Bishop Sundgren

ELCZ History

__The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) hereafter known as the Church was founded in 1903 through the activities of the Church of Sweden Mission (CSM). The Church was originally administered from Zululand, South Africa.  Bishop Sundgren who died and is buried in Zimbabwe, was responsible for the Swedish Church in Zululand and in the then Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).  The Church became independent in 1962 with the election of the first Bishop responsible for the Church in Zimbabwe (then called Rhodesia). The Church has since after Bishop Sundgren, been led by locally responsible Bishops to date. 

The ELCZ became a member of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in 1963 when it was then mainly concentrated in the Mberengwa, Gwanda and Beitbridge Districts where its presence was centered on mission stations. However, the Church has since spread throughout the country with strong presence in urban centers.

The oldest mission is Mnene Mission in Mberengwa.  It houses a Primary School, a High School, a Hospital that has been designated a District/referral Hospital, and a Nurses Training School.  Mnene is located on a mission farm which concentrates mainly on cattle rearing and dairy farming to raise income for the Church. Other mission stations are Manama, which houses a High School, Hospital, Bible School and Home Based Care unit; Musume which houses a High School, Hospital, Bible School and Home Based Care unit; Masase which houses a High School and Hospital; Chegato which houses a High School; Zezani which houses a High School and Masvingo which houses a Bible School. The Church runs a total of 12 schools at Primary, Secondary and High School level. Thusanang Home Based Care and Betseranai Home Based Care cater for the needs of HIV and AIDS infected and affected people as well as educating others so as to have an HIV free generation.

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