church Mission

Anglicanism

Africa|

* Anglican Church of Burundi
* Anglican Church of Kenya
* Anglican Church of Rwanda
* Anglican Church of Southern Africa
* Anglican Church of Tanzania
* Church of Christ in Congo - Anglican Community of Congo
* Church of Nigeria
* Church of the Province of Central Africa
* Church of the Province of West Africa
* Church of Uganda
* Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria
* Province of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan
* Province of the Episcopal Church of Sudan

Asia|

* Anglican Church in Japan
* Anglican Church of Korea
* Church of Ceylon
* Church of the Province of Myanmar
* Church of the Province of the Indian Ocean
* Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East
* Episcopal Church in the Philippines

Europe|

* Church in Wales
* Church of England
* Church of Ireland
* Lusitanian Church of Portugal
* Scottish Episcopal Church
* Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church

North America|

* Anglican Church of Canada
* Episcopal Church

Latin America|

* Anglican Church of South America
* Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil

Oceania|

* Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
* Anglican Church of Australia
* Anglican Church of Melanesia

Assyrian Church

Global|

* Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East

Baptists

Africa|

* Association of Baptist Churches in Rwanda
* Baptist Community of Congo
* Community of Baptist Churches in Central Africa
* Baptist Evangelical Church in Angola
* Episcopal Baptist Community in Africa
* Native Baptist Church of Cameroon
* Nigerian Baptist Convention
* Union of Baptist Churches of Cameroon

Asia|

* Bangladesh Baptist Church Sangha
* Bengal Orissa Bihar Baptist Convention
* Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches
* Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India
* Myanmar Baptist Convention
* Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches

Europe|

* Baptist Union of Denmark
* Baptist Union of Great Britain
* Baptist Union of Hungary
* Baptist Evangelical Christian Union of Italy

North America|

* American Baptist Churches USA
* National Baptist Convention of America International, Inc.
* National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
* Progressive National Baptist Convention

Latin America|

* Jamaica Baptist Union
* Baptist Convention of Haiti
* Baptist Association of El Salvador
* Baptist Convention of Nicaragua

Oceania|

* Baptist Union of New Zealand

Disciples of Christ & Christian Churches

Africa|

* Church of Christ in Congo - Community of Disciples of Christ in Congo

Asia|

* United Reformed Church

North America|

* Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Canada
* Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States

Latin America|

* Evangelical Church of the Disciples of Christ in Argentina

Oceania|

* Christian Churches New Zealand
* Churches of Christ in Australia

Eastern Orthodoxy

Africa|

* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa

Eastern Asia|

* Orthodox Church in Japan

Europe & Western Asia|

* Ecumenical Patriarchate
* Church of Cyprus
* Church of Greece
* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
* Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem
* Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania
* Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia
* Orthodox Church of Finland
* Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church
* Romanian Orthodox Church
* Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate)
* Serbian Orthodox Church

North America|

* Orthodox Church in America

Evangelical

Africa|

* African Inland Church of South Sudan and Sudan

Asia|

* Lao Evangelical Church

Lutheranism

Africa|

* Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Congo
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe
* Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Lutheran Church in Liberia
* Malagasy Lutheran Church

Asia|

* Batak Christian Community Church
* Christian Protestant Angkola Church
* Christian Protestant Church in Indonesia
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea
* The Indonesian Christian Church
* Protestant Christian Church of Nias
* Protestant Christian Batak Church
* Protestant Church in Sabah
* Simalungun Protestant Christian Church
* United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India

Europe|

* Church of Norway
* Church of Sweden
* Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland
* Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania
* Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovakia
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
* Evangelical Lutheran Church of Romania
* Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad
* Protestant Church in Germany
* Bavaria
* Brunswick
* Central Germany
* Hanover
* Northern Germany
* Oldenburg
* Saxony
* Schaumburg-Lippe
* Württemberg

* Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession
* Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia

North America|

* Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

Latin America|

* Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church
* Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
* Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile
* Salvadorean Lutheran Synod
* United Evangelical Lutheran Church

Mar Thoma Church

Global|

* Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar

Methodism

Africa|

* Methodist Church Ghana
* Methodist Church in Kenya
* Methodist Church in Zimbabwe
* Methodist Church Nigeria
* United Methodist Church of Ivory Coast

Asia|

* Evangelical Methodist Church in the Philippine Islands
* Korean Methodist Church
* Methodist Church in India
* Methodist Church in Indonesia
* Methodist Church in Malaysia
* Methodist Church in Singapore
* Methodist Church in Sri Lanka
* Methodist Church, Upper Myanmar
* Protestant Methodist Church in Benin

Europe|

* Methodist Evangelical Church in Italy
* Methodist Church
* Methodist Church in Ireland

North America|

* African Methodist Episcopal Church
* African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
* Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
* United Methodist Church

Latin America|

* Evangelical Methodist Church in Argentina
* Evangelical Methodist Church in Bolivia
* Methodist Church in Brazil
* Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas
* Methodist Church in Chile
* Methodist Church in Mexico

Oceania|

* Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga
* Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma

Moravian and Historic Peace Churches

Africa|

* Church of the Brethren in Nigeria
* Moravian Church in South Africa
* Moravian Church in Tanzania

Asia|

* Philippine Independent Church

Europe|

* Mennonite Church in the Netherlands
* Moravian Church in Western Europe

North America|

* Canadian Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
* Church of the Brethren
* Moravian Church in America
* Polish National Catholic Church
* Religious Society of Friends: Friends General Conference
* Religious Society of Friends: Friends United Meeting

Latin America|

* Moravian Church, Eastern West Indies Province
* Moravian Church in Jamaica
* Moravian Church in Nicaragua
* Moravian Church in Suriname

Old-Catholic

Europe|

* Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany
* Old Catholic Church of Austria
* Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands
* Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland
* Old Catholic Mariavite Church in Poland
* Polish Catholic Church in Poland

Pentecostal

Africa|

* Evangelical Pentecostal Mission of Angola
* Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa

North America|

* International Evangelical Church

Latin America|

* Association The Church of God
* Christian Biblical Church
* Free Pentecostal Missions Church of Chile
* Pentecostal Church of Chile
* Pentecostal Mission Church

Oriental Orthodoxy

Africa|

* Coptic Orthodox Church
* Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
* Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Eastern Asia|

* Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

Europe & Western Asia|

* Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East
* Armenian Apostolic Church (Holy See of Cilicia)
* Armenian Apostolic Church (Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin)

Reformed

Africa|

* African Protestant Church
* Association of Reformed Evangelical Church of Burkina Faso
* Church of Central Africa Presbyterian – Blantyre Synod
* Evangelical Community in Congo
* Presbyterian Community in Congo
* Presbyterian Community in Kinshasa
* Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar
* Evangelical Church of Cameroon
* Evangelical Church of Congo
* Evangelical Church of Gabon
* Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola
* Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana
* Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa
* Evangelical Church of Egypt (Synod of the Nile)
* Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Togo
* Evangelical Reformed Church of Angola
* Lesotho Evangelical Church
* Presbyterian Church in Cameroon
* Presbyterian Church in Rwanda
* Presbyterian Church of Africa
* Presbyterian Church of Cameroon
* Presbyterian Church of East Africa
* Presbyterian Church of Ghana
* Presbyterian Church in Liberia
* Presbyterian Church of Mozambique
* Presbyterian Church of Nigeria
* Presbyterian Church of South Sudan
* Protestant Church of Algeria
* Reformed Church in Zambia
* Reformed Church in Zimbabwe
* Reformed Church of Christ for Nations
* Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea

Asia|

* Central Sulawesi Christian Church
* Christian Church of Sumba
* Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa
* Christian Evangelical Church in Sangihe-Talaud
* Church of Christ in Thailand
* Church of North India
* Church of Pakistan
* Church of South India
* East Java Christian Church
* Evangelical Christian Church in Halmahera
* Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Iran
* Evangelical Church in Kalimantan
* Hong Kong Council of the Church of Christ in China
* Indonesian Christian Church Synod
* Javanese Christian Churches
* Karo Batak Protestant Church
* Korean Christian Church in Japan
* Mara Evangelical Church
* National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon
* Pasundan Christian Church
* Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
* Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea
* Presbyterian Church of Korea
* Presbyterian Church of Pakistan
* Protestant Christian Church in Bali
* Protestant Church in Indonesia
* Protestant Church in Southeast Sulawesi
* Protestant Church in the Moluccas
* Protestant Church in Western Indonesia
* Protestant Church in East Timor
* Protestant Evangelical Church in Timor
* Toraja Church

Europe|

* Church of Scotland
* Czechoslovak Hussite Church
* Dutch Reformed Church
* Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
* Evangelical Church of the Augsburg and Helvetic Confessions in Austria
* Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Portugal
* Greek Evangelical Church
* Presbyterian Church of Wales
* Protestant Church in Germany
* Church of Lippe
* Evangelical Reformed Church in Germany

* Protestant Church in the Netherlands
* Protestant Church of Switzerland
* Reformed Christian Church in Serbia
* Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia
* Reformed Church in Hungary
* Reformed Church in Romania
* Remonstrant Brotherhood
* Spanish Evangelical Church

North America|

* Hungarian Reformed Church in America
* Presbyterian Church in Canada
* Presbyterian Church (USA)
* Reformed Church in America

Latin America|

* Evangelical Church of the River Plate
* Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil
* Presbyterian Church of Colombia
* Presbyterian Church of Trinidad and Tobago
* Presbyterian-Reformed Church in Cuba

Oceania|

* Congregational Christian Church in American Samoa
* Congregational Christian Church in Samoa
* Congregational Christian Church of Niue
* Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu
* Evangelical Church in New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands
* Kiribati Uniting Church
* Maohi Protestant Church
* Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
* Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu

United christianity

Africa|

* United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe
* United Church of Zambia
* United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
* Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
* Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa

Asia|

* China Christian Council
* Church of Bangladesh
* Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East
* United Church of Christ in Japan
* United Church of Christ in the Philippines

Europe|

* Protestant Church in Germany
* Bremen
* Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Oberlausitz
* Rhineland
* Anhalt
* Kurhessen-Waldeck
* Palatinate
* Westphalia
* Baden
* Hesse and Nassau
* Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine
* Union of Welsh Independents
* United Free Church of Scotland
* United Protestant Church in Belgium
* United Protestant Church of France
* Uniting Church in Sweden
* Union of Methodist and Waldensian Churches

North America|

* International Council of Community Churches
* United Church of Canada
* United Church of Christ

Latin America|

* United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
* United Presbyterian Church of Brazil
* United Protestant Church of Curaçao

Oceania|

* United Church in Papua New Guinea
* United Church in the Solomon Islands
* United Church of Christ - Congregational in the Marshall Islands
* Uniting Church in Australia

Africa
AACC
OAIC
Asia
CCA
NCCA
NCCP
MECC
PCC
Europe
CEC
CCCAAE
Latin America
CCC
LACC
North America
CCE
NCC

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template