Digital exhibition shows 120 years of change in the Evangelical Church

Digital exhibition shows 120 years of change in the Evangelical Church

Ostheim, Deutschland - On June 9, 2025, a long -cherished wish fulfills in the heart of Cologne. The digital exhibition "1904 - 1924 - 1964 - 2024 - Evangelical Life keeps Church Agil" is now accessible to everyone. This innovative presentation shows the development of the Evangelical Church over more than a century and deals with central questions: What is the church - then, today and in the future?

The exhibition addresses significant milestones, including the establishment of a first church association and the emergence of the Evangelical Church Association. The division of the church district in 1964 and the upcoming merger of the three left bank of the Rhine of Cologne in Cologne in 2026 are also dealt with. The Evangelical Church faces a dynamic change that is not only reflected in history, but also in the present. In this way, municipalities are connected, locations are abandoned, and both financial and personnel resources shrink. Despite these challenges, however, the church remains shaped by the message of the Word of God and the work of his spirit, as [Kirch-koeln.de] (https://www.kirche-koeln.de/1904-1964-2024-Vangelisch-leben-haelt-agil- Exhibition-iTze-jetzt-digital/).

reforms in the church

Since the EKD paper "Church of Freedom" from 2006, reforms have been the focus of the discussion. Fusions and cooperation between communities are also considered possible solutions for existing structural problems. A last parish day in Worms brought about 60 theologians together to discuss the challenges of constant reform. On site, many pastors feel the structural changes prescribed as difficult and often prescribed from the outside. The concerns about the fate of many communities are getting louder and reports on the alienation between the church and humans are alarming. Some retired pastors see constant savings rounds and the loss of volunteers and full -time employees as unsustainable. Every fifth parish person suffers from burnout and complains that more and more money and power questions overlap the theological focus, as Evangelisch.de.

Nevertheless, there are also positive approaches. Matthias Fritsch encourages to use central administrations in order to relieve the work of the parish pastors. According to Corinna Hector, the work will not be less, but has to be done by fewer and fewer people. However, various theologians warn that the church withdraws and that the role of the pastor is gaining in importance. Ernst Fellechner suggests a combination of specialization and networking to meet the pastoral mandate despite falling resources. This could help keep the church alive in the future.

The image of the church in change

The challenges for the ever smaller church are diverse. Above all, the stability of the structural framework and the distribution of the resources are on the agenda. A central aspect is the creation of a good environment for church employees, for example, by improving training and support. The variety of community models, from classic parochial communities to innovative approaches, underlines that the change is already underway. The current topics in church development extend from the simplification of the administration and the establishment of a service culture to membership orientation and the commitment of church members. A cultural change to a minority church is necessary to say goodbye to the static structure of the church, according to ekd.de.

The exhibition "Evangelical Life holds Church Agil" encourages to think about its role and the future of the Church. The associated brochure deepens the background and establishes a reference to previous work such as "Das Evangelische Köln" from 1965. The journey through the history of the Evangelical Church should not only inform, but also encourage you to actively shape your change.