Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church is a Lutheran church in Estonia. EELC is member of the Lutheran World Federation and belongs to the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe. It is also a member of the Porvoo Communion, putting it in full communion with the Church of England and other Anglican churches in Europe.
History
The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church was constituted in 1949, when the previous church hierarchy, Eesti Evangeeliumi Luteriusu Kirik, which was formed in 1919 and headed by bishop Johan Kõpp, had escaped to Sweden in 1944. When the Soviet Union invaded Estonia in 1940, most Christian organizations were dissolved, church property was confiscated, theologians were exiled to Siberia, and religious education programs were outlawed. World War II later brought devastation to many church buildings. It was not until 1988 that church activities were renewed when a movement for religious tolerance began in the Soviet Union.Although women had studied theology at Tartu University in the 1920s and some had sought ordination as priests, it was not until 1967 that the first woman, Laine Villenthal, was ordained. In 2014, the church reported that there were 169 men and 43 women serving as ministers.
Leadership
The Church of Estonia is episcopal in polity, and is led by five bishops, including the archbishop who serves as the Primate. The archbishop has overall control, and under his authority there are four jurisdictions, each with its own Bishop.Diocese | Cathedral | See | Current bishop |
Archdiocese of Tallinn | St Mary's Cathedral, Tallinn | Tallinn | Urmas Viilma |
Diocese of the Western and Northern Region | St Nicholas Cathedral, Haapsalu | Haapsalu | Tiit Salumäe |
Diocese of the Southern Region | Tartu | Joel Luhamets | |
Extra-Estonian Diocese | Canada | Vacant |
Following the retirement of Andres Põder as archbishop, the current archbishop is Urmas Viilma, consecrated on 2 February 2015.
During the Soviet occupation of Estonia, the Archbishop went into exile, which resulted in the formation of a parallel church, the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad. Until 2010 this body was independent, with its own Archbishop based in Canada. In 2010 the two churches reunited, and the former overseas church became a diocese of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, known as the Extra-Estonian Diocese.
Bishops and Archbishops of Tallinn and Primates
- Jakob Kukk
- Hugo Bernhard Rahamägi
- Johan Kõpp
- Jaan Kiivit Sr.
- Alfred Tooming
- Edgar Hark
- Kuno Pajula
- Jaan Kiivit Jr.
- Andres Põder
- Urmas Viilma
Membership