Position

The Reformation Anniversary is a celebration of Christ, striving to convey the message of God's free grace to all people.

Heinrich Bedford-Strohm
Chair of the Council of the EKD

©Foto: ELKB/mck

The bible

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Gospel of John
John 1:1

More on the subject
©Foto:
Position

God's word must be tangible.

Heinrich Bedford-Strohm
Chair of the Council of the EKD

©Foto: ELKB/mck

The bible

We cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.

Acts of the Apostles
Acts 4:20

More on the subject
©Foto:

Foundations of Faith and Church

One cannot decide to have faith. The Bible says that the ability to believe is inspired by the Holy Spirit. But the Spirit is happy to be helped. For example, one can attend a church service and say the creed together with the other worshippers, or read the Bible, the book of having faith in God.

For the most part, the religious life of Christians in Germany happens in their local parishes. However, the Evangelical Church in Germany is even more than this, because on account of our faith we also assume responsibility for society. This commitment is reflected by the activities of institutions and facilities in the regional churches and the EKD.

Man and woman holding a globe between themselves.

The network connecting the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) with other churches worldwide runs around the whole globe. The EKD cooperates in the World Council of Churches with almost 350 Christian churches. It is a member of numerous ecumenical committees and maintains special relations with churches in Europe and individual countries.

Search and find

People in the EKD

The Council of the EKD

„By means of wise economic activities we want to share with the generations to come. Regarding the issue of education, we have to share with those who still lack opportunity in Germany.“

Member of the Council of the EKD
Andreas Barner ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„Singing together, prayer, listening to the Bible, experiencing the presence of Christ in the Holy Supper: all of this constitutes the source from which we, as the Church, draw the strength for our lives.“

Chair of the Council of the EKD
Heinrich Bedford-Strohm ©Foto: ELKB/mck
„These are good times for the Gospel message, because now the level of sustainability and substantiality of our Christian faith will become evident and proven.“

Member of the Council of the EKD
Michael Diener ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„The freedom of the faith redeems us from worrying about ourselves and transforms us into human beings who are able to accept responsibility for others“

Member of the Council of the EKD
Markus Dröge ©Foto: epd-bild/Jens Schlüter
„As an exercise of tolerance, the freedom of religion we have inherited from the Reformation is a precious good, if not the highest asset in our country!“

Member of the Council of the EKD
Kirsten Fehrs ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„Christianity is a way of life that spiritually permeates feelings, thoughts and actions.“

Member of the Council of the EKD
Elisabeth Gräb-Schmidt ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„For me, living the faith means cultivating human fellowship and being an advocate for the powerless in a caring society.“

Mitglied des Rates der EKD
Kerstin Griese ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„We will need an autonomous profile as a Protestant church, but it won't work all alone.“

Member of the Council of the EKD
Jacob Joussen ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„I want to strengthen people's trust in the promise that God looks after us.“

Member of the Council of the EKD and Commissioner for Sports
Volker Jung ©Foto: EKHN
„Our witness to the faith becomes manifest in word and deed, in society and politics.“

Member of the Council of the EKD
Dieter Kaufmann ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„In this world we must keep alive a hope that goes beyond human experience and capacity.“

Deputy Chair of the Council of the EKD and Commissioner for German-Polish relations
Annette Kurschus ©Foto: EKvW
„Protestantism is always especially strong when it is widely represented in the centre of society. “

Member of the Council of the EKD
Thomas Rachel ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„Praying for peace and proclaiming the Gospel's message of peace belongs to our most noble tasks.“

President of the Synod and Member of the Council of the EKD
Irmgard Schwaetzer ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„If we want to argue the case of peace, human dignity and solidarity, we can only do so with a clear voice.“

Member of the Council of the EKD
Stephanie Springer ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz
„People want to know how we, as Church of the Reformation, deal with the Christian message and our faith today.“

Member of the Council of the EKD
Marlehn Thieme ©Foto: epd-bild/Norbert Neetz