Online Encyclopedia
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany (German Evangelische Kirche in Deutchland, abbreviated by EKD) is a federation of 24 Lutheran, Reformed and United churches in their respective regions. It is therewith a uniting church body of several protestant denominations.
The German term evangelisch rather corresponds to the English term Protestant than to the narrower direct translation evangelical, since it is a federation of different churches, rather than one evangelical church.
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Federative Principles
German Protestant church structures are based on federal principles at all levels. Each local church is responsible for Christian life in its own area, while each regional church has its own special characteristics and retains its independence. The Church carries out joint tasks with which its members have entrusted it.
Central Governing Bodies
The Church has the following governing bodies, all organised and elected on democratic lines:
- Synod
- Council
- Church Conference
They are responsible for fulfilling the Church's tasks as laid down in its constitution.
The 24 Member Churches
Northern Germany
In Northern Germany, the major religion is Protestantism, the Reformed branch in the very northwest, and the Lutheran branch in very much the rest. These are the EKD member churches:
- Evangelical Church of Bremen
- Evangelical Church of Brunswick
- Evangelical Church of Hanover
- Church of Lippe
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mecklenburg
- North Elbian Evangelical Church
- Evangelical Church of Oldenburg
- Pomeranian Evangelical Church
- Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany
- Evangelical Church of Schaumburg-Lippe
Central Germany
- Evangelical Church of Anhalt
- Evangelical Church of Berlin and Brandenburg
- Evangelical Church of Hesse and Nassau
- Evangelical Church of the Hesse Electorate and Waldeck
- Evangelical Church of the Palatinate
- Evangelical Church of the Rhineland
- Evangelical Church of the Province of Saxony
- Evangelical Church of Saxony
- Evangelical Church of Silesian Oberlausitz
- Evangelical Church of Thuringia
- Evangelical Church of Westphalia
Southern Germany
While the majority of Christians in Southern Germany is Catholic, there are also strong protestant churches in Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg (about 50 %) due to the large population of these states.
- Evangelical Church of Baden
- Evangelical Church in Bavaria
- Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany
- Evangelical Church of Württemberg
External link
- http://www.ekd.de Evangelical Church in Germany (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland)]