American Lutheran Church (1930-1960). Board of Foreign Missions

See ALC 29 Administrative History.

See ALC 29 Administrative History, ALC 29/8 Administrative History.

See ALC 29/7/2/1 and TALC 14/8/2/3.

See ALC 29/7 Administrative History.

The India Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States (India Conference) was formed in 1920 by missionaries assembled at Tirupati, India. The title was changed to the India Conference of the American Lutheran Church in 1931. Beginning in 1948 the name Andhra Lutheran Conference was used interchangeably with that of India Conference.

Until the formation of the South Andhra Lutheran Church (SALC) in 1945, the India Conference was the chief governing body of the India mission work of the JSO (1920-1930) and the American Lutheran Church (ALC, 1930-1945). The India Conference dealt with missionary and Indian national placement, policy, and polity, heard reports from mission stations and institutions, acted on directives from the home boards, and administered finances on the field. Its membership was composed of all missionaries, including single women but not the wives of the male missionaries.

Following the formation of the SALC, the India Conference continued to meet to transact business involving the placement, policy, and polity of missionaries, but not of Indian nationals. As work and property were gradually handed over to the SALC, the India Conference became less of a governing body and more of an advisory one. In 1968 the missionaries petitioned the government to dissolve the India Conference, with the intent of forming a new missionary organization called the American Lutheran Church Missionary Fellowship in India. The new organization was to have only a president, who would preside at meetings, and an executive director, who would administer the work. In 1971, at the direction of the Division of World Missions of The American Lutheran Church, financial responsibility was handed over to the Inter Church Service Agency. However, since the minutes of the Andhra Lutheran Conference continue through 1973, it is unclear whether or not this new organization ever functioned.

See also IOWA 26 Administrative History, ALC 29 Administrative History, ALC 29/8 Administrative History.

William Siemers was born in St. Donatus, Iowa, in 1880. In 1922 he contacted the Foreign Mission Board of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Iowa and Other States and offered his services as a lay missionary to New Guinea. There he worked as a carpenter until 1942 when he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and held captive until April 1944. Upon his return to the United States in 1945, Siemers retired from the missionary field.

The India Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States (India Conference) was formed in 1920 by missionaries assembled at Tirupati, India. The title was changed to the India Conference of the American Lutheran Church in 1931. Beginning in 1948 the name Andhra Lutheran Conference was used interchangeably with that of India Conference.

Until the formation of the South Andhra Lutheran Church (SALC) in 1945, the India Conference was the chief governing body of the India mission work of the JSO (1920-1930) and the American Lutheran Church (ALC, 1930-1945). The India Conference dealt with missionary and Indian national placement, policy, and polity, heard reports from mission stations and institutions, acted on directives from the home boards, and administered finances on the field. Its membership was composed of all missionaries, including single women but not the wives of the male missionaries.

Following the formation of the SALC, the India Conference continued to meet to transact business involving the placement, policy, and polity of missionaries, but not of Indian nationals. As work and property were gradually handed over to the SALC, the India Conference became less of a governing body and more of an advisory one. In 1968 the missionaries petitioned the government to dissolve the India Conference, with the intent of forming a new missionary organization called the American Lutheran Church Missionary Fellowship in India. The new organization was to have only a president, who would preside at meetings, and an executive director, who would administer the work. In 1971, at the direction of the Division of World Missions of The American Lutheran Church, financial responsibility was handed over to the Inter Church Service Agency. However, since the minutes of the Andhra Lutheran Conference continue through 1973, it is unclear whether or not this new organization ever functioned.