Inter-Church Relations

The EKD is committed to the ecumenical movement and to its goal of unity in Christ. Besides its active participation in the framework of the World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe, the Church Office of the EKD is in contact with many churches around the world. Bilateral visits, theological dialogues and consultations are organized by the EKD Department for Ecumenical relations and Ministries Abroad.

The EKD maintains close links with the following churches which have their roots in German emigration and where the German language is still partly used for worship in

• Latin America:
  Brazil - Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
  Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay - Evangelical Church of the Rio de La Plata
  Chile - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile (IELCH) and Lutheran Church in Chile (ILCH)
   
• Africa:
  South Africa - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (N-T), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (Cape Church)  
   
• Europe:
  Italy - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy
  Great Britain - Synod of German-Speaking Lutheran, Reformed and United Congregations in Great Britain
  Romania - Evangelical Church of the Augsburg confession in Romania

Covenanted relations and full communion have been established with the following Lutheran churches:

• Canada - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC)
• Finland - Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
• Sweden - The Church of Sweden
• United States of America - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA)
• Jordan and the Holy Land - Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
• Through the Meissen Declaration of 1991, the EKD and the Church of England have mutually committed themselves to strive for full visible unity and to take all possible steps to closer fellowship in as many areas of Christian life and witness as possible.

Further covenanted relations exist with the following Protestant churches in Europe:

• Austria - Evangelical Churches in Austria
• Czech Republic - Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren
• France - Fédération Protestante de France (Conseil permanent Luthéro-Réformé)
• Netherlands - Protestant Church in the Netherlands

The EKD is also in regular dialogue with the Orthodox Churches of Russia, Romania and the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.