About us

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mozambique (IELM) is a communion of evangelical congregations across the country, organised in parishes and in three districts: North, Centre and South. Its headquarters are in Maputo.

The Capela Martim Lutero: a white, triangular building with a cross on top, behind a lawn. — Capela Martim Lutero (Martin Luther Chapel), at the IELM headquarters in Maputo.

What we believe

Our faith rests on the Word of God, the books of the Old and New Testaments. We confess the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed, and we follow the Lutheran doctrine of Martin Luther’s Catechisms and the Augsburg Confession.

We preach the Word and administer the sacraments. We serve in response to God’s love: we support the sick, the elderly and the poor, and we work for dignity, justice and peace.

Our vision

The IELM Vision has five pillars:

Evangelism and Christian Education: bringing the church to the provinces where it is not yet present, opening new congregations and strengthening local leadership.
Human Resources Development: training pastors, administrative staff, young people and Sunday school teachers.
Diakonia: social care projects on HIV and AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and domestic violence, above all for women and children.
Institutional Development: building the management skills of church leaders, and providing pastors and evangelists in the most remote areas with transport and housing.
Promoting and Keeping Peace: promoting peace in communities, together with the Christian Council of Mozambique and other churches.

Leadership

Bishop: Salomão Matsimbe
General Secretary: Augusto Pedro
Treasurer: Baltazar Nhalivilo

About twenty people, IELM pastors and guests, standing on the steps at the entrance of the Capela Martim Lutero. — IELM pastors and guests, Maputo, September 2026.

Sister churches

The IELM has been a member of the Lutheran World Federation since 1999, and is a member of the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) and the Christian Council of Mozambique.

Our symbol

The symbol of the IELM is the Luther Rose: a white rose with a heart and a small cross. The cross reminds us that God comes to meet us with his love, in Christ Jesus. The heart says that we are justified by faith.

Legal details

The IELM is a religious denomination registered with the National Directorate of Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs (Register of Religious Denominations, Book “A”, number 83). It is a non-profit legal entity.

Its current statutes were recognised by order of the Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs of 28 July 2025, published in the Boletim da República, Series III, number 170, of 4 September 2026.

Headquarters: Av. Kim Il Sung 520, Sommerschield, P.O. Box 1488, Maputo, Mozambique.