Evangelical Church in Germany

Evangelical Church in Germany
Name	Evangelical Church in Germany
Main classification	Protestant
Orientation	United (Lutheran, Reformed, United)
Polity	Episcopal, Congregational, and Presbyterian (varies by member church)
Leader title	Chair of the Council
Leader name	Kirsten Fehrs
Area	Germany
Headquarters	Hannover, Lower Saxony
Founded date	1948
Separated from	Previous church bodies
Congregations	~13,000
Members	~19.2 million (2023)
Website	ekd.de

Evangelical Church in Germany. It is a federation of twenty Protestant regional churches in Germany, encompassing Lutheran, Reformed, and United theological traditions. Formed in the aftermath of World War II, it serves as a central representative body for its member churches, which retain their independence in matters of theology and internal governance. With approximately 19.2 million baptized members, it represents one of the largest national Protestant bodies in the world.

History

The formation in 1948 at St. Mary's Church in Hanau was a direct response to the fragmentation and state control experienced under the Nazi regime and the German Evangelical Church Confederation. Key figures in its establishment included theologians like Martin Niemöller and Theophil Wurm, who had been prominent in the Confessing Church resistance. Its early years were shaped by the division of Germany during the Cold War, leading to separate development in East Germany and West Germany until German reunification in 1990 prompted the reintegration of eastern regional churches. Important milestones include the 1985 joint ecumenical declaration with the Roman Catholic Church on the Augsburg Confession and the 1999 Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification with the Vatican.

Organization and structure

The governance is structured around three primary bodies: the Synod, the Council, and the Church Conference. The Synod, meeting annually, is the legislative parliament, with members elected by the regional churches and public bodies. The Council, chaired by a bishop such as Kirsten Fehrs or her predecessor Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, acts as the executive leadership. The Church Conference, comprising the presiding bishops of all member churches, coordinates practical matters. The administrative headquarters are located in Hannover, with other important offices in Berlin and Frankfurt.

Theology and practice

Theological foundations are rooted in the seminal Protestant confessions, primarily the Augsburg Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism. It operates as a "church of churches," allowing significant diversity in liturgical practice, from high-church Lutheranism in Bavaria to more Reformed traditions in the North Rhine. Key emphases include the doctrine of justification, the priesthood of all believers, and the importance of scripture. Worship practices vary but commonly center on preaching, the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist, and hymnody from the Evangelisches Gesangbuch.

Member churches

The federation comprises twenty independent regional churches, each covering specific historical territories. Notable Lutheran members include the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover. United churches, which combine Lutheran and Reformed traditions, are represented by bodies like the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland and the Evangelical Church of Westphalia. The sole Reformed member is the Evangelical Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany. Each church is a full member of the World Council of Churches and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe.

Ecumenical relations

It maintains extensive ecumenical partnerships, being a founding member of both the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches. Dialogues with the Roman Catholic Church have been particularly significant, culminating in the 1999 Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, also signed by the Lutheran World Federation. It fosters close ties with other Christian world communions like the Anglican Communion through the Meissen Agreement and the Old Catholic Church via the Bonn Agreement. Relations with Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches are also actively pursued.

Social and political engagement

Through its diaconal agency, Diakonie Deutschland, it operates one of Germany's largest welfare organizations, running hospitals, elderly care facilities, and counseling services. It frequently issues public statements on ethical and political issues, advocating for refugee rights, climate action, and social justice. The church maintains a formal liaison office with the federal government in Berlin and engages in peacebuilding initiatives, often in partnership with institutions like the Evangelical Academy. Its engagement is guided by a concept of "critical solidarity" with the democratic state.

Category:Protestantism in Germany Category:Religious organizations established in 1948 Category:Christian federations