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Central African Republic

Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic

Who is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic (Église évangélique luthérienne de la République centrafricaine) and what are its ministries?

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic (Église évangélique luthérienne de la République centrafricaine, EELRCA), a member of the Lutheran World Federation, has 450 congregations in 7 regions and 27 districts. 71 pastors (12 of them retired) serve the church, along with 44 evangelists (6 of them retired), 205 trained catechists and 246 assistant catechists. Membership is estimated at 50,000, although it may have decreased due to the social unrest, civil conflict, and destabilizing political events in regions where the church is present.

The EELRCA is a member of the Lutheran Communion in Western Africa (LUCWA), the LWF's expression in West Africa,  and the Joint Christian Ministry in West Africa (JCMWA).

The EELRCA's ministries include health, education, Muslim-Christian relations, ministries for youth and women, and an integrated rural development program.

Health ministries
The EELRCA works to reduce infant and maternal mortality through engagement in vaccination programs, training mid-wives, promoting safe drinking water, and building latrines. It is also involved in the fight to stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic and works with the World Food Program to teach food nutrition and provide food aid.

Education ministries
The EELRCA emphasizes leadership development through a seminary that trains pastors for service and a Bible school that provides a three-year training program in evangelism and agricultural activities. Through the Village Education Program, the EELRCA works with 20 villages to provide elementary education for children who have no other school access. It also offers literacy classes for all ages.

Women’s Ministries
Women play an active role in ministry of the EELRCA. Two women have been ordained and the Women for Christ program empowers women through weekly bible study. In 2008 a Women’s Center (“Chez Marthe and Marie”) was opened for women to gather, to grow in faith and to learn skills to improve their lives and the lives of their families. The women also oversee a scholarship program for young women to go to high school.

Youth Ministries
Active youth ministry and urban ministry programs in the capital, Bangui, and Bouar, offer the hope of Christian faith along with social ministry.

Muslim-Christian Relations
The EELRCA engages in evangelism in areas where the church is strong as well as also among Fulani cattle herders. Some of these traditionally Muslim herders have become Christian. The church provides support, encouragement, and education for those who have recently become Christian.

Integrated Rural Development Program
Together the EELRCA and the Lutheran World Federation have created a rural development program addressing issues of nutrition, self-sustainability, leadership development, and ways to generating local income.

How do the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America accompany one another in ministry?

Through the churchwide ELCA Global Mission unit, the ELCA relates to and is in bilateral relationship with over 80 companion churches and institutions. The ELCA Global Mission unit stewards a church-to-church relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic. This relationship is deepened and extended by the EELRCA’s relationships, through the ELCA Companion Synods program, with the ELCA Western North Dakota, Eastern North Dakota, and Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synods.

Churchwide funding through the ELCA Global Mission unit supports key priorities identified by the EELRCA, including strengthening the EELRCA’s leadership development, capacity building for the development of effective programs and ministries, as well as sustainable development in the areas of water and sanitation, agriculture, health care, and education. Four ELCA mission personnel serve in CAR in the areas of village-based education and water and sanitation.

Central African Republic: the context in which the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic serves

About 4.4 million people live in the Central African Republic. While the official language is French, it is the national Songo language that unites the population, traditionally divided between the river peoples and savanna peoples. Ethnic groups include the Baya (33%), Banda (27%), Mandjia (13%), and Sara (10%). There are four major religions: Protestant (25%) Roman Catholic (25%) indigenous beliefs (35%) and Muslim (15%). Animistic practices have a strong influence on Christians.

Without port access, CAR’s land-locked economy is limited, and factional fighting in the government inhibits economic growth. Subsistence farming and logging are the major economic forces and distribution of wealth is extremely unequal. Grants from the international community (especially France) only meet some of the country’s humanitarian needs.

The lack of a potable water supply, desertification, deforestation and poaching of animals (threatening its reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges) are the country's largest environmental concerns. Military rebellions and social unrest for three decades have had a profound effect. AIDS is a serious health problem with 13.5% of the adults currently living with HIV/AIDS. An influx of refugees and child trafficking (the Central African Republic is a source and destination country for child trafficking) are also of concern.