The Synodical Conference of North America designated Nigeria as the target of its first mission to Africa. Dr. Henry Nau went to the field to get things organized in 1936. By the next year, Dr. William Schweppe arrived in Nigeria to serve as the head of the mission. Churches, schools, and a worker-training school were opened, and the resulting Lutheran Church of Nigeria grew to number in the tens of thousands. After the break in fellowship between WELS and LC-MS, WELS representatives met with the leaders of the Nigerian church in 1964 to explain and to offer the WELS continued partnership. The Nigerians chose to remain with the LC-MS.
In 1969 a group of nine churches and three pastors broke from the Lutheran Church in Nigeria over issues such as fellowship with the Lutheran World Federation. Appeals were directed to the WELS to restore their fellowship with what was now named Christ the King Lutheran Church of Nigeria, centered in the village area north of Abak, Akwa Ibom State. The leader of CKLCN attended the WELS seminary in 1974. Teaching visits were made in 1977, 1980, and 1981. WELS and KCLCN
declared mutual fellowship in 1981. Teaching visits were made to Nigeria twice
per year when possible. Missionaries Schlomer and Johne taught seminary classes
which resulted in seven new pastors ordained in 1994.
The main cluster of congregations lie in a triangle in Akwa Ibom State, with points at Uyo, Abak, and Ikot Ekpene. Three mission churches are gathering west of there, in the environs of oil-producing Port Harcourt. Five congregations lie in the district around the port-city of Calabar, in Cross River State.
Expansion into the oil-rich Port Harcourt area took a major step forward in
the purchase of land and the building of a church in the city in 2005.
CKLCN operates a seminary at Uruk Uso, Abak, with help from visiting WELS
pastor-instructors. The most recent class started in April 2008. This seminary
also serves the students of All Saints Lutheran Church of Nigeria.
