Ingria Lutheran Church Renames Itself Russian Lutheran Church Over Extremist Associations

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria has changed its name by decision of its leadership, citing undesirable associations with extremists. The church’s head of media department, Kristina Shilova, told Daily Storm that the new name is the Russian Lutheran Church.

Shilova said the need for a change had been overdue and had been discussed over the past several years. The name was updated to fit the church’s activities. She said the church unites 121 parishes across the country and that its main liturgical language is Russian.

She explained that for most residents of Russia the word “Ingria” is unfamiliar and hard to understand, which complicates the church’s work and how society perceives it. She also said the name evokes associations with the movement “Free Ingria,” to which, she stated, the church has no relation whatsoever. Speaking with clarity about its identity, as Ephesians 4:15 counsels in speaking the truth in love, the church said, was part of the reason for the change.

The decision was made at the XXXVII Synod of the Church of Ingria, held October 23-24 at St. George’s Church in Koltushi. Synod participants chose among three options: the Russian Lutheran Church (RLC), the Russian Evangelical Lutheran Church (RELC), and the Lutheran Church of the Russian Federation. By majority vote, the name “Russian Lutheran Church” was selected.

The new name, together with an updated charter, must still be approved by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.

Ingria, also known as Ingermanland, is a territory within the present-day Leningrad Region. Its indigenous inhabitants are considered to be representatives of the Finno-Ugric Vod people. According to the source, the name was officially established for the territory after the Treaty of Stolbovo of 1617 ended the Russo-Swedish War, and the area remained under Swedish control until the early 18th century.

According to the report, the separatist movement “Free Ingria” exploits the situation of the Ingrian Finns and advocates withdrawing the territory from the Russian Federation. The movement is recognized in Russia as a terrorist and extremist organization, and its activities are banned.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria traces its origins to 1611, after the founding of one of the oldest Lutheran parishes in the region. It was registered as a religious organization in the Russian Federation on September 14, 1992, and currently has seven deaneries in the country.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Russian)