About us

The Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW) is an organization of Protestant churches, agencies and associations in mission and ecumenism. Some of the topics dealt with by the EMW include: Mission theology, theological education worldwide, creation and sustainability, religious dialogue, intercultural and contextual theologies as well as peace and justice.

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Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany


  • Who Are We?

    The Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW) is an organization of Protestant churches, agencies and associations in mission and ecumenism. Nine mission agencies, five free churches, five associations and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) form the umbrella organization of the Protestant mission agencies. At the same time, the EMW acts as a professional association for ecumenical world mission and mission theology for members and associated organizations. The offices of EMW are located in Hamburg, Germany.


  • Who makes the decisions in the EMW?

    The highest decision-making body of the EMW is the General Assembly. It meets once a year and determines the guidelines and focal points of the EMW’s work. It decides on common tasks of the organization. The General Assembly elects the EMW Board every six years.

    The EMW Board meets three times a year. It determines the goals and plans of the EMW within the framework of the guidelines and priorities established by the General Assembly, prepares the meetings of the General Assembly and submits an annual report. The Board has 15 members. Superintendent Dietmar Arends of the Church of Lippe, has held the chair since 2018.

    The director of the EMW is responsible for the management of the organization and the management of the administration. Pastor Rainer Kiefer has been in this role since December 2019. In the offices in Hamburg, administration and specialist departments support the General Assembly, the Board and the director in order to implement the goals and tasks of the EMW.


  • How is the work financed?

    The EMW finances itself and its work from members’ contributions, grants and project funds. The General Assembly decides on the administrative and project budget in the EMW.


  • Who guides the content of the work done?

    The content-related work of the EMW is accompanied by committees, coordination groups, forums and working groups. These committees and working groups advise the project leaders, approve funding projects and are accountable to the Board of EMW.


  • Our History

    In 1975, Protestant churches, mission organizations and associations, while maintaining their independence, founded a mission organization in the area of the Federal Republic of Germany and West Berlin to deepen and strengthen their community in carrying out mission. Missionary societies and institutions in East Germany had already joined together in a working community in 1964 with the same objective.

    After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the mission organization in West Germany and the working group in East Germany decided to carry out their missionary work together under a new name. The Association of Protestant Missions in East Germany made this decision at its extraordinary general meeting in Berlin on December 12, 1990. The Protestant Mission Society in the area of the Federal Republic of Germany and West Berlin decided to merge on September 25, 1991. This led to the founding of the Protestant Mission Society in Germany. Both sides were grateful for the new community provided as part of the ecumenical movement and wanted to share with each other their respective special experiences and spiritual insights to strengthen the common missionary responsibility of their members.

    As a result of a goal-setting process, Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW) will succeed the Protestant Mission Agency in Germany as a community of Protestant churches, agencies and associations in mission and ecumenism starting in 2021.


  • Our Bylaws

    The Association of Protestant Churches and Missions in Germany (EMW) e.V. has its offices in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, where it is entered in the register of associations. The association pursues exclusively and directly non-profit, ecclesiastical purposes.

    EMW Bylaws (German) (pdf/151 KB)

Lobby and Advocacy Work

The EMW and its members are among the sponsoring organizations of information centers and networks that advocate for peace, justice, the integrity of creation and human rights and provide information about the concerns of people who are directly affected.

Mission Academy

The EMW works closely with the Mission Academy of the University of Hamburg.

More information

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