The Evangelical Reformed Church (ERK) is one of the 20 member churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany. It has 142 congregations with about 185,000 members. The congregations, which are spread throughout Germany, are divided into nine synodal associations; primarily in East Frisia, Emsland, Grafschaft Bentheim, as well as in eastern Lower Saxony and Bavaria. The Evangelical Reformed Church defines itself as an evangelical congregational church with a presbyterial-synodal structure. This means that the leadership at all levels lies on elected members. The pastors are also nominated by the members of the congregation in a free election.