EKM moves AfD officials: Church offices now taboo!

EKM moves AfD officials: Church offices now taboo!

Erfurt, Deutschland - Churches in Central Germany! The Evangelical Church in Central Germany (EKM) draws a clear border: Members of the alternative for Germany (AfD) are no longer entitled to take on management offices within the church. With this decision, the church sends a strong signal against inhumane and xenophobic positions, which according to State Bishop Friedrich Kramer are incompatible with the church constitution.

The brave decision was announced at the opening of the autumn synod of the EKM in Erfurt. Kramer emphasized that this was not a pronounced declaration of maintenance, because the doors of the church remained open to everyone. But in terms of managers, it is clear: Extremist parties such as the AfD, which are under increased observation of the protection of the constitution in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, have no place in the church management.

disciplinary procedure: Pastor provides vertebrae

Already at the beginning of the year, a disciplinary proceedings against a pastor in the Harz caused a stir, which in the local elections as a non -party for the AfD in Quedlinburg and was finally elected to the city council. Clearly: The discussion about AfD memberships and their incompatibility with committee work in the church is a hot potato. The diocese of Magdeburg of the Catholic Church followed in summer and announced similar exclusion criteria.

While the EKM synod in Erfurt debates financial cuts for the future, it is clear that over 638,000 members in more than 3,000 municipalities and 37 church circles in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt are affected. The decision against AfD members in management functions underlines the commitment of the Church to maintain its values and to clearly represent them externally.