Germany's Protestant Church in Decline

Last week, the Protestant State Church of Germany, die evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD), released its statistics from 2007. Overall, the church lost about 1.5% of its membership. However, there are some bigger stories behind the summary statement. First, the number of resignations from the State Church rose by 7.7% in comparison to 2006. In total, there were 131,000 people to turn in their membership. Second, particularly in the former East Germany the dropout rate was very high. The state of Thurigia saw a increase in dropouts from the Lutheran church of roughly 76%. Obviously, other areas of Germany saw some growth of the church - particularly to the south and west.

And what many Americans don't realize is the financial structure of a "State Church". In an agreement between the church and the state, the German government collects a "church tax" from the church members to the amount of 7% of the paycheck which is in turn given to the "state church". In other words, the government helps you pay your tithes. (Not of of your tithes, but it's a good start.) One can opt out of paying the church tax by resigning his/her membership in the state church.

Of course, being a member of a state church has its advantages for the average person. The church provides religious education in the public schools, they perform the weddings and funerals of its members, and offer basic pastoral care to its members. There is a certain social status or cultural identity that comes with being a church member, too. However, an increasing number of Germans have never really understood the Gospel and, subsequently, have no true appreciation for a state church. And then, a very small number of folks have opted for non-State churches like us evangelicals (e.g., Baptists, Pentecostals, and charismatics).

Germany has traditionally two state churches - the Roman Catholic Church and the EKD, both of which receives money from the government based on this church tax.