Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

8765 W. Higgins Rd.
Chicago, IL 60631
United States

Attesting Officer
Lauren Gioe
Member-at-large


41.9871006, -87.845918


The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was organized April 30-May 3, 1987, in Columbus, Ohio, bringing together the 2.25 million-member American Lutheran Church, the 2.85 million-member Lutheran Church in America, and the 100,000-member Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches.
The ELCA is, through its predecessors, the oldest of the major U.S. Lutheran churches. In the mid-17th century, a Dutch Lutheran congregation was formed in New Amsterdam (now New York). Other early congregations were begun by German and Scandinavian immigrants to Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and the Carolinas.
The first Lutheran association of congregations, the Pennsylvania Ministerium, was organized in 1748 under Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. Numerous Lutheran organizations were formed as immigration continued and the United States grew.
In 1960, The American Lutheran Church (ALC) was created through a merger of an earlier American Lutheran Church, formed in 1930, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, begun in 1917, and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church started in 1896. In 1963 the Lutheran Free Church, formed in 1897, merged with the ALC.
In 1962, the Lutheran Church in America (LCA) was formed by a merger of the United Lutheran Church in America, formed in 1918, with the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church, begun in 1860, the American Evangelical Lutheran Church, founded in 1872, and the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church or Suomi Synod, founded in 1891.
The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches arose in 1976 from a doctrinal split within the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
The ELCA, through its predecessor church bodies, was a founding member of the Lutheran World Federation, the World Council of Churches, and the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.
The church is divided into 65 geographical areas called synods. These 65 synods are grouped into nine regions for mission, joint programs and service.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
2019
2,544,840
92
720,741
3,265,581
8,972
2018
2,644,146
95
719,135
3,363,281
9,091
2017
2,685,833
98
773,006
3,458,839
9,163
2016
2,733,430
101
830,412
3,563,842
9,252
2015
2,803,450
105
864,584
3,668,034
9,320
2014
2,868,102
109
897,260
3,765,362
9,392
2013
2,967,754
111
895,379
3,863,133
9,464
2012
3,002,270
114
948,654
3,950,924
9,533
2011
3,107,925
117
951,860
4,059,785
9,638
2010
3,258,847
120
1,016,008
4,274,855
9,995
2009
3,444,041
125
1,098,827
4,542,868
10,348
2008
3,483,336
128
1,150,551
4,633,887
10,396
2007
3,533,956
131
1,176,000
4,709,956
10,448
2006
3,580,402
135
1,193,801
4,774,203
10,470
2005
3,636,948
137
1,213,828
4,850,776
2004
3,685,987
142
1,244,442
4,930,429
10,585
2003
3,724,321
1,260,604
4,984,925
10,657
2002
3,757,723
144
1,280,283
5,038,006
2001
3,794,969
1,573,994
1,304,908
5,099,877
10,766
2000
3,810,785
145
1,315,134
5,125,919
1999
3,825,228
1,567,755
1,324,440
5,149,668
10,851
1998
3,840,136
0
1,338,089
5,178,225
10,862
1997
3,844,169
0
1,340,886
5,185,055
10,889
1996
3,838,750
0
1,342,160
5,180,910
10,936
1995
3,845,063
0
1,345,426
5,190,489
10,955
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
There is no data yet
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
There is no data yet
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
2019
$2,477,553,633
2018
$2,507,155,491
2017
$2,453,167,494
2016
$2,435,259,272
2015
$2,457,828,454
2014
$2,419,360,714
2013
$2,423,004,738
2012
$2,428,108,085
2011
$2,460,129,689
2010
$226,177,460
$2,235,550,861
$1,821,938,502
$2,009,373,401
2009
$241,234,666
$2,716,085,854
$2,016,768,599
$2,474,851,188
2008
$256,726,382
$2,995,333,385
$2,262,813,900
$2,738,607,003
2007
$254,258,112
$3,039,754,577
$2,297,000,045
$2,785,496,465
2006
$250,408,865
$2,493,456,042
$1,909,390,439
$2,243,047,177
2005
$2,608,801,005
2004
$238,220,062
$2,568,013,806
$1,834,673,674
$232,979,374
2003
$231,502,140
$2,518,612,907
$2,287,110,767
2002
$2,472,649,472
2001
$239,910,305
$2,405,002,595
$1,681,086,243
$2,165,092,290
2000
$2,298,427,601
1999
$220,647,251
$2,193,597,874
$1,509,287,394
$1,972,950,623