After the Wittenberg events of 1517, Hungarian students, who were studying there, introduced the Lutheran ideas to Hungary within a couple of years. They were supported by lairds, who, as patrons, advanced the ideas of the Reformation. When the first Trans-Danubian reformers (Mátyás Dévai, Gál Huszár, Mihály Sztárai) emerged, the Turks appeared at the same time in the southern borderland. This is the reason why Máté Szegedi could not be elected as the first bishop until 1577.

After many vicissitudes (Misery Decade, Counter-Reformation), the first Evangelical-Lutheran parishes could be formed anyhow and were able to act as a Church, that was already legally recognised, in Hungary.

Current Situation

With its 300 parishes, which are in a diaspora position for the most part, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary is a member of the Lutheran World Federation. The number of Lutherans belonging to the Church amounts in merely 3 percent of the population nowadays. This means, that there are about 300,000 baptised Evangelical-Lutherans. Opposite to the comparatively small number of souls, the Church shows a substantial value in the field of education. In 37 educational institutions (kindergartens, schools) 7,000 children and teenagers prepare for life challenges with the support of nearly 1,000 pedagogues. And more than 100 young people pursue their studies in the subject areas of pastor training and teacher training for religious education at the Evangelical Lutheran Theological University of Budapest.

Three bishops control the work happening in the parishes. The Seat of the three dioceses - in Buda, in Győr, and in Pest -serves as a spiritual contact point for every Lutheran. The central office of administration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary, that is located in Budapest, is a place of service, which supports the work of the parishes and catholic institutions. In addition to the services of the Dept. of Education, the Dept. of Economy, the Dept. of Construction, Dept. of Justice, and the Juvenile Department, everybody can make use of the support through pastoral care in hospitals and the military, other missionary branches of work and the academical parish respectively. In catholic nursing homes, hundreds of elderly people get a home in sibling-like community. The care for disabled children, a shelter for the homeless, a rehabilitation centre for alcoholics, a social workshop, and a home care service are fields of work, that bear witness to the social responsibility of the Evangelical-Lutherans.

In recreation homes - Balatonszárszó, Gyenesdiás, Sopron, and others – exhausted people are offered refreshment for body and soul. People, who ask about the profound meaning of life, can acquire spiritual fulfilment in conference centres like in Révfülöp and Pilicsaba.