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.

Federative principles

German Protestant church structures

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 Bremische Evangelische Kirche
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brunswick Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche in Braunschweig
• Evangelical Church of Hanover Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Hannovers
• Church of Lippe Lippische Landeskirche
• Evangelical Lutheran
  
  
  
  Church of Mecklenburg Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Mecklenburgs
• North Elbian Evangelical Church Nordelbische Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche
• Evangelical Lutheran Church of Oldenburg Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Oldenburg
• Pomeranian Evangelical Church Pommersche Evangelische Kirche
• Reformed Church - Synod of Reformed Churches in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche - Synode evangelisch-reformierter Kirchen in Bayern und Nordwestdeutschland
• Evangelical Church of Schaumburg-Lippe Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Schaumburg-Lippe

Central Germany

• Evangelical Church of Anhalt Evangelische Landeskirche Anhalts
• Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia Evangelische Kirche in Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz

- originated 2004 from:

• • Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg Evangelische Kirche in Berlin-Brandenburg
  • Evangelical Church of Silesian Upper Lusatia Evangelische Kirche der schlesischen Oberlausitz
• Evangelical Church of Hesse and Nassau Evangelische Kirche in Hessen und Nassau
• Evangelical Church in Hesse Electorate and Waldeck Evangelische Kirche von Kurhessen-Waldeck
• Evangelical Church of the Palatinate Evangelische Kirche der Pfalz (Protestantische Landeskirche)
• Evangelical Church in the Rhineland Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland
• Evangelical Church of the Province of Saxony Evangelische Kirche der Kirchenprovinz Sachsen
• Evangelical Church of Saxony Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Sachsens
• Evangelical Church in Thuringia Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Thüringen
• Evangelical Church of Westphalia Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen

Southern Germany

While the majority of Christians in Southern Germany is 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 Evangelische Landeskirche in Baden
• Evangelical Church in Bavaria Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern
• Reformed Church in Bavaria and Northwestern Germany Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche - Synode evangelisch-reformierter Kirchen in Bayern und Nordwestdeutschland
• Evangelical Church of Württemberg Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg

See also

• Religion in Germany

External link

• Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland

Église évangélique en Allemagne