Statistics

The EKD Ministry Abroad 2007

"... But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts of the Apostles 1:8)

Through its ministry abroad, the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) organizes worship services and provides pastoral care to German-speaking Christians in European countries outside Germany as well as overseas.  At the close of 2007, 113 pastors sent by EKD were serving congregations abroad.  An additional number of approximately 40 retired theologians have been assigned to congregations in foreign countries.  Whenever possible, pastoral care for German speakers abroad is organized in collaboration with, and within the framework of, the local Protestant churches. In certain places, such as Italy, Brazil, Chile, the River Plate countries and Southern Africa, German expatriate communities have constituted autonomous churches which maintain close ties with the EKD. In Argentina und Brazil, congregations have trained their own staff to serve as ministers to their communities. German congregations abroad are a source of cohesion for German-speaking communities in their respective countries.  Within Europe, at the height of the vacation period, 50 ship chaplains and 190 seasonal chaplains are engaged for short-term assignments.