Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (NELC)

The Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church (NELC) operates primarily in four North Indian states: Jharkhand, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal, with additional outreach in Nepal and Bhutan.

Key Facts

• Founded in 1868 by Danish missionary Hans Peter Boerresen and Norwegian Lars Olsen Skrefsrud.

• Headquarters located in Dumka, Jharkhand, an educational hub northeast of Kolkata.

• Adopted its current name in 1958; provides theological training and education. 

• Membership and Reach

• NELC serves over 85,000 baptized members across approximately 453 pastorates, mainly Santals, with significant Boro and Bengali communities.
  The church is one of ten members of the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India.

  Institutions and Programs

  NELC manages schools, colleges, health centers, and its main hospital in Mohulpahari, Jharkhand, alongside community health initiatives.
  It owns the Mornai Tea Estate in Assam’s Kokrajhar district and supports agricultural development, irrigation, infrastructure, and emergency relief.