Established in 1994

Where We Come From

“The Lutheran Church of Rwanda (LCR) was established in late 1994 to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to all Rwandans. Historically, German missionaries first introduced the Lutheran church to Rwanda in the 20th century.

After World War I, the missionaries were sent back home and then the London Missionary Society, Presbyterian Church of Rwanda (EPR), and the Seventh Day Adventist Church took over the activities that were started by the Lutherans. In 1994, Rwandans who had been living in Tanzania as refugees for more than 45 years returned back to Rwanda. Many of these returnees were Lutheran members and 6 among them were ordained as pastors in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT).

Because they wanted to remain with their worship tradition, these former 6 pastors (and 6 evangelists) helped organize the members to start the Lutheran Church of Rwanda, beginning with worship at the Kirehe Lutheran Parish on the 25th of December, 1994. Slowly the church grew and moved up through the country from Kirehe to Rukira and beyond. The church eventually came to the capital city of Kigali and has had its headquarters in Kigali from that time. As of now, the church has 60 congregations and 25 parishes.

It has 38 ordained pastors of whom 5 are women. Among the pastors, the church continues to relate to four retired pastors and one bishop emeritus.” (Taken from the “LCR Profile” sent with invitations to the Jubilee) *If interested in further research regarding the history of the Lutheran Church of Rwanda, please inquire with us about the published history of the LCR as it was written in celebration of the 25th Anniversary Jubilee in 2019.