Association of Christian Churches in Germany

The Association of Christian Churches in Germany (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschland, ACK) is the national ecumenical platform of Christian churches in Germany. Founded on 10 March 1948, in the aftermath of the Second World War and in connection with the founding and first assembly of the World Council of Churches, it brings together churches from Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic, Free Church and other traditions for common witness and service. Its member churches confess Jesus Christ according to Holy Scripture as God and Saviour and seek to fulfil together what they are called to do, to the glory of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — a formulation corresponding to the basis formula of the World Council of Churches. The ACK functions as the National Council of Churches for Germany and is an associated organization of the World Council of Churches. It currently has 21 members, 4 guest members and 5 ecumenical organizations with observer status, representing a broad spectrum of Christian traditions: Old Oriental and Orthodox churches (Ethiopian Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Coptic Orthodox, the Orthodox Church – Orthodox Bishops' Conference in Germany, Syriac Orthodox), Protestant churches (including the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the Evangelical Methodist Church, the Union of Evangelical Free Churches, the Salvation Army, the Mennonite congregations, the Moravian Church, the Church of the Nazarene, the Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church), and Catholic-tradition churches (the Anglican-Episcopal congregations, the Old Catholic Church, the New Apostolic Church, and the Roman Catholic Church through the Association of German Dioceses). Guest members include the Apostolate of Jesus Christ, the Federation of Free Pentecostal Churches, the Free Church Federation of the Churches of God, and the Seventh-day Adventists; permanent observers include the Quakers, the German Evangelical Alliance and others. The ACK's work is organized through its general assembly (Mitgliederversammlung), which meets twice a year and sets the direction of its work, and a five-member board (Vorstand) elected by the assembly every three years. The board is composed to reflect the diversity of the churches in the ACK. The Ecumenical Centre (Ökumenische Centrale) in Frankfurt am Main serves as the ACK's office, with staff organized by confessional family and thematic focus areas such as migration, dialogue, culture, faith and theology, mission and worship, and church and society. The German Ecumenical Study Committee (DÖSTA), established in 1950, serves as the ACK's theological commission. Beyond the national level, the ACK is present regionally and locally: there are 14 regional ACKs (mostly corresponding to federal states) and several hundred local ACKs, through which ecumenical work is carried out at multiple levels. The ACK also maintains close ties with other national councils of churches in Europe. Its self-commitments include the Charta Oecumenica, adopted in 2003 and revised in 2025. The ACK publishes statements, materials for local ecumenical work, and organizes events such as the Ecumenical Day of Creation.

The Association of Christian Churches in Germany (ACK) was founded on 10 March 1948, in the aftermath of the Second World War and in connection with the founding and first assembly of the World Council of Churches. It was initially formed from churches belonging to the World Council of Churches, with the aim of promoting ecumenical cooperation and the unity of the churches. The ACK constitutes the National Council of Churches for Germany and is an associated organization of the World Council of Churches. In 1950, the ACK established the German Ecumenical Study Committee (DÖSTA) as its theological commission, tasked with advising the ACK on ecumenical-theological questions. DÖSTA has produced numerous studies, expert opinions and statements on questions of ecumenism and ecumenical relations. In 2003, the ACK adopted the self-commitments of the Charta Oecumenica, a document promoting ecumenical cooperation in Europe. In 2025, a revised version of the Charta Oecumenica was signed, as reported at the 259th General Assembly in September 2026. Over the decades, the ACK has grown to include a wide range of Christian traditions. Currently it has 21 members, 4 guest members and 5 ecumenical organizations with observer status. Its member churches include Old Oriental and Orthodox churches, Protestant churches, and Catholic-tradition churches, reflecting the breadth of Christianity in Germany. The ACK also has 14 regional ACKs and several hundred local ACKs, through which ecumenical work is carried out at various levels. The ACK's organizational structure includes a general assembly (Mitgliederversammlung) that meets twice a year and a board (Vorstand) elected every three years. The Ecumenical Centre (Ökumenische Centrale) in Frankfurt am Main serves as its office. Since 1 April 2019, Verena Hammes has been the general secretary (Geschäftsführerin) of the ACK. The office's departments are organized by confessional families, each with assigned thematic focuses: the EKD department on 'Migration, Dialogue, Culture' and press and public relations; the Catholic department on 'Faith and Theology'; the Free Church department on 'Mission, Witness, Worship'; and the Orthodox department on 'Church and Society'. The ACK continues to be active in promoting ecumenical cooperation, organizing events such as the Ecumenical Day of Creation, publishing statements and materials, and maintaining close ties with other national councils of churches in Europe.

• 2026

  259th General Assembly held in September 2026, opening with the ceremonial signing of the revised Charta Oecumenica.

• 2025

  Revised Charta Oecumenica signed.

• 2019

  Verena Hammes became general secretary (Geschäftsführerin) on 1 April 2019.

• 2003

  Adopted the self-commitments of the Charta Oecumenica.

• 1950

  Established the German Ecumenical Study Committee (DÖSTA) as its theological commission.

• 1948

  Founded on 10 March 1948 in the aftermath of World War II, in connection with the founding and first assembly of the World Council of Churches.

The only multilateral ecumenical platform in Germany, serving as the National Council of Churches and an associated organization of the World Council of Churches.

• Charta Oecumenica

  A document of self-commitments for ecumenical cooperation, adopted in 2003 and revised in 2025.

• Ecumenical Day of Creation

  An annual event organized by the ACK; the 18th edition in 2027 has the motto 'God's Creation. Our Harbour.'

• German Ecumenical Study Committee (DÖSTA)

  Theological commission of the ACK, established in 1950, producing studies and statements on ecumenical questions.

1. 1Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschlandoekumene-ack.de
2. 2Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschland - Geschichte und Grundlagenoekumene-ack.de
3. 3Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschland - Über unsoekumene-ack.de
4. 4Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschland - Vorstandoekumene-ack.de
5. 5Association of Christian Churches in Germanywikidata.org
6. 6Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschlandde.wikipedia.org