Who is the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania and what are its ministries?
The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania (ECACR), a member of the Lutheran World Federation, has 15,000 members in 255 congregations. After World War II, losses, communist deportations and nationalization of agricultural lands, there was an increasing emigration of the German population. Between 1986 and 1989, the church lost 23,000 members due to emigration. The number of pastors decreased from 120 to 41 which now serve in the congregations, including very small ones and preaching points. The church is now on a strong path to recovery. The main priorities of the ECACR are pastoral services in the congregations and mission, diaconia, activity of women and youth work, and preserving cultural inheritance. How do the companions in Romania and the ELCA accompany one another in ministry? Through the churchwide ELCA Global Mission unit, the ELCA relates to and is in bilaterial relationship with over 80 companion churches and institutions. The ELCA Global Mission units ste
