German Churches Reunited: A History of Ecumenical Collaboration Through Division and Reunification
A landmark effort to foster Christian unity in Germany, the Association of Churches in Germany (ACK), has a complex history shaped by political division and eventual reunification. Initially formed to support the creation of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the ACK’s journey reflects the broader geopolitical shifts of the 20th and early 21st centuries.
The initial impetus for the ACK stemmed from a desire among German churches to present a unified front at the founding of the WCC in Amsterdam in 1948. However, the subsequent division of Germany following World War II dramatically altered the landscape of ecumenical cooperation. According to historical records, delegates from churches in the German Democratic Republic (GDR, or East Germany) were unable to participate in joint meetings with their counterparts in the West beginning in 1963.
This political fracture led to the establishment of the “Association of Christian Churches in the GDR” (AGCK) in 1970, effectively creating two separate ecumenical bodies. Despite the separation, connections between the two groups persisted, though their development diverged in key areas, particularly regarding membership structures. A notable example of this divergence involved the Roman Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany.
While the Roman Catholic Church (German Bishops’ Conference) held observer status within the AGCK after the Second Vatican Council, it formally joined the ACK (West) in 1974. In the same year, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany also became a full member of the ACK in the West. This expansion, one analyst noted, represented a significant milestone in the history of German ecumenism, demonstrating a broadening of the ecumenical movement beyond its traditional Protestant base.
The fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany in 1990 paved the way for the reintegration of the two church bodies. In February 1992, representatives from both the ACK and AGCK convened in Berlin to reconstitute the ACK as a unified organization. The newly formed ACK built upon a foundation of five founding churches and has since grown to encompass 17 member churches and 8 guest members, with an additional five ecumenical organizations holding observer status.
Today, the “Ecumenical Centrale” of ACK Germany is located in Frankfurt, serving as the central coordinating body for this vital ecumenical network. The ACK’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring pursuit of Christian unity, even amidst profound political and social upheaval.
