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Religion in Germany: Free Churches
The free churches in Germany include about a dozen affiliated but independent
churches and congregations that emerged from Protestant renewal movements,
primarily in the nineteenth century. Some free churches practice baptism,
and others accept a simple public declaration of faith. Prominent among
the former are Baptists and Methodists, who set up religious communities
in Germany in 1834 and 1849, respectively. Methodism was brought to Germany
by immigrants returning from the United States. Since 1854 a third group,
the Free Evangelical Congregations, has practiced baptism of believers,
without making it a precondition for membership in the congregation.
Although the various free churches follow different practices, they differ
from the two main religions in Germany in that they are independent of
the state. The free churches, seeing themselves as "free churches in a
free country," seek no special treatment from the state and are funded
almost exclusively by members' voluntary contributions.
The emergence of these independent churches was accompanied by their
persecution and denunciation as sects. For this reason, overcoming prejudice
has been a long and arduous process. After World War II, the free churches
were cofounders of the Study Group of Christian Churches in West Germany
and West Berlin. They used this organization as a forum for fraternal
interaction with other churches.
The tenets of the free churches stress the importance of the New Testament,
freely expressed belief in Jesus Christ and a life of service devoted
to him, personal piety, and the sanctity of human life. Conscientious
objection to military service is a part of the teachings of some free
churches. Many free churches emphasize the autonomy of the local parish
and prefer to be called a community rather than a church.
Since 1926 the original members of the Free Churches in Germany have
cooperated with one another through the Meeting of Evangelical Free Churches.
These churches are the Association of Evangelical Free Church Congregations,
the Association of Free Evangelical Congregations, and the Evangelical
Methodist Church. Five additional churches have guest membership status:
the Christian Study Group Mülheim/Ruhr, the Sacred Army in Germany,
the European-Festland Fraternal Uniate, the Church of the Nazarene, and
the Association of German Mennonite Communities. These eight free churches
have a combined membership of approximately 195,000, organized in about
1,500 parishes or communities. Almost all these churches are legal corporate
bodies.
In recent years, the free churches' interaction and cooperation with
the established Protestant churches have intensified. A few such activities
include missionary work, Bible groups, and humanitarian efforts such as
"Bread for the World."
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