The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America traces its roots all the way back to the protestant Reformation of the 16th century in Europe. The writings of a man named Martin Luther inspired others to call for reform. Their enemies labeled Martin Luther's followers Lutherans and that is how the Lutheran denomination got its name. By the 1620's these settlers had arrived in America. There were German, Dutch and Scandinavian Lutherans settled along the Hudson River.
             As these settlers arrived in America they continues to worship in their native languages. They would get their resources from their European homeland. As the number of congregations in America grew they would come together to form synods. By the late 1800's there was massive immigration and these church bodies combined to form the American Lutheran Church.
             As more and more of the American s began to speak English rather than Dutch, German, or Norwegian, they found a need for worship materials other than those from their homeland. Synods began working with the Pennsylvania Publishing house to provide these materials.
             As immigration continued at a heavy pace two significant mergers happened. In 1917 three Norwegian synods joined to form the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America and in 1918 there Germans Synods formed the United Lutheran Church in America. During World War I The National Lutheran Commission was formed to provide spiritual and other support for the troops. From this the Lutheran Brotherhood was formed. After the war the Lutheran Brotherhood continued efforts to develop lay leadership and foster relationships between the synods.
             In 1918 The National Lutheran Council was formed to provide missionaries to America's expanding industrial centers. They also provided aid to Lutherans in Europe. The council members were from all the church bodies based on membership figures. For the first several years t...