wfn.org | Significant Progress in Talks on Future Links between German

["Frank Imhoff" <frank_imhoff@elca.org>]

Significant Progress in Talks on Future Links between German Protestant
Bodies 
Agreements to Reinforce Member Churches Cooperation 

HANOVER, Germany/GENEVA, 29 September 2004 (LWI) * There is significant
progress in negotiations that have been going on for about two years now, on
strengthening co-operation between member churches of the Evangelical Church
in Germany (EKD). 

In parallel press releases, the EKD and United Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Germany (VELKD) reported that the three negotiation commissions that worked
on the draft agreements that would establish the future links between the
EKD, Union of Evangelical Churches in the EKD (UEK) and VELKD, worked in a
process marked by a spirit of mutual harmony.

The reforms focus on achieving as much common ground as possible, allowing
for only the necessary differentiation. The plan is to share resources,
promote communication and strengthen common policy-making. It is also
proposed that the EKD Hannover-Herrenhausen office function on behalf of the
member churches associations, and accommodate the UEK and VELKD offices.
Members of the VELKD General Synod are also to represent their churches in
the EKD Synod. It is expected that church institutions, agencies, committees,
commissions and boards would be used jointly, as far as possible, ensuring
coordination and cooperation, while possibilities for merger would be
examined.

Bishop Dr Christoph Kaehler (Thuringia), vice-chairperson of the EKD Council
described the agreements conclusion as proof of the strong cooperation among
the Protestant churches in Germany, saying this would raise their profile and
presence. VELKD Presiding Bishop Dr Hans Christian Knuth (Schleswig) stressed
that VELKDs autonomy as a church would be retained in the new system as well
as the commitment to its confessional basis. The VELKD would autonomously
also continue to develop its ecumenical relations. Bishop Ulrich Fischer
(Baden), chairperson of the UEK general conference, welcomed the spirit of
the negotiations as it highlighted common ground and pointed to strengthening
the EKD, which was a major aim of the UEK.

The draft agreements will now be forwarded to church governing bodies and
synods for consideration. The intention is to present the prerequisite
constitutional amendments to the respective legislative bodies for action in
2005. According to the press statement, the new provisions are expected to be
effective at the latest on 1 January 2007.

The EKD has 23 Lutheran, Reformed and United churches with over 26 million
members. While the respective activities are structured federally at all
levels, the EKD is mandated to deal with shared concerns. Its democratically
constituted and elected bodies include the Synod, Council and Church
Conference. The Church Office coordinates the business of the three governing
bodies.

The VELKD is a union of eight Lutheran churches in Bavaria, Brunswick,
Hanover, Mecklenburg, North Elbe, Saxony, Schaumburg-Lippe and Thuringia,
representing around 10.4 million members.

The UEK comprises the 13 member churches of the Arnoldshain Conference and
Evangelical Church of the Union, with the objective of promoting EKDs unity.
(477 words)

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 138 member
churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of nearly 65
million Lutherans. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches in areas of
common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various aspects
of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva,
Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service. Unless
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*    *	   *

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