Lutheranism in Mexico

Lutheranism was first introduced to Mexico in the 1850s, when German-American Lutherans began serving German immigrants in Mexico, though mission work among the non-German population in Mexico did not begin until the 1940s.[1][2] Today there are five Lutheran church bodies in Mexico—the Mexican Lutheran Church (affiliated with the Lutheran World Federation), the Lutheran Synod of Mexico (affiliated with the International Lutheran Council), the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church—Mexico (affiliated with the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mexico (unaffiliated), and the Lutheran Apostolic Alliance of Mexico (unaffiliated)—and several independent congregations.

## History

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Beginning in the 1850s and extending into the 20th century, German-American Lutherans sent aid to the German Lutheran immigrants in Mexico, though they did not attempt any mission work among the non-German population in Mexico. As a result, the Lutheran Church in Mexico remained small throughout this period, numbering only 1,000 members in the 1910s.[3] The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) began German and English mission work in Mexico in 1922, though it was forced to abandon these efforts in 1931.[4][5] The LCMS resumed its missionary efforts in 1940, this time in Spanish, under the name, "the Mexican Lutheran Conference of Missouri." The first Lutheran missionaries focused their efforts in Mexico City, Monterrey, Nuevo León, and Torreón, Coahuila.[1] The LCMS opened a small seminary—the Instituto Concordia de Mexico—in 1947 in Monterrey.[4]

The year 1947 also marked the beginning of the American Lutheran Church (ALC)'s mission work in Mexico, which culminated in the foundation of the Mexican Lutheran Church ten years later. That same year, the ALC opened Casa Augsburgo, a small seminary in Mexico City.[6] By 1962, the Mexican Lutheran Church consisted of 15 congregations. Two years later, Casa Augsburgo and the Instituto Concordia de Mexico merged to form Augsburg Lutheran Seminary, which was placed under the control of the Mexican Lutheran Church.[5] Around that same time, theological differences between the members of the Mexican Lutheran Church led to a division within the church, ultimately leading to the formation of the Lutheran Synod of Mexico (theologically aligned with the LCMS) and the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church—Mexico (theologically aligned with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod).[1]

By 1989, there were nearly 10,000 Lutherans in Mexico.[7]

## Mexican Lutheran Church

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The Mexican Lutheran Church (Spanish: Iglesia Luterana Mexicana or ILM) has been a member of the Lutheran World Federation since 1957 and is also a member of the Latin American Council of Churches.[8] In 2009, the ILM ordained its first female pastors. As of 2019, it had 1,500 members, 11 congregations, and nine pastors.[9] Its current president, elected in January 2018, is the Rev. Roberto Trejo Haager.[10] In 1998, the ILM jointly reopened the Augsburg Lutheran Seminary with the International Lutheran Council-affiliated Lutheran Synod of Mexico.[11]

### Augsburg Lutheran Seminary

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Originally founded in 1964, the Augsburg Lutheran Seminary (Spanish: El Seminario Luterano Augsburgo) is an institution of theological higher education operated by the Mexican Lutheran Church. Between 1964 and 1981, the seminary produced 33 graduates, who went on to serve congregations throughout Mexico, Central America, and portions of South America. Between 1981 and 1997, the seminary ceased to function, but it reopened in 1998 with two professors and four students. In 2011, the seminary began offering online courses.[11]

## Lutheran Synod of Mexico

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The Lutheran Synod of Mexico (Spanish: Sinodo Luterano de Mexico or SLM) originates from the 1940s mission work of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the International Lutheran Laymen's League, the latter of which began broadcasting a Spanish version of The Lutheran Hour in 1941.[2][12] In 1969, the SLM became an independent sister church body of the LCMS, later joining the International Lutheran Council.[2] In 1998, the SLM jointly reopened the Augsburg Lutheran Seminary with the Mexican Lutheran Church, but doctrinal concerns soon led it to abandon this partnership.[11] Since 2015, the SLM has partnered with the LCMS to provide seminary education through Seminario Concordia in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.[13][14] As of 2019[update], it had 1,211 baptized members, 20 congregations and preaching stations, and 12 pastors.[2][15] Its president is the Rev. Isaac Guadalupe Garcia Castillo.[15]

## Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church—Mexico

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The Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church—Mexico (Spanish: Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Confesional or IELC) was founded in 1968, when doctrinal controversies in the Mexican Lutheran Church and its Augsburg Lutheran Seminary led two pastors to seek fellowship with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. It is a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference. In 2005, the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church—Mexico opened its own seminary.[16] As of 2019[update], it had 650 members, 6 pastors, 5 seminary students, 10 congregations, and 13 preaching stations. Its president is Román Aguilar.[1]

## Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mexico

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The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mexico (Spanish: Iglesia Evangélica Luterana de México) was historically the largest Lutheran church body in Mexico, with around 3,000 members.[17][18] The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mexico originates from the 1942–3 missionary efforts of the Latin American Lutheran Mission (LALM), an organization that itself grew out of the Minneapolis-based "South America Prayer League" in the 1930s.[17][19][20] It continues to be supported by the LALM.[21]

## Lutheran Apostolic Alliance of Mexico

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The World Mission Prayer League started mission work in Mexico in 1945, organizing congregations in La Paz, Sinaloa, and Mazatlán. A number of these congregations joined the Mexican Lutheran Church, though they were replaced by new mission plants in Puebla and Sonora. In 1977, the remaining congregations were officially organized as the Lutheran Apostolic Alliance of Mexico (Spanish: Alianza Apostólica Luterana Mexicana or AALM). In 1988, the church body claimed 250 members in 11 congregations.[22] As of 2018[update], the church body consisted of 13 congregations.[23]

## Other churches

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In addition to the three church bodies listed above, there are also several independent Lutheran congregations in Mexico. The German-speaking Evangelical Congregation in Mexico City (German: Evangelische Gemeinde in Mexiko Stadt) was founded in 1904 and has been continuously served by German pastors since 1927.[24] It is affiliated with the Evangelical Church in Germany.[25] In 1963, the congregation organized the German-Mexican Center of Assistance (Spanish: Centro de Asistencia Social, A.C.), a medical and social welfare center in Mexico City.[26][27] The English-, Spanish-, and Portuguese-speaking Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Spanish: Iglesia Luterana Buen Pastor) is the result of a 1964 merger between the LCMS-affiliated Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd (organized in 1948) and the ALC-affiliated Ascension Lutheran Church (organized in 1959).[28][29] A Scandinavian congregation formerly operated in Mexico City.[30]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d "Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church—Mexico". Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
2. ^ a b c d "Mexico". Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
3. ^ The Lutheran Church Year Book for 1918. Philadelphia, PA: General Council Publication Board. 1918. p. 106.
4. ^ a b Mayer, Herman A., "Lutheranism in Mexico," in Lutheran Cyclopedia, ed. Erwin L. Lueker (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1954), 674–5.
5. ^ a b Lueker, Erwin W., ed. (2000). "Mexico". Christian Cyclopedia. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
6. ^ Bachmann, 503–4.
7. ^ Bachmann, 499.
8. ^ "Churches in Mexico". Lutheran World Federation. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
9. ^ "Mexican church marks 10 years of women's ordination". Lutheran World Federation. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
10. ^ Kenny, Peter (February 1, 2019). "Mexican Lutheran church leader shares his vision of a healing community of believers". Lutheran World Federation. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
11. ^ a b c "Historia del Seminario Luterano Augsburgo". Retrieved April 24, 2019.
12. ^ Gottesman, Walter (July 29, 1999). "Rev. Andrew A. Melendez Sr., 96". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
13. ^ Askins, Roy S. (May 11, 2016). "Grounded in the Word of God". Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Reporter. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
14. ^ Fickenscher, Daniel (December 3, 2015). "LCMS pastor serves in Mexico — first in 20 years". Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Reporter. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
15. ^ a b "Mexico". International Lutheran Council. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
16. ^ "Mission History in Mexico". Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
17. ^ a b Bachmann, 502.
18. ^ "LWF Statistics 2011" (PDF). Lutheran World Federation (PDF). Retrieved February 22, 2020.
19. ^ Granquist, Mark (October 28, 2013). "Latin Lutherans". Metro Lutheran. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
20. ^ "Introducing the Latin American Lutheran Mission" (PDF). Latin American Lutheran Mission. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 26, 2005.
21. ^ "About LALM". Latin American Lutheran Mission. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
22. ^ Bachmann, 502–3.
23. ^ Gossman, Paul (March 5, 2018). "Mission Musings from Mexico". World Mission Prayer League. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
24. ^ "Geschichte". Evangelische Gemeinde in Mexiko Stadt. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
25. ^ "Auslandsgemeinden". EKD. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
26. ^ "History". Centro de Asistencia Social. Archived from the original on August 2, 2001.
27. ^ "Enfermeria". Centro de Asistencia Social, A.C. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
28. ^ Bachmann, 505.
29. ^ "Iglesia Lutherana Mexico". Retrieved February 22, 2020.
30. ^ Bachmann, 505–6.

## See also

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* Protestantism in Mexico
* Religion in Mexico

* 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

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