In its chequered history UELCI has undergone several identity metamorphoses. It was founded as the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (FELCI) in the year 1926. As a federation it functioned as a forum and brought together the Lutheran churches for unity and for a larger Lutheran communion. The life of the Federation however revolved around Theological Education, since Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute was its main life line. The College housed pastors, and church workers from all the member churches of the FELCI and also attracted missionary teachers who taught along side Indian teachers and it was truly a Gurukulam. The missionaries were instrumental in the founding of the Federation along with several distinguished Indian Lutheran leaders, notably from AELC, GELC, TELC, SALC and ELCMP.
In the year 1974, FELCI underwent a metamorphosis and became the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India. This gave the communion a much stronger identity which centered not only around Theological Education but also in terms of its witness and service. This communion strengthened the life of the member churches and also helped them ecumenically in its times. As in the time of the Federation UELCI also focused on theological education. It also published theologically relevant works which included the publication of the Gospel Witness which was one of the earliest theological journals in Asia. Its growth also saw the transition of the leadership of the Lutheran churches from expatriates to nationals. Several Lutheran churches became truly national in its leadership and theological outlook. Member churches contributed to nation building by pioneering in education and health. Some of the stalwarts of the Federation were Bishop R.D. Manikam, Rev. E. Raman, Rev. Joel K. Lakhra, Rev. Tigga, Rev. E. Prakasam, Dr. A.N. Gopal, Rev. J.D. Asirvadham, Rev. Gnanabaranam, Ms. E.D. Vedanayagam and Ms. Ramabai.
The highlight of course is the influx of dalits and tribals. The preferential option of serving the marginalized and the downtrodden put the churches amongst suffering and exploited. The member churches were truly and meaningfully involved in witness and service among and for the marginalized in society. Later on this theological position decided the make-up of the Lutheran churches. Several leading hospitals and education institutions continue to be in service. The missionaries had to leave, leaving the Indian Lutheran churches to be entirely managed and administered by nationals. However, self-reliance continued to be an unresolved and a controversial issue.
It was in the late 40s the Lutheran World Federation also came into being, thus providing the global Lutheran identity and communion. Several Indian Lutheran leaders both men and women provided leadership in the LWF. The formation of the LWF also opened up new vista for the churches in India to explore, as a part of its witness and service. Global partnership came into being. The 60s was also a turbulent time. Western brands of ecumenism were aggressively pushed by missionaries who continued to control the Indian Lutheran churches with their budget subsidies. Several conciliar ecumenical movements were taking place and the foundation for the formation of the Church of South India was also being laid. The mission boards were torn between its Lutheran confessional identity and its quest for newer forms of ecumenism. Pressure mounted on the Indian Lutheran leadership to join the CSI. For various reasons which were not only relevant but also justified, the Lutherans did not join the CSI in the South of the country. The only instrument of the national Lutheran identity was the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute. The repercussion for not joining the CSI was the pressure on the Lutheran churches to close Gurukul. Mission boards and agencies pressurized the Indian Lutherans to close down Gurukul and to join other ecumenical theological educational institutions. Lutherans who resisted the move were branded as anti-ecumenicals. In the 70s a more aggressive anti-Lutheran movement began and plans were already made for the complete closure of Gurukul. At the historic Dhyan Ashram consultation at Chennai, a last ditch effort to resist the entire closure of Gurukul was successfully made. It was agreed that the academic programmes would be shut down and moved to other theological colleges. It was also agreed that Gurukul would function as a non-formal theological education centre. Later on we can see Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute through its ministries of theological education became the central foci of the ecumenical witness and service of the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India.
The paradigm shift from a federation to a Lutheran church communion also paved the way for a more dramatic shift in its theological outlook and affirmations on mission and service. The communion ventured into diakonal ministries and the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute continued its non-formal theological education programmes for pastors and church workers.
The late 70s also inaugurated a new phase in the relationship between mission boards and the Lutheran churches in India. With the assistance and support of the Lutheran World Federation, traditional mission relationships were seriously evaluated and assessed. One of the major hallmarks of this struggle to redefine partnership was the India Mission Consultation in Mahabalipuram in 1978. With the assistance of LWF - Asia Desk, the UELCI organized the India Mission Consultation, which later became a series, to redefine the framework of Mission partnership and to chart a new course of Mission partnership based on values of dignity and sharing. The Mahabalipuram Mission Consultation continues to stand as a historic landmark. Representatives of mission agencies / boards, the leaders of the Lutheran Church with representatives of the LWF drafted the Mahabalipuram Mission mandate. The mandate identified several new areas of witness and service and recommended new programmatic interventions and redefining the contours of mission partnership.
A more united Lutheran witness and service thus came into being. The Lutheran churches under its own leadership launched several programmes for development, education, health, women, and several others while continuing its traditional programmes. The LWF was able to provide global Lutheran partnership and Self Reliance was launched as the new anchor of the FELCI/UELCI. The late 70s therefore saw the meteoric rise of the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India from a non-descript church organization to a church communion completely involved in witness and service with radical programmes and projects. It shot into limelight for its new approach. Several national programmes were launched. The context of the community had dramatically changed. Poverty was rampant, women's role in church and society had seriously deteriorated, violence against women was on the rise, exclusions was the order of the day, the socially marginalized - the dalits and the tribals were struggling to live a life with dignity and opportunity. The Congress party failed to live-up to its pro-poor and pro-marginalized promises. 'Garibi Hatao' simply remained as a political rhetoric. Seeds for liberalization were already sown. This was also the period when the expression dalit 'was coming into force'.

A Bold Theological Vision emerges:
To theologically reflect the emerging challenges and concerns United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India organized an international theological consultation at Chennai (then Madras) in 1984. The Consultation identified serious lacunae between what was taught at the theological colleges and the reality. This gap failed to propel the churches into a new orbit to respond to the issues of poverty, caste, women's issues, ecological concerns, and so on and so forth as issues of faith. The existing theological education systems, the consultation said, did not adequately respond to the emerging context. In a historic turn around, the international theological consultation recommended the re-starting of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute. It was a shock to many who were responsible for the closure. The resolution however went beyond narrow theological thinking and petty ecumenical ideals. Gurukul was to be re-born with a new focus and with a new theological quest which was enshrined in the caption "Towards A Bold Theological Vision". Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute was reborn in the year 1985. New areas of studies included poverty and development, women's studies, social analysis, dalit theology, eco-theology, communication etc.
Yet another transformation of Gurukul was the ecumenical dimension. The Lutherans transformed Gurukul into an ecumenical theological college. Gurukul joined with the NCCI and discussed mission in the ecumenical context.
To a large extent the reopening of the Gurukul Lutheran Theological College and Research Institute had serious impact on the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India, especially in its mission and service. The churches also undertook vigorous programmes in response to issues in society and Gurukul was able to provide the impetus. The local congregation therefore became an open book to be studied in the class rooms and reflected upon, a praxis which still continues to guide not only Gurukul but the member churches and the National Council of Churches in India. With such programmes, the UELCI boldly ventured into women's ordination and in 1991 at a landmark ordination service, two women from the Arcot Lutheran Church and the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church were ordained as the First Lutheran women. The mid-90s saw the United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India charting a new course in its identity as a church. It amended its constitution and transformed itself from Churches to Church, and therefore, it came to be known as the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India. The journey from a federation to churches and to church had been long, arduous but challenging and fulfilling. As a church, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India continues its witness and service, constantly responding to the ever changing scenario. The fortitude and the faith of the church, particularly the faith of its leaders is commendable and noteworthy.