Mission History

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia (ELCZ) was established in 1983 in Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. The founders of the church were several seminary and bible school students, as well as some former members of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa, and several Tanzanians who emigrated to Zambia. The church was officially registered by the government of Zambia with the name of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia in April 1986.

The first two Zambian pastors were ordained in 1992. Four additional pastors were ordained in 1998 after completing studies in seminaries outside of Zambia. In 2005, an additional four pastors were ordained, including the first two women. The ELCZ works with the Bible school of the Lutheran Evangelical Church in Africa to train ELCZ pastors and evangelists.

The ELCZ began a committed program to become self-reliant, as congregations gradually take on the responsibility for supporting their church workers. The church also started a micro-lending program to promote income-generating projects, and trains and supports organized microcredit groups.