New Partnership Announced Between Concordia Historical Institute and the Historical Institute of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brazil

The directors of two major Lutheran historical institutes met June 4 and 5 to discuss and sign a memorandum of understanding concerning the mutual advancement of the history of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brazil. Dr. Daniel Harmelink, Executive Director of CHI and Mr. Paulo Udo W. Kunstmann, Coordinator of the Instituto Histórico of the Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil (IH-IELB) in Porto Alegre, Brazil met in Saint Louis to hammer out ways in which both church bodies can celebrate together God’s grace as the 120th anniversary of Missouri Synod mission work in Brazil approaches in 2020.

“Our partnership in spotlighting the history of the Gospel in North and South America has been renewed through this important meeting. The story of Missouri Synod mission work in Brazil over the last 118 years is a story that needs to be not only told but celebrated today.” Dr. Harmelink said after the two days of meetings. “The anniversary in 2020 is a great opportunity to give thanks to the Lord of the Church for the enduring fruit of God’s Word as it went out to the people of Brazil.”

Discussion included how CHI can encourage and give aid as the Historical Institute begins to repurpose one of the earliest buildings of the IELB seminary into a historical museum that will chronicle the redeeming work of Christ in Brazil. A joint museum exhibit display on Missouri Synod mission work in Brazil was also discussed.

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Concordia Historical Institute is the department of Archives and History of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and strives to be the premier provider of historical resources of the Lutheran Church in North America and beyond.