India Evangelical Lutheran Church, Trivandrum Synod

Saved by grace, through faith.

Five circles and more than a hundred congregations across southern Kerala, carrying the Lutheran witness first planted at Kuttichel in 1911.

നീതിമാൻ വിശ്വാസത്താൽ ജീവിക്കും

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Verse for the month

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8–9

What the Reformation restored

On 31 October 1517, Dr Martin Luther called the church back from teaching that had drifted from Scripture. Today the Lutheran family numbers some 77 million believers worldwide, and these four truths still stand at its centre.

Sola gratia

By grace alone കൃപയാൽ മാത്രം

Salvation is God’s free gift, never earned or bought.

Sola fide

Through faith alone വിശ്വാസത്താൽ മാത്രം

We receive that gift by trusting God’s promise in Christ.

Sola Scriptura

By the Word alone വചനത്താൽ മാത്രം

The Bible is the sure rule for all teaching and life.

Solus Christus

In Christ alone ക്രിസ്തുവിനാൽ മാത്രം

Jesus is the one mediator between God and humanity.

About the IELC

The India Evangelical Lutheran Church is a Protestant Christian denomination with its headquarters in Tamil Nadu. It grew from the mission work of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), which began in 1894 and sent more than sixty missionaries to India over the following decades. The IELC was established in 1959 as a partner church of the LCMS and now serves across India.

The church was registered on 9 February 1959 (Registration No. 11/1959, Societies Registration Act, 1860). Its constitution and bye-laws were amended in 2022 and bring together three synods, Ambur, Nagercoil and Trivandrum, along with churches beyond their jurisdiction. The registered office is at 47 (old No. 21), Eldams Road, Teynampet, Chennai 600018.

congregations: 764
baptized members: 1,15,000
communicant members: 70,000
active pastors: 220

The current IELC president is Rev. Dr Priestly Balasingh, elected by secret ballot on 22 October 2022, with Rev. Y. K. Mohandas as vice-president, Mr Stalin as General Treasurer-cum-Secretary and Mr Sathyakumar as Comptroller.

The Trivandrum Synod office works from the Concordia compound: TDS Synod Office, C.L.H.S.S. Compound, Peroorkada, Thiruvananthapuram 5.

Our story in Kerala

1894
LCMS mission work in India begins.
May 1911
The first Lutheran church in Kerala is established at Kuttichel.
8 Oct 1956
The Trivandrum District Synod is formed, with Rev. D. Vedamanikam as its first president and Rev. C. M. Jacob as first secretary.
9 Feb 1959
The India Evangelical Lutheran Church is formally organized and registered.
2022
Constitution amended; new IELC and synod office bearers take charge.
9 Dec 2023
The Lutheran MahaSangamam gathers the church to proclaim its presence in Kerala.

Synod executive

The officers who serve the Trivandrum Synod and its circles.

**Rev. J. Mohanraj**Synod Vice-President

Circles and churches

The synod’s congregations are grouped into circles. Open a circle to see its officers and churches.

Synod life

Celebrations, ordinations and gatherings from across the synod.

All events

Synod anniversary

Synod anniversary celebration

സിനഡ് വാർഷികാഘോഷം

The synod family gathered to give thanks for its years of ministry in Kerala, with worship, fellowship and greetings from across the circles.

January 2025

Leaders’ training programme

ലീഡേഴ്സ് ട്രെയിനിങ് പ്രോഗ്രാം

The synod’s Lutheran Youth Fellowship held a training day for youth fellowship office bearers at City Lutheran Church, Panavila. Synod Youth Promoter Rev. Abhijith Martin presided, Synod Vice-President Rev. Mohanraj opened the…

31 October 2024

507th Reformation celebration

നവീകരണ ദിനാഘോഷം

The synod marked 507 years since Luther posted his theses at Wittenberg, giving thanks that the church was called back to grace alone, faith alone, the Word alone and Christ alone.

9 December 2023

Lutheran MahaSangamam

ലൂഥറൻ മഹാസംഗമം

A great gathering of the Lutheran church in Kerala, called by the Trivandrum Synod to proclaim the church’s century-old presence in the state. Heads of churches and leaders from public, social and…

July 2023

Concordia Mini Hall inauguration

കൺകോർഡിയ മിനിഹാൾ ഉദ്ഘാടനം

Kerala’s Education Minister V. Sivankutty opened the new Concordia Mini Hall at the Concordia UPS compound, Peroorkada. He said the state’s school system owes its foundations to Christian missionaries, who opened schools…

23 July 2023

Ordination of Rev. Vipin V

അഭിഷേക ശുശ്രൂഷ

At Calvary Lutheran Church, Peroorkada, Mr Vipin V was ordained into the pastoral ministry of the IELC in a service held jointly by the synod and Concordia Theological Seminary. Seminary principal Rev.…