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Spread Map

Lutheranism Spread Map

Where and when Lutheranism spread, arrived, was established, declined or was revived, in the places and years the historical record gives.

Map

Lutheranism Spread Map Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chile China Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Federated States of Micronesia Fiji Finland France French Polynesia Gabon Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guam Guatemala Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Laos Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritius Mexico Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Lutheranism Is Established in the German Territories, Germany, 1517 to 1555, EstablishedLutheranism Is Established in Sweden, Sweden, 1527 to 1593, EstablishedLutheranism Is Established in Denmark-Norway, Denmark, 1536 to 1537, EstablishedThe Book of Concord Unifies Lutheran Doctrine, Germany, 1580, EstablishedReorus Torkillus Organizes the First Lutheran Congregation in North America at Fort Christina, United States, 1640, ArrivedZiegenbalg and Plutschau Found the Danish-Halle Mission at Tranquebar, Tamil Nadu, 1706, ArrivedThe Archbishop Of Salzburg Expels Its Protestants, Austria, 1731 to 1732, SuppressedLutheranism Is Established in North America, United States, 1742 to 1748, EstablishedThe Prussian Union Forcibly Merges Lutheran and Reformed Churches, Germany, 1817, SuppressedThe Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, Organizes in Chicago, United States, 1847, EstablishedThree Synods Merge to Form the United Lutheran Church in America, United States, 1918, EstablishedThe Lutheran World Federation Forms in Lund, Sweden, Sweden, 1947, EstablishedThe Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Forms in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 1959 to 2023, EstablishedThe Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Unites Seven Missions, Tanzania, 1963 to 2020, EstablishedThe Catholic Church and Lutherans Sign a Joint Declaration on Justification, Germany, 1999 to 2017, EstablishedThe Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation Commemorate the Reformation in Lund, Sweden, 2016, EstablishedThe Lutheran World Federation Elects Anne Burghardt Its First Woman General Secretary, Switzerland, 2021, Established

Point at, tap, or move keyboard focus to a marker for its event, place, year and status.

Marker size and shape show how established the tradition was there: a small filled dot for an arrival, a larger one for an established or dominant presence, and a hollow, distinct marker where it was suppressed or nearly disappeared, never simply absent.

Spoken Chronology

Lutheranism Is Established in the German Territories. Germany, 1517 to 1555, Established. Source, Reformation: Europe's House Divided 1490-1700.

Lutheranism Is Established in Sweden. Sweden, 1527 to 1593, Established. Source, The Early Vasas: A History of Sweden 1523-1611.

Lutheranism Is Established in Denmark-Norway. Denmark, 1536 to 1537, Established. Source, The Early Reformation in Denmark and Norway 1520-1559 (in The Scandinavian Reformation, ed. Grell).

The Book of Concord Unifies Lutheran Doctrine. Germany, 1580, Established. Source, Book of Concord 1580 (Gruber Rare Books Collection).

Reorus Torkillus Organizes the First Lutheran Congregation in North America at Fort Christina. United States, 1640, Arrived. Source, E. Clifford Nelson, The Lutherans in North America, Revised Edition (Fortress Press, 1980).

Ziegenbalg and Plutschau Found the Danish-Halle Mission at Tranquebar. Tamil Nadu, 1706, Arrived. Source, Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg (Wikipedia).

The Archbishop Of Salzburg Expels Its Protestants. Austria, 1731 to 1732, Suppressed. Source, Salzburg Protestants (Wikipedia).

Lutheranism Is Established in North America. United States, 1742 to 1748, Established. Source, Henry Muhlenberg (Wikipedia).

The Prussian Union Forcibly Merges Lutheran and Reformed Churches. Germany, 1817, Suppressed. Source, Christopher Clark, Confessional Policy and the Limits of State Action (The Historical Journal).

The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, Organizes in Chicago. United States, 1847, Established. Source, About The LCMS (LCMS.org).

Three Synods Merge to Form the United Lutheran Church in America. United States, 1918, Established. Source, United Lutheran Church in America Records (Pacific Lutheran University Archives).

The Lutheran World Federation Forms in Lund, Sweden. Sweden, 1947, Established. Source, History of the LWF (The Lutheran World Federation).

The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Forms in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia, 1959 to 2023, Established. Source, Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (Wikipedia).

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Unites Seven Missions. Tanzania, 1963 to 2020, Established. Source, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (Wikipedia).

The Catholic Church and Lutherans Sign a Joint Declaration on Justification. Germany, 1999 to 2017, Established. Source, Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.

The Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation Commemorate the Reformation in Lund. Sweden, 2016, Established. Source, Apostolic Journey to Sweden: Common Ecumenical Prayer at the Lutheran Cathedral of Lund (Vatican).

The Lutheran World Federation Elects Anne Burghardt Its First Woman General Secretary. Switzerland, 2021, Established. Source, Lutheran World Federation (Wikipedia).

Full Chronology

Every recorded spread event for this tradition, in date order, complete: 17 events.

  1. Lutheranism Is Established in the German TerritoriesGermany, 1517 to 1555, Established
    Source Reformation: Europe's House Divided 1490-1700Diarmaid MacCulloch
  2. Lutheranism Is Established in SwedenSweden, 1527 to 1593, Established
    Source The Early Vasas: A History of Sweden 1523-1611Michael Roberts
  3. Lutheranism Is Established in Denmark-NorwayDenmark, 1536 to 1537, Established
    Source The Early Reformation in Denmark and Norway 1520-1559 (in The Scandinavian Reformation, ed. Grell)Martin Schwarz Lausten, in Ole Peter Grell (ed.)
  4. The Book of Concord Unifies Lutheran DoctrineGermany, 1580, Established
    Source Book of Concord 1580 (Gruber Rare Books Collection)
  5. Reorus Torkillus Organizes the First Lutheran Congregation in North America at Fort ChristinaUnited States, 1640, Arrived
    Source E. Clifford Nelson, The Lutherans in North America, Revised Edition (Fortress Press, 1980)E. Clifford Nelson
  6. Ziegenbalg and Plutschau Found the Danish-Halle Mission at TranquebarTamil Nadu, 1706, Arrived
    Source Bartholomaus Ziegenbalg (Wikipedia)
  7. The Archbishop Of Salzburg Expels Its ProtestantsAustria, 1731 to 1732, Suppressed
    Source Salzburg Protestants (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  8. Lutheranism Is Established in North AmericaUnited States, 1742 to 1748, Established
    Source Henry Muhlenberg (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  9. The Prussian Union Forcibly Merges Lutheran and Reformed ChurchesGermany, 1817, Suppressed
    Source Christopher Clark, Confessional Policy and the Limits of State Action (The Historical Journal)Christopher Clark
  10. The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, Organizes in ChicagoUnited States, 1847, Established
    Source About The LCMS (LCMS.org)
  11. Three Synods Merge to Form the United Lutheran Church in AmericaUnited States, 1918, Established
    Source United Lutheran Church in America Records (Pacific Lutheran University Archives)
  12. The Lutheran World Federation Forms in Lund, SwedenSweden, 1947, Established
    Source History of the LWF (The Lutheran World Federation)
  13. The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Forms in Addis AbabaEthiopia, 1959 to 2023, Established
    Source Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  14. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania Unites Seven MissionsTanzania, 1963 to 2020, Established
    Source Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors
  15. The Catholic Church and Lutherans Sign a Joint Declaration on JustificationGermany, 1999 to 2017, Established
    Source Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of JustificationLutheran World Federation and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unitythe holders' own account
  16. The Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Federation Commemorate the Reformation in LundSweden, 2016, Established
    Source Apostolic Journey to Sweden: Common Ecumenical Prayer at the Lutheran Cathedral of Lund (Vatican)
  17. The Lutheran World Federation Elects Anne Burghardt Its First Woman General SecretarySwitzerland, 2021, Established
    Source Lutheran World Federation (Wikipedia)Wikipedia contributors