Three church circles united: A new beginning for the region from 2026!

Three church circles united: A new beginning for the region from 2026!

The Evangelical Church faces exciting change! On January 1, 2026, the church districts of Arnstadt-ilmenau, Gotha and Waltershausen-ear druf merge into a new, common church circle. This step is not a quick shot, but the result of a multi -year process, which was initiated by the current developments within the regional church and the specific challenges in the individual church circles. This reports in the southern thuringen .

At a recent meeting of the synod of the Arnstadt-Ilmenau church district, which served as a hub for the discussion about the merger, Cindy Havelberg-Kunze presented the timetable for implementation. In an open conversation with superintendent Elke Rosenthal, the challenges and opportunities of the redesign of the church structures were discussed. Rosenthal particularly emphasized the reform requirement, which is created, among other things, by an upcoming wave of retirement among parish people. It will be necessary to actively accompany this change through targeted measures. For the municipalities, this not only means adjustments, but also creative solutions to continue to ensure a living community life, such as the church district Arnstadt-ilmenau reported.

in the traces of change

The upcoming steps are clear: After the spring synods 2025, a special synod is convened in each of the merging church circles to clarify the last details of the merger. An exciting time lies in front of the communities, which are supposed to bring a breath of fresh air to traditional structures through innovative approaches and the concept of "regiolocal church development".

dr. Felix Eiffler from the Martin Luther University Halle/Saale spoke about the support of the church district in a model project. Eiffler made it clear that 43 percent of the population in Germany are non -denominational. This is perceived as an urgent request to rethink the existing church structures and to adapt to the needs of today's society.

outlook for the future

As a current study by the Albert Ludwig University Freiburg shows in cooperation with the EKD, the number of church members will halve until 2060. This pessimistic forecast not only leads to a decline in church tax volume, but also shows the urgency of continuous change. The church has to address young adults and focus on their essential tasks, such as The EKD highlights.

A good hand is required to make the church fit for the idiosyncrasies of today's members. It is important to brave bravely and reach people with appealing offers. The approach of the three merging church circles could be a bright spot in the middle of these challenges. In Gräfenroda, for example, community members form an association to bundle their forces, which shows that community and cohesion are also very important in times of crisis.

The merger is by no means the end, but rather a fresh start. Fresh ideas and new perspectives are required to further advance the mission and communication of the gospel. A central point remains the belief that the collaboration is possible a positive development in church life.