For logistical reasons in 2008, the Evangelical Lutheran Church - Synod of France and Belgium divided into two separate synods: the Evangelical Lutheran Church - Synod of France, (french: link=no, Église Évangélique Luthérienne Synode de France, or EEL-SF) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium, (Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk in België, or ELKB). Both are

confessional A confessional is a box, cabinet, booth, or stall in which the priest in some Christian churches sits to hear the confessions of penitents. It is the usual venue for the sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church and the Lutheran Churches, but sim ...

Lutheran Lutheranism is one of the largest branches of Protestantism, identifying primarily with the theology of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German monk and reformer whose efforts to reform the theology and practice of the Catholic Church launched th ...

church bodies in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

and in

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

respectively. Over a dozen parishes belong to the two synods. Both the EEL-SF and ELKB are members of the

European Lutheran Conference The European Lutheran Conference (ELC) is an association of Confessional Lutheran churches in Europe. The full members of the conference are in altar and pulpit fellowship with one another. The members of the ELC are also members of the Internation ...

. They are also members of the

International Lutheran Council The International Lutheran Council (ILC) is a worldwide association of confessional Lutheran denominations. Member bodies of the ILC hold "an unconditional commitment to the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and infallible Word of God and to the Lu ...

, of which the

Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), also known as the Missouri Synod, is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 1.8 million members, it is the second-largest Lutheran body in the United States. The LC ...

of North America is also a member.

History

The EEL-SFB formed in 1927 by congregations founded during the 19th century when people left the Protestant Church of Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine for doctrinal reasons. Outreach started before and after World War 2. The Synod supports francophone churches in Central Africa and is involved in leadership training in West Africa. It currently has 957

baptized Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost ...

members in France. For logistical reasons in 2008, the Evangelical Lutheran Church - Synod of France and Belgium divided into two separate synods: the Evangelical Lutheran Church - Synod of France, (french: link=no, Église Évangélique Luthérienne Synode de France, or EEL-SF) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium, or Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk in België (ELKB).

Associations

The EEL-SFB is associated with the media outreach "L'Heure Luthérienne" (site: www.mediachrist.com), a spinoff from

Lutheran Hour Ministries Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) is a Christian outreach ministry affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, Lutheran Church - Canada and Lutheran Women in Mission (LWML). Its mission is "Bringing Christ to the Nations—and the Nations t ...

. The EEL-SFB established a congregation in Burgdorf, Switzerland near

Bern german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

in 2010. In November 2014, the EEL-SFB officially established altar and pulpit fellowship with the Lutherische Bekenntniskirche in der Schweiz (LBKS) also known as Eglise Luthérienne Libre en Suisse or Iglesia Confesional Luterana en Suiza. Bahnhofstrasse 12, Burgdorf, Switzerland. On August 28, 2017, the EEL-SFB participated in the start of an LBKS mission at Mettmenstetten near

Zürich Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...

. The ELKB partners with the "Eglise Luthérienne Malgache" (Lutheran Church of Madagascar). Services are mostly in Malagasy with parts in

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

EEL-SFB Presidents

*2004–2008 Jean Thiéaut Haessig After 2008, see EEL-SF or ELKB

ELKB Presidents

Gijsbertus van Hattem is the current president of the ELKB. *???–present Gijsbertus van Hattem

EEL-SF Presidents

Gleisson R. Schmidt is the current president of the EEL-SF. *2008–2012 François Poillet *2012–2016 Roger Jones *2016–2020 Martin Jautzy *2020-present Gleisson R. Schmidt

List of ELKB Congregations

Brussels Brussels (french: Bruxelles or ; nl, Brussel ), officially the Brussels-Capital Region (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) (french: link=no, Région de Bruxelles-Capitale; nl, link=no, Bruss ...

. Pr. Johannes Reitze-Landau. Ave. Salomélaan 7, 1150 Woluwe-Saint Pierre. http://www.alcb.be

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

. Pr Gijsbertus van Hattem. Tabakvest 59, 2000. http://users.skynet.be/lutherse.kerk

List of EEL-SF Congregations

Heiligenstein.

Bas-Rhin Bas-Rhin (; Alsatian: ''Unterelsàss'', ' or '; traditional german: links=no, Niederrhein; en, Lower Rhine) is a department in Alsace which is a part of the Grand Est super-region of France. The name means 'Lower Rhine', referring to its low ...

. Pr Volff. 28 rue Principale. heiligenstein@eglise-lutherienne.org Lembach.

. Pr Heintz. 6 rue du Maire Dielmann. lembach@eglise-lutherienne.org

Mulhouse Mulhouse (; Alsatian language, Alsatian: or , ; ; meaning ''Mill (grinding), mill house'') is a city of the Haut-Rhin Departments of France, department, in the Grand Est Regions of France, region, eastern France, close to the France–Switzerl ...

. Eglise Luthérienne du Christ. Pr Poillet. 21 chemin des Ardennes. mulhouse@eglise-lutherienne.or
website
La Petite Pierre.

. Pr Jautzy. 39 rue Kirchberg (maison de Retraite). kirchberg@libertysurf.fr Schillersdorf.

. Pr Jautzy. 16 rue Principale. schillersdorf@eglise-lutherienne.org

Strasbourg Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...

. Eglise Luthérienne de la Croix. Pr Volff. 6A place d'Austerlitz. strasbourg@eglise-lutherienne.or
website
Woerth.

Pr Heintz. 12 rue de Hagenau. woerth@eglise-lutherienne.org

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

. St Sauveur. Pr Schmidt. 105 rue de l'Abbé Groult. 75015. paris@eglise-lutherienne.or
St Sauveur website

( Chatenay Malabry). Eglise Luthérienne Saint-Pierre. Pr Lara. 9 rue Jules Barbier. chatenay@eglise-lutherienne.or
St Pierre website

( Saint Maur des Fossés). Eglise Luthérienne Saint Jean. Pr Aoustin. 109 avenue Beaurepaire. saint-maur@eglise-lutherienne.or
St Jean website
Poitou-Charentes. Mission.

Troyes Troyes () is a commune and the capital of the department of Aube in the Grand Est region of north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about south-east of Paris. Troyes is situated within the Champagne wine region and is near to ...

. Mission.

External links

EEL-SF websiteELKB page
on International Lutheran Council website
LBKS websiteLBKS websiteLBKS website

Footnotes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evangelical Lutheran Church - Synod of France and Belgium France Belgium France Belgium Christian organizations established in 1927