The mainline Lutheran Church in the southern region says the church has been “guilty” of “intrusion into private life with coercive consequences for life courses”. LGBTQI couples will now have full wedding ceremonies.

Ahead of Sunday’s elections, the Protestant, Catholic and other churches ask to “vote for parties that stand up for our democracy”. Alice Weidel’s AfD party rises in the polls amid tough immigration debates.

The 23 February election could turn frustration into a historic rise of the far right. A journalist points to the importance of “acknowledge other opinions and not immediately condemn them”.

The decline in membership of the two historic Christian confessions will have consequences: “Every fifth worship place will no longer be used for its original purpose”.

The first-ever victory of the far-right AfD comes in a context of growing divisions between how people in the east and the west of the country perceive society.

After 4 years, the proceedings against pastor Olaf Latzel for hate speech are dropped. He paid a fine of 5000 euros and publicly apologised.

“As churches, we mourn with the families and pray for them”, said German Christian leaders. The murder of 3 people has added fuel to the political fight over migration.

The places of worship offer rest areas, information on cycle routes and devotions, pastoral care and church tours.

Despite the continuing decline, the Roman Catholic Church continues to represent 24% of the population. The national Protestant Church also lost hundreds of thousands last year.

Reinhardt Schink of the Evangelical Alliance says “forms of church can be adapted” but warns against decisions that strengthen individualism and “weaken the community of believers”.

The Rheinland Protestant Church, with 2.2 million members, opts for “less rules and more freedom”. Baptisms and weddings can now be organised outside official buildings.

‘Die Post’, the Postal service, issues its annual Christmas stamp with a Bible verse from Luke 2.

Annette Kurschus, head of the EKD, says recent reports of her knowing about alleged sexual abuses years ago were unfounded. 

The effects of the restrictions are analysed by churches in Germany, Slovakia, UK and Portugal.

Around 300 people joined an experimental 45-minute programme of the German Evangelical Church. 98% was created and performed by machines.

The mainline EKD loses 2.9% of its membership in only one year. For the first time, the figure exceeds the number of deaths of members.

Germany, Switzerland, and Austria will host the musical. The project with a large choir promoted by “Creative Church” wants to show what was behind Luther King’s famous “I have a dream”.

Christians agree that “suicide should not be seen as a normal form of dying in society”. A new law is expected before the end of 2022.

For the first time, less than half of Germans belong to one of the two mainstream churches.

Statistics show that membership dropped around 2.5% in one year. The EKD says a lack of religious socialisation and “personal irrelevance” are some of the reasons.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier was re-elected with a large majority. He is a member of the Evangelical Reformed Church and very outspoken about his faith.

The Bible Museum of Frankfurt encourages visitors to discover “the many sides of G*d” in an exhibition that mixes archaeology and LGBT activism.

The President of Westphalia Church is the second woman to chair the EKD in its history. The 14 members of the EKD Council for the next 6 years were also elected.

In France, the CNEF has appointed a new President to start in June 2022, while in Germany the EKD will have elections in November to choose a new Council President and governing body.

Volunteers of the social branch of the EKD take care of around 160 homeless every night, bringing them the hope of the gospel, food and clothing.