Churches And Religious Communities : Germany

In the Preamble to the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, emphasis is placed on the “responsibility before God". Implicit in these words is a general self-imposed restriction on state authority and human action. Article 4 of the Basic Law stresses the basic right to the free practice of religion: “Freedom of faith and conscience as well as freedom of creed, religious or ideological, are inviolable. The undisturbed practice of religion shall be guaranteed.”

More than 55 million people in Germany belong to a Christian church. 28 million are Protestants, 27 million are Roman Catholics, and a minority belong to other Christian denominations.

There is no state church in Germany. In other words, there are no ties between state and church administrations and hence no control of the churches by the state. The churches have the status of independent public-law corporations. The relationship between . church and state is that of a partnership which is subject to the Basic Law and governed by concordats and agreements. The state finances part of the cost of certain church establishments, such as kindergartens and schools.

The churches are empowered to levy taxes on their members, which as a rule are collected by the state against reimbursement of costs. The clergy are trained mainly at state universities, and the churches have a say in appointments to chairs of theology.

The social and charitable commitment of the churches is an integral part of public life in Germany. Their work is indispensable in hospitals, old people’s homes, nursing homes, schools and training centers, and in the provision of counseling and care in all situations in life.