Today, as the ELS observes its centennial, the synod consists of 17,000 members in 131 congregations. But prior to 1917, the synod consisted of 150,522 souls in 986 congregations. At that time, the Synod also operated one college, one teacher-training school, one seminary, twelve academies (high schools), four orphans’ homes, three old-people’s homes, two hospitals, and a publishing house.
