EKD - Pomeranian Evangelical Church

The history of the Pomeranian Evangelical Church (PEK) goes back to the Christianization of Pomerania in the 12th century, the Lutheran Reformation, and the unification of Evangelical Lutheran and Evangelical Reformed congregations to form a United Church (Old Prussian Union from 1817).

The political developments in this region were also of importance. After 1648 some parts came under Sweden and Brandenburg. From 1815 the region belonged to Prussia. In 1945, what was left of Pomerania was restructured, and the church headquarters were moved from Szczecin to Greifswald. In 1968 the church was renamed Regional Church of Greifswald; in 1990 the name changed back to Pomeranian Evangelical Church. This background has influenced its religious forms and emphases. The PEK is a member both of the Union of Evangelical Churches (UEK) and of the Lutheran World Federation. It has lively ecumenical relationships with Lutheran churches around the Baltic Sea (Poland, Sweden) as well as with churches in South Africa and Tanzania, and in the USA (UCC).

The life of the (mainly rural) congregations is changing. New tasks have arisen because of a widespread lack of church contact, social problems, depopulation and a shift in the age structure. Work with tourists has increased, and the enlargement of the European Union has brought new challenges. At the same time, there is a decline in the number of (paid) church workers and in church membership. There is an obvious contrast between financial problems, structural changes and questions about a "folk church" approach, on the one hand, and clear expectations about a church with a public witness and promising new beginnings, on the other. The missionary challenge is growing (the new Institute for Research on Evangelization and Congregational Growth in the EKD context is taking up this issue). New spiritual-missionary reflection, educational work and learning to witness to the faith in openness to the world are the challenges for the future. To this end, cooperation with neighbouring regional churches (e.g. the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mecklenburg) and sharing in fellowship with other Christian churches (Roman Catholic, Free Churches) in our region (also in the framework of the Council of Churches) provide invaluable assistance.

Since 2007 discussions are in progress about a merger of the Pomeranian Evangelical Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mecklenburg and the North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Foto: Rainer Neumann/Pommersche Evangelische Kirche