The Manipur Evangelical Lutheran Church (MELC), formerly Jou Christian Association (JCA), was established on the 20th of February 1954 with a few believers at Daijang Village, Churachandpur District of Manipur state in India. It celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its ministries in 2004. At present, it is a body of 50 local Churches with more than 10,000 members. Its headquarters is situated at Zomi Colony, Churachandpur, Manipur. It is a member of the Lutheran community (UELCI & LWF).
Administration
The Bishop is the Chief Functionary of the Head Office and the Churches and he is the overall head of all departments. The Bishop is assisted by Directors/Secretaries and other clerical staff to run the Office The Church is divided into 5 Administrative Divisions, each under a District Superintendent who is elected for a term of 3 years. There are ordained Pastors and Evangelists in each Division to assist the District Superintendents.
The ministry of the Church is divided into Mission, Education, Youth, Women and Children Departments.
Demarcation of Administrative Division
- Lamka East Division
- Lamka West Division
- Singngat Division
- Sangaikot Division
- Behiang Division
- Moreh Division
- Thanlon Division
- Mission Field (Manipur & Tripura)
MELC PAID WORKERS
- Ordained Pastors: 14
- Evangelists: 04
- Evangelist Teachers: 17
- Missionary Teachers: 12
- Missionary in the field: 03
- Clerical Staff: 09
- Women Promoter: 01
- Pensioners: 07
MISSION FIELD
MELC has a Mission field amongst the indigenous populace in Manipur’s Thoubal District. There are 9 Churches in the Mission field. In 2009, one Meitei Theologian was ordained as Pastor to work among the Meiteis. The mission field has been extended to Tripura state as well.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
MELC has 18 Mission Schools in remote areas where education is provided up to the lower primary level. The church is still facing financial constrain to meet the demands of the members to upgrade these schools into high schools and higher secondary schools. One Junior High School is run at Chairel Mission Field called “Chairel Faith Academy”.
THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS
Presently, 16 theological students are pursuing different degrees in various Theological Seminaries.
SOURCE OF INCOME
The main source of income of the church is tithes from members. Other sources of income include daily collection of a handful of rice, faith promises, freewill offerings, contributions from well-wishers, School Admission fees etc.
ACHIEVEMENTS
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Despite the economic hardships faced by the Church, as the majority of the Church members are landless cultivators depending on Jhum (Slash and Burn) cultivation, displaced by the ethnic clashes in the year 1992 and in 1997 and also dislocation/displacement by the construction of Khuga Multipurpose Project.
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God is enabling the church to continue to run the missionary fields among the non-believers.
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MELC has been publishing monthly Christian Journals like Gospel Herald, Youth Bulletin and a weekly voice of Lutheran Youths in the Zou dialect.
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The MELC has currently employed 67 workers including 14 Ordained Pastors. The Church has 105 Ordained Church elders.
ASSETS
The MELC has its Head Office at Zomi Colony, with a one-storeyed pucca building. It has 4 District Superintendent Offices cum Quarters.ELWA (Women’s wing) has 5 buildings. The Office has 1 Vehicle (Bolero), 1 Computer, 1 Laptop, 1 Generator and 9 of its Churches are pucca buildings.
CHALLENGE
In an era of gun culture, it is the biggest challenge to the Church to provide facilities that can guide the youths on the right path. As more and more of the members succumb to AIDS, it is the right time to provide intervention and care facilities. The Church needs to combat the rampant use of alcohol and drugs by the youths. It is the burden of the Church to empower its members spiritually as well as economically.
