HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF ELCG

In 1957, two American Lutheran Pastors serving our sister church in Nigeria were sent to Ghana by the then Synodical Conference of the Lutheran Church to investigate the possibilities of establishing Lutheran Mission in Ghana. The Pastors were the Late Rev. Otomiller and Rev. James Dretke. This was done at the request of a Ghanaian Pastor, the Late Rev. Kwame Asante of the AM.E Church. Their investigation led to the establishment of the Lutheran Mission in Ghana.

Among the first members of the Pioneer Congregation in Aditrom Adabraka Official Town, in Accra) include Messrs. Emmanuel Baisie, Samuel Cooke, Isaac Owusu-Hemeng, Justice Isaac Duose, Osei Agyeman, all now members of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kanda in Accra. Others are Messrs. Seth Larbi Siaw and Manu Kobiah both of Trinity Lutheran Church, Kwadaso Estates in Kumasi.

“Eight members were first confirmed into the membership of the Lutheran Church,” recalls Mr. Cooke.

When the Church was born, congregations ministered primarily, to the large number of Nigerian immigrants living in Ghana. At one point, the church was known as “Alatafo Asore” meaning, “Nigerian Church”. At another time, the church was referred to as “Oboroni Asore” meaning, “White Man’s Church” because of the English usage in the conduct of worship and the fact that a lot of American Missionaries worked here.

According to Rev. Dr. Paul Fynn the current president of ELCG, in 1970, when the Nigerians were forced to leave Ghana due to the government’s “Aliens Compliance Act” most Lutheran worship centers became virtually empty.

The ELCG then focused her ministry on building up a greater Ghanaian membership.

Since 1958, the church has had several missionaries who have helped in planting congregations and preaching stations throughout the country which now make up the ELCG. The church was registered with the Registrar General in 1964, under the Trustees (Incorporation) Act of 1962.

In the same year, as an independent church, ELCG became full sister-church of the LCMS. Among the early missionaries who worked here included, Rev. Dretke, Rev. Vernon Schindler, Rev. Maiyer, Brameyer, Konrad, De Moss, Schmidt, Kunkel the list is long. In another publication we shall bring the detailed list of missionaries who had helped the work here in Ghana, as well as other national church workers.

ELCG has had her fair share of problems that have been retarding the progress of the church.

In spite of the teething problems and difficulties, the Lord has been faithful and good to the ELCG. The church has spread to all the regions of Ghana and many have received baptism and confirmation as well as various levels of training.

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