Information in English

Governing and organizational structure

BAVARIA	BRUNSWICK
HANOVER	MECKLENBURG
NORTH ELBIA	SAXONY
SCHAUMBURG-    LIPPE	MIDDLE GERMANY

VELKD  BISHOPS'   CONFERENCE  15 members

VELKD  GENERAL   SYNOD           50 members   (42 elected and 8 appointed members)

VELKD CHURCH COUNCIL  13 members  (10 members from the General Synod and 3 members from the Bishops' Conference)

 

LUTHERAN CHURCH OFFICE  10 departments

The VELKD has three governing bodies:

• the Bishops' Conference with the Presiding Bishop
• the General Synod
• the Church Council

General Synod

The General Synod is the legislative body of the VELKD. It is responsible for budgetary law and is empowered, in conjunction with the member churches, to decide liturgical matters ("ius liturgicum"). It is composed of 50 members, of which 42 (including 15 ordained theologians) are elected by the synods of the member churches; eight additional members are appointed by the Presiding Bishop. The term of office of the General Synod is six years.

Church Council

The Church Council consists of the Presiding Bishop, his or her deputy, a further member of the Bishops' Conference, the President of the General Synod and nine additional members elected by the General Synod from their number. The Church Council directs the VELKD. Their term of office is six years.

Bishops' Conference

The Bishops' Conference consists of the bishops of the member churches. Due to the size of certain member churches, Bavaria and Hanover send respectively two additional ordained holders of a governing ecclesiastical office, Saxony one additional member. The North Elbian Church is represented at the Bishops' Conference by a total of three (one male and two females) bishops. The Bishops' Conference is involved with legislation and can issue proclamations either on its own or in conjunction with the General Synod. It can make recommendations to the member churches pertaining to worship service and the ministry.

The Presiding Bishop is elected by the General Synod on the basis of a recommendation made by the Episcopal Election Committee. The term of office of the Presiding Bishop is three years. Re-election is permissible. The Presiding Bishop is the "leading clergyperson" of the VELKD. He or she is entitled to preach from all pulpits of the VELKD, may issue pastoral letters, and instates the bishops of the member churches in their office. He or she is the chairperson of the Church Council and the Bishops' Conference. In accordance with the statutes of the GNC, he or she also functions as its chairperson.

The Lutheran Church Office assists the governing bodies of the VELKD. The Office is headed by President Dr. Friedrich Hauschildt and is located in Hanover.

Committees

For a number of areas of work the Church Council institutes committees of experts, who also do some work for the GNC/LWF. They contribute to the work of the VELKD by drafting legislation and doing reports and studies. Both remunerated and honorary office holders are appointed to the commissions from the member churches, as well as representatives from academic theology.

• Commission on Theology*
• Commission on Worship and Liturgy
• Commission on Ecumenical Studies*
• Commission on Church Cooperation in Mission and Service*
• Commission on Church Law
• Working Group of the member churches' Catholica commissioners*
• Working Group Religious Communities*
• Catechism Commission
• Working Group Children's Catechism
• Publications Commission*
• Historical Commission*

* = commissions that also work for the GNC/LWF and with the participation of the member churches.