The Evangelical Church in Hessen and Nassau was established in 1947 when the three churches of Hessen, Nassau and Frankfurt came together. A long common history, the experience of the church struggle from 1933 to 1945 and the responsibilities of the church in the territories of Rhine and Main led to the united church. From the beginning the inter-relation between witness and service was stressed and led to a strong commitment in the fields of justice, peace and the integrity of creation. The particular tasks of the ECHN grew out of the increasing industrialization of the Rhine-Main region, which also affects the countryside. The smaller towns and villages still play a creative role in the life of the Christian community. A major responsibility is the pastoral care of people. The ECHN’s main emphasis is on the oikoumene and it is involved in partnership relations with various churches in Africa, Asia and Europe.