The Evangelische Allianz (German, abbreviated as EA) is a federation of evangelical Christianity, which is a part of the Evangelical Church in Germany, German Free Churches, “inner church confraternity” (German: innerkirchliche Gemeinschaften) and relief organizations.
Contents
- Sections of the EA
- Germany
- History
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Literature
- Publications of Evangelische Allianz
- References
The EA was established in 1846, as a loose knit federation, after a meeting in London. One of the co-founders of EA was Thomas Chalmers, himself a founder of a Scottish Free Church, and invited deputies of 52 reformed churches. The deputies came from twelve nations of North America and Europe.
One sister alliance is the Evangelical Alliance in United Kingdom and is also a part of the World Evangelical Alliance.
Sections of the EA
There are three sections in the German-speaking area. All three are part of the World Evangelical Alliance since 1952.
Germany
The German Evangelical Alliance (German: Deutsche Evangelische Allianz) has been active since 1851 in Germany.
At present the German EA has members who are closely connected. They are connected to the EA-Organisation or welfare services, who are a part of the "Evangelische Allianz".
There are 1,200 local churches, free churches or free groups who support the alliance.
Deputies of the Evangelische Allianz meet once a year in Bad Blankenburg for the Alliance-Conference (German: Allianzkonferenz).
The affiliated “Institute for the Islamic Question” (German: Institut für Islamfragen) gives a special service of information about Islam from a Christian point of view.
The "Deutsche Evangelische Allianz" is an accredited organisation by German law and is represented in the Bundestag (German parliament) by Wolfgang Baake as Commissioner of the German EA.
History
Before 1990 in Germany there were two separate organisations, since the division of the country. In the GDR there was the "Evangelische Allianz in der DDR" and the "Deutsche Evangelische Allianz e. V." in the West, based in Stuttgart.
In the course of reunification of Germany both organisations also merged. The offices of the "Deutschen Evangelische Allianz" were until November 2004 in Stuttgart. Being pushed for money, the Organisation moved to Bad Blankenburg.
Today the German EA is a state-approved organisation (eingetragener Verein or e.V.), with a conference center, recreation home and hotel.
Austria
The Austrian Evangelical Alliance (German: Österreichische Evangelische Allianz, abbreviated ÖEA) has been active since 1870 in Austria and Switzerland.
Switzerland
The Swiss Evangelical Alliance (German: Schweizerische Evangelische Allianz, abbreviated SEA) is active all over Switzerland, not only in the German-speaking area. In the French-speaking area of Switzerland the EA is also known as “Alliance évangélique Suisse”, abbreviated AES.