The Synod

The EKD Synod usually convenes once a year for a session lasting several days, held in a different place each year. It is elected for a period of six years and headed by a seven-person governing board, the Presidium.

The Synod's job is to discuss issues concerning the EKD and pass resolutions on them. These include church laws (such as the budget, labour legislation, data protection), submissions by the Council and the Church Conference, and in some cases motions and petitions. As a rule, each session of the Synod has a keynote theme which has been prepared by a committee especially set up for this purpose. In the past few years such themes have been the "Community of Women and Men in the Church", "Faith Today", and "Genetic Engineering".

At present the Synod has nine permanent committees whose members are elected by the Synod at its constituent session for the duration of its term of office. There are committees for "Scripture and Proclamation of the Gospel", "Social Services, Mission and Ecumenical Relations", "Legal Affairs", "Church, Society and State", "Education and Young People", "Europe", "The Environment", and the Budget and Nomination Committees. The permanent committees bear the responsibility for the Synod's work in specific areas. Subject to an agreement with the Presidium, they can also meet between aspects of their subject area.

The Synod elects the EKD Council jointly with the Church Conference for the duration of six years at the second session in its term of office.

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