Mission History

Salvadoran Lutheran Synod

The Salvadoran Lutheran Synod (SLS) is a legally independent church which became a full Lutheran World Federation member in 1984. Originally founded by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in the early 1950’s, the mission of the ILS underwent dramatic changes during El Salvador’s civil war (1980-92): it assisted civilian victims of the war, established a human rights office and participated in the national dialogue which led to the 1992 peace accords. During the civil war the Lutheran church and other churches were involved in relief ministry. Aid was given without regard to political or ideological preference. Because of this, the SLS came under the attack of the government and paramilitary groups. Property was destroyed and people were disappeared, arrested, tortured, or killed. The church membership of 12,000 — an eightfold increase since 1977 — was served until 1982 by only two ordained pastors, since one was murdered and two others left the country during the long civil war.

The church’s active participation in the struggles of the poor and its prophetic commitment to a just peace attracted new members and expanded its geographic reach. Today, the ILS is the largest Lutheran church in Central America, with 15,000 members.