Sao Leopoldo
Brazil

The first German immigrants arrived in Brazil in 1824 in Nova Friburgo and São Leopoldo, bringing with them their evangelical faith. Swiss Reformed immigrants, who had arrived already in 1819 when the country was still under the Portuguese crown (Brazil became independent in 1822), joined the new Protestant congregation in Nova Friburgo. The settlement in the southern town of São Leopoldo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, became a Protestant stronghold. Hundreds of schools were built and congregations formed, led by teachers and other lay people. Later, German churches and missionary societies sent pastors and missionaries and continued to assist the immigrants. The first permanent common body was the Synod of Rio Grande do Sul (founded in 1886), followed by the Evangelical-Lutheran Synod of Santa Catarina, Paraná and other States (1905), by the Association of Evangelical Congregations of Santa Catarina and Paraná (1911), and by the Evangelical Synod of Central Brazil (1912). In 1968 Ecclesiastical Regions and Districts came together in a national structure called IECLB (in Portuguese) Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil. 

Plans for Reformation 500

  • Performances of the play “The Memories of Katharina” (author: Rev. Scheila dos Santos Dreher)  http://luteranos.com.br/conteudo/memorias-de-katharina
  • Gathering stories of women in the Lutheran church in Brazil
  • Youth of the IECLB and Brazilian Gustav-Adolf-Werk have created a partnership in regard to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation:  http://luteranos.com.br/noticias/juventude-da-ieclb-e-obra-gustavo-adolfo-fazem-parceria-pelos-500-anos-da-reforma
  • Proposals for the production of video clips and movies which deal with themes of the Reformation anniversary are submittted to congregations and youth groups
  • Congregations are invited to read and study books that play an important role in creating an understanding of Lutheran theology and identity: http://luteranos.com.br/conteudo_organizacao/confessionalidade-luteranos-em-contexto/se4lecao-de-livros-que-nutrem-a-fe
  • The brass band Acordai (Wake up) intends to give altogether 500 concerts until 2017
  •  A bilateral commission of IECLB/ICAR (Roman Catholic Church) has decided to: a) translate From Conflict to Communion (FCTC) into Portuguese; b) hold a joint seminar with Roman Catholic bishops, synodal pastors and presidium of the IECLB as well as representatives of theological institutions in order to have a discussion about FCTC.
  • Negotiations with Brazilian post, to issue a special stamp for the 500th anniversary of the Reformation
  • International Luther Symposia, organized jointly by FLT (theological education center, recognized by the IECLB) in partnership with the University of Jena. The two-day event takes place yearly. 

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