Both the Nazi and communist regimes persecuted the church harshly before religious freedom returned to Latvia in 1988.

In 1975 the church, despite heavy opposition, decided to ordain women as pastors,[citation needed] but since 1993, under the leadership of Archbishop Jānis Vanags, it no longer does so.

A special Synod in April 1989, following the return to post-communist independence, established a network of revived congregations, and put in place an almost entirely new leadership.

In the place of Deacon is the ministry of Evangelist who work in programmes of social care and outreach.

Archbishop Jānis Vanags was elected and duly consecrated on 29 August 1993, by Henrik Svenungsson, the Bishop of Stockholm.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia is known for its theological conservatism and since Jānis Vanags' consecration as archbishop in 1993, it has opposed women's ordination.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia reports that there are 136 pastors and 86 evangelists serving its 300 congregations.

[9] In comparison, the independent Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Abroad has 25,020 baptized members.