Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony

Area of the Saxon Church

The Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony (Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Sachsens) is one of 22 member Churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), covering most of the state of Saxony. Its headquarters are in Dresden, and its bishop (styled Bishop of Saxony[1]) has his seat at Meissen Cathedral.

Historical significance

Historically, its organisation became an example for other Protestant churches to be founded throughout Europe, the so-called "Saxon model" of a church as introduced by Martin Luther itself. It was closely tied to the state, whereby the Elector of Saxony protected the evangelical faith in his jurisdiction. Since the Reformation, the Lutheran orthodoxy (the "purest form" of Lutheranism) prevailed among the general population in Saxony and was secured first by its Ernestine and later Albertine Wettin rulers. Beginning in the 17th century, Pietism also gained a significant following, especially among the working class.

Parishioners

  • 1922: 4,509,000,[2] then by parishioners by far the biggest Lutheran church in Germany
  • 2012: 764,000
  • 2013: 754,451[3]
  • 2015: 713,648[4]

Practices

Ordination of women and blessing of same-sex unions were allowed.[5]

Notes

  1. ↑ The Bishop's title on his own home page.
  2. ↑ Sebastian Müller-Rolli in collaboration with Reiner Anselm, Evangelische Schulpolitik in Deutschland 1918–1958: Dokumente und Darstellung, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1999, (=Eine Veröffentlichung des Comenius-Instituts Münster), p. 29. ISBN 3-525-61362-8.
  3. ↑ The Lutheran World Federation – 2013 Membership Figures Lutheran World
  4. ↑ Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland - Kirchemitgliederzahlen Stand 31.12.2015 EKD Januar 2017
  5. ↑ Evlks.de:„Segnung von Paaren in Eingetragener Lebenspartnerschaft“ in Sachsen möglich (German) Archived 2016-10-19 at the Wayback Machine., 18 October 2016


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