Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Headquarters

Identity area

Identifier

ELCT- HQ

Authorized form of name

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Headquarters

Parallel form(s) of name

  • Kanisa la Kiinjili la Kilutheri Tanzania (KKKT), Makao Makuu

Other form(s) of name

  • ELCT Headquarters Arusha, KKKT HQ Arusha , ELCT Head Office

Type

  • Religious Organization

Contact area

Secretary General, ELCT

Type

Address

Street address

Locality

Region

Country name

Postal code

Telephone

+255 749 467 707

Fax

Arusha,Tanzania

Email

Note

Description area

History

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania was officially established in 1963 through the union of several Lutheran church bodies that were founded by European and American missionaries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Headquartered in Arusha, the Church serves millions of members across Tanzania through dioceses distributed nationwide. The ELCT plays a significant role in spiritual ministry, education, health services, and community development.

Geographical and cultural context

The ELCT Headquarters is located in Arusha, a major administrative and diplomatic hub in northern Tanzania.
The Church operates within a diverse cultural environment, serving communities from various ethnic groups across Tanzania. Swahili is the primary language used for communication, alongside English in administration and international relations.

Mandates/Sources of authority

1.Its Constitution and Church policies

2.Lutheran doctrines and teachings

3.National laws governing religious organizations in Tanzania

Administrative structure

1.The General Assembly (highest decision-making body)

2.The Office of the Secretary General (based at Headquarters)

3.Various departments such as Mission and Evangelism, Finance, Education, and Health

  1. Dioceses led by Bishops across Tanzania

Records management and collecting policies

  1. Administrative and governance activities

  2. Financial and project reports

  3. Church programs and mission activities

  4. Correspondence and official documents

Buildings

The ELCT Headquarters in Arusha consists of administrative offices, meeting facilities, and service units that support national-level church operations.

Holdings

  1. Official church records and reports

  2. Minutes of meetings and synods

  3. Publications and theological materials

  4. Archival documents related to church history and mission work

Finding aids, guides and publications

  1. Administrative reports, annual reports, and strategic plans of the Church

  2. Minutes and proceedings of General Assemblies, Synods, and official meetings

  3. Church constitutions, policies, and guidelines

  4. Publications related to mission, evangelism, education, and health services

5.Theological publications, pastoral letters, and teaching materials

  1. Archival inventories and internal document registers

Access area

Opening times

Monday – Friday: 08:00 AM – 04:00 PM
Closed on weekends and public holidays

Access conditions and requirements

Visitors may be required to make prior appointments

Identification may be required upon entry

Access to certain records may require official permission

Accessibility

Basic accessibility for visitors (confirm for persons with disabilities if needed)

Services area

Research services

Provides access to church records, reports, and publications upon request

Research permission may be required from administration

Reproduction services

Photocopying and scanning services may be available upon request

Public areas

Reception area

Meeting rooms

Administrative offices

Control area

Description identifier

ELCT-HQ-ARUSHA-2026

Institution identifier

ELCT -HQ

Rules and/or conventions used

International Standard for Describing Institutions with Archival Holdings (ISDIAH)

General International Standard Archival Description (ISAD(G)

Status

Final

Level of detail

Full

Dates of creation, revision and deletion

Creation: March 2026

Revision: Add when updated

Deletion: Not applicable

Language(s)

  • Swahili

Script(s)

  • Latin

Sources

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania official records
ELCT official website (www.elct.or.tz)
Administrative documents from ELCT Headquarters

Maintenance notes

This description was created for archival and documentation purposes in AtoM. Updates should be made as new institutional information becomes available.

Access points

Access Points

  • Religion (Thematic area)
  • Mission and Evangelism, Economy and Planning, social services, and Finace/administration (Thematic area)
  • Arusha-Tanzania (Geographic subregion)