More than one hundred clergy were persecuted; many were imprisoned and restrained from exercising their ministry.

Until 1989 the Church lived under the strict control of the regime and in 1993 the Synod adopted a new constitution.

It considers the Gospel as contained in the Bible to be the source of faith in the triune God and the rule for life.

Jesus is regarded as the head of the Church and it functions on the basis of the equality of God's children.

The Augsburg Confession is recognized as a correct explanation of central issues of faith.