Overview
- EKHN, the regional Protestant church for Hesse and Nassau, changed its election rules Friday to block people with extremist, antisemitic, racist or other dehumanizing views from volunteer leadership and to exclude members of groups that promote those views, with AfD membership cited as ineligible.
- The synod also backed a resolution for human dignity and democracy that rejects right-wing extremism, and leaders said worship, pastoral care and social services remain open to all.
- Candidates must sign a written statement acknowledging the church’s values, and local boards are instructed to address doubts in a conversation rather than use automatic exclusions, with no legal right to be nominated.
- The rule covers only volunteer posts, not pastors or paid staff, and a similar clause for employment contracts is under discussion as administrators note existing duty rules already require loyalty to church values.
- The change is set to take effect before the 2027 church-board elections, which will seek about 1,500 to 2,000 volunteers across newly grouped multi-parish “neighborhoods.”