Evangelical Church in Germany
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The Evangelical Church in Germany (German Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland, abbreviated as EKD) is a federation of 23 Lutheran, Reformed and United churches in their respective regions.
The German term evangelisch more accurately corresponds to the broad English term Protestant rather than to the narrower Evangelical, although the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America uses the term in the same way as the German church. The church described in this article is a federation of different, mostly mainstream Protestant churches, rather than one evangelical church. It can thus be considered a united 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 of the EKD
- Church Conference (permanent body)
They are responsible for fulfilling the Church's tasks as laid down in its constitution.
The 23 member churches
Northern Germany
In Northern Germany, the major religion is Protestantism, the Reformed branch in the very northwest, and the Lutheran branch in most of the rest. These are the EKD member churches:
- Evangelical Church of Bremen de:Bremische Evangelische Kirche
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brunswick de:Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche in Braunschweig
- Evangelical Church of Hanover de:Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Hannovers
- Church of Lippe de:Lippische Landeskirche
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mecklenburg de:Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Mecklenburgs
- North Elbian Evangelical Church de:Nordelbische Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche
- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oldenburg de:Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Oldenburg
- Pomeranian Evangelical Church de:Pommersche Evangelische Kirche
- Reformed Church - Synod of Reformed Churches in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany de:Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche - Synode evangelisch-reformierter Kirchen in Bayern und Nordwestdeutschland
- Evangelical Church of Schaumburg-Lippe de:Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Schaumburg-Lippe
Central Germany
- Evangelical Church of Anhalt de:Evangelische Landeskirche Anhalts
- Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia de:Evangelische Kirche in Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz
- - originated 2004 from:
- Evangelical Church of Hesse and Nassau de:Evangelische Kirche in Hessen und Nassau
- Evangelical Church in Hesse Electorate and Waldeck de:Evangelische Kirche von Kurhessen-Waldeck
- Evangelical Church of the Palatinate de:Evangelische Kirche der Pfalz (Protestantische Landeskirche)
- Evangelical Church in the Rhineland de:Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland
- Evangelical Church of the Province of Saxony de:Evangelische Kirche der Kirchenprovinz Sachsen
- Evangelical Church of Saxony de:Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Sachsens
- Evangelical Church in Thuringia de:Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Thüringen
- Evangelical Church of Westphalia de:Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen
Southern Germany
While the majority of Christians in Southern Germany are Roman Catholic, there are also strong Protestant churches in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg (less than 50%), due to the large population of these states.
- Evangelical Church in Baden de:Evangelische Landeskirche in Baden
- Evangelical Church in Bavaria de:Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern
- Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany de:Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche - Synode evangelisch-reformierter Kirchen in Bayern und Nordwestdeutschland
- Evangelical Church of Württemberg de:Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg