Offenbach (dpa/lhe) - The Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN) must save: The synod decided on Friday at its autumn conference in Offenbach, from 2030 alone in the areas of education, preaching, pastoral care and ecumenism, 7.8 million annually save euros. Exactly how remains open. Concrete individual measures would first be discussed in the committees, the EKHN reported. It is to be voted on at the spring synod at the end of April 2023.
At the synod, EKHN President Volker Jung confirmed the need for far-reaching reforms in view of the declining number of members. It is clear "that we have changed framework conditions and therefore some things can no longer continue as before," said Jung.
In the "ekhn2030" reform process, the church has been looking for ways since 2019 to create "light and air for faith" despite tighter finances. The aim is to spend 140 million euros less annually in all areas of work from 2030 than in 2020.
The decision on a draft resolution, on which more than 60 employees and volunteers had worked for a year and a half, was postponed in Offenbach. Among other things, the draft provides for a merger of the Center for Social Responsibility in Mainz with a center in Darmstadt. Numerous pastoral positions would also have to be phased out in order to meet the savings targets.
