Working Group of Evangelical Missions

The Working Group of Evangelical Missions (German: Arbeitsgemeinschaft Evangelikaler Missionen, AEM) is the largest umbrella association of evangelical mission organizations in Germany. It brings together 106 Christian-evangelical mission societies and training institutions with 4,939 staff members (as of 2017) from the fields of Protestant regional churches, regional church communities, and free churches. The AEM operates on the faith basis of the German Evangelical Alliance. The AEM was established as a registered association in 1974, following the first conference of evangelical missions held in Frankfurt am Main in 1969, which was organized in connection with the German Evangelical Alliance. That initial conference, then called the "Conference of Evangelical Missions," united 26 organizations with around 650 missionaries. Over the decades, the AEM has expanded its scope, founding subsidiary organizations for various work areas, including the Academy for World Mission (Akademie für Weltmission gGmbH), Christian Professionals International (Christliche Fachkräfte International e.V.), the German Distance Learning School (Deutsche Fernschule e.V.), and Help for Brothers (Hilfe für Brüder e.V.). The association provides a range of services to its members, from voluntary social year programs (FSJ) to conferences and financial consulting. It has developed ethical guidelines and standards, including principles for handling donations (1983) and for public relations (1985). The AEM also offers a donation certificate in cooperation with the German Evangelical Alliance and netzwerk-m, which is recognized for reviewing religious, missionary, and diaconal organizations. Leadership of the AEM includes a first chairperson, currently Thomas Schech (since 2024), and a managing director, Wolfgang Büsing (since 1993). The AEM continues to serve as a central coordinating body for evangelical missions in Germany, promoting cooperation and providing resources for its member organizations.

The Working Group of Evangelical Missions (AEM) emerged from a movement of cooperation among evangelical mission societies in Germany. In 1968, various evangelical mission societies began to draw closer together. In 1969, in connection with the German Evangelical Alliance, the first conference of evangelical missions was held in Frankfurt am Main. This resulted in the "Conference of Evangelical Missions" (Konferenz Evangelikaler Missionen), which united 26 organizations with around 650 missionaries. The organization was registered as a registered association (e.V.) in 1974 under the name Arbeitsgemeinschaft Evangelikaler Missionen. In 1979, the AEM founded the training program Seminar für Missionarische Fortbildung (SMF). In 1983, it issued the "Principles for Handling Donations" (AEM-Spendengrundsätze), followed in 1985 by the "Principles for Public Relations." In 2001, the Akademie für Weltmission Korntal gGmbH was founded. Over the years, the AEM has grown to become the largest umbrella association of evangelical missions in Germany. As of 2017, it included 106 Christian-evangelical mission societies and training institutions with 4,939 staff members. The AEM operates on the faith basis of the German Evangelical Alliance. It has also established independent organizations for various work areas, including the Akademie für Weltmission gGmbH, Christliche Fachkräfte International e.V., Deutsche Fernschule e.V., and Hilfe für Brüder e.V. The AEM has developed its own donation certificate in cooperation with the German Evangelical Alliance and netzwerk-m, which is used for reviewing religious, missionary, and diaconal organizations. The association continues to be led by a first chairperson and a managing director, with Thomas Schech serving as first chairperson since 2024 and Wolfgang Büsing as managing director since 1993.

• 2024

  Thomas Schech becomes First Chairperson.

• 2018

  Dieter Trefz becomes First Chairperson.

• 2004

  Detlef Blöcher becomes First Chairperson.

• 2001

  Founding of the Akademie für Weltmission Korntal gGmbH.

• 1985

  Issued the "Principles for Public Relations."

• 1983

  Issued the "Principles for Handling Donations" (AEM-Spendengrundsätze).

• 1979

  Founding of the training program Seminar für Missionarische Fortbildung (SMF).

• 1974

  Registered as a registered association (e.V.) under the name Arbeitsgemeinschaft Evangelikaler Missionen.

• 1969

  First conference of evangelical missions held in Frankfurt am Main, resulting in the "Conference of Evangelical Missions" with 26 organizations and around 650 missionaries.

• 1968

  First closer cooperation among various evangelical mission societies in Germany.

The largest umbrella association of evangelical mission organizations in Germany, providing coordination, ethical standards, and support services to its member organizations.

• Akademie für Weltmission gGmbH

  A non-profit limited liability company for world mission training.

• Christliche Fachkräfte International e.V.

  An association for Christian professionals serving internationally.

• Deutsche Fernschule e.V.

  A distance learning school association.

• Hilfe für Brüder e.V.

  An association providing aid to brothers and sisters.

1. 1AEM – Dachorganisation evangelikaler Missionenaem.de
2. 2Arbeitsgemeinschaft Evangelikaler Missionende.wikipedia.org
3. 3Working Group of Evangelical Missionswikidata.org