Lao Evangelical Church

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The Lao Evangelical Church (LEC) is a registered Christian church in Laos with about 200,000 members and around 200 ordained pastors (as of 2021). Its headquarters are in Nakham Village, Vientiane, and three main churches in the capital—Nakham, Naxai, and Anou—are led by the LEC’s national leaders.

The LEC grew from the work of Swedish Protestant, Swiss Brethren, and Christian and Missionary Alliance missionaries. It was formed in 1956 and gained corporate status from the Royal Lao Government in 1960. After the 1975 revolution, Laos restricted religious freedom and cut outside contact; from 1975 to 1990 the LEC had little interaction with the world. When Laos opened up in 1990, the church’s membership began to grow. A Bible school was started at the LEC’s Vientiane headquarters, and many pastors had previously been trained in neighboring countries. Since 1975, no expatriate missionaries have been allowed to work in Laos.

The LEC joined the World Council of Churches in 2008 and was already a member of the Christian Conference of Asia. It is self-governed, run by the LEC Committee (including the president, vice presidents, secretary, and treasurer), but it must report activities to the Lao Front of National Construction under Decree 92.

Foreigners may attend the three main LEC services in Vientiane and can help with translation, but they are not usually invited to participate in leadership or other church activities. There are LEC churches in many provinces, but the exact number is not clear. In most places, foreigners are advised not to attend countryside LEC services. Official membership and ordination are generally limited to Lao citizens.

The LEC runs its own training center for lay leaders and pastors, but many say its training is limited. Some leaders have obtained education abroad through partnerships, but those who pursue theological studies outside the LEC without official approval may not have their education recognized. The church emphasizes rules to protect governance and safety, but some feel these rules can be unfair or harmful.

Decree 92 governs how religious groups register and operate in Laos; while the LEC is allowed to exist, other denominations have faced more restrictions. There have been reports that a powerful family has exerted influence over the LEC and acted as a gatekeeper for the government in dealing with other Protestant groups. In January 2022, the LEC president Rev. Dr. Khamphone Khuntapanya died, and a preacher was reportedly murdered after months of intimidation.