The Reformed Church: host of the General Assembly 2008

The Protestant Reformed Church (ErK) has 190,000 members in 42 congregations in nine synods. The ErK is one of the 23 members of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD).

As the name suggests, the tradition and the self-concept of the Reformed (i.e. renewed) church date back to the reformation in the 16th century. Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) -- the reformer of Zurich -- and Johannes Calvin (1509-1564), the reformer of Geneva were both elementary in developing reformed teaching and confession. Churches following the reformed tradition are held in a sober and ascetic style. Visitors will find neither crosses nor crucifixes there as any such depiction is seen as a violation of the Second Commandment, which forbids the display of any image of God. Instead, the pulpit is set in the centre, often elevated in order to underline the significance of preaching. Sermons play an eminent role in reformed services. There is no »altar« as such but a simple table for the Eucharist.

The Reformed Church has a Presbyterian synod structure on all levels. The ErK is ruled by the joint synod consisting of 57 delegates of the nine synod wings of the ErK. The joint synod is chaired by the President of the Church. Seven members of the joint synod are elected to the so called »moderamen«, which is the permanent representation of the joint synod for the legislative period of six years. The President and the vice president are members of the joint synod and the »moderamen« ex officio. The headquarters of the ErK are in Leer.

The reformed church is part of the »Confederation of Protestant Churches in Lower Saxony« cooperating with the four Lutheran churches in the region.

The congregation in Borkum

Borkum has about 5,500 inhabitants, 2,000 of them are members of the Protestant Reformed Church.

Community life expresses itself not only in the Sunday Services, but also during the weekdays. About 25 groups such as choirs, bible groups, women’s and youth groups meet in the community building every week, many of them are joint groups of all of the three communities on the island: the Reformed Church, the Lutheran parish and the Roman Catholic Church.

The Reformed community, host of the General Assembly, is very open minded, welcoming tourists and visitors into its midst throughout the year and offering them concerts and other cultural programmes. One of the pastors offers counselling to tourists in need.