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19.07.2021

Request for donations for EKiR and EKvW

A flooded church in Leverkusen. Copyright: ekir.de/ Anika Distelrath-Lübeck

[Translate to Englisch:]

[Translate to Englisch:] Eine überflutete Kirche in Leverkusen. Copyright: ekir.de/ Anika Distelrath-Lübeck

From July 12 to 15, 2021, above-average rain fell over Great Britain, western Germany, and the neighboring countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. A thunderstorm complex moved eastward from France into Germany and stayed over the region for two days. Heavy rain fell mainly in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Here, precipitation amounts averaging 100 l/m2 to 150 l/m2 were measured within 24 hours, which corresponds to more than the monthly rainfall. In the German village of Reifferscheid, 207 l/m2 fell within nine hours, while in Cologne 154 l/m2 were measured in 24 hours. In some of the affected areas, it was the heaviest heavy rainfall in the past 1000 years. Many rivers burst their banks, and some regions were completely destroyed. Police, federal armed forces and a large number of volunteers deployed to the affected areas to search for bodies and missing persons, secure the destroyed houses and clean up the damage. In the meantime, the rain area moved on to southern Germany, causing widespread destruction there as well.

In North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate, 155 dead have been recovered to date, and more than 1,000 people are still missing. Buildings and infrastructure were destroyed. Hundreds of families had to be rescued from their homes. Numerous places still have no electricity and are inaccessible, as bridges and roads have been completely destroyed in some cases. Church congregations of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland (EKiR) and the Evangelical Church of Westphalia (EKvW) are also affected. Churches, cellars and parish halls were flooded. In addition, the emergency pastoral care of both regional churches is on duty at various locations.

The President of the Church of Westphalia, Annette Kurschus, referred to Psalm 69 in her sermon yesterday: "There are words and phrases that we have heard, said or read so many times before. But in a situation like this, they suddenly come alive as never before." The President of the Rhenish Church, Thorsten Latzel, emphasized, "This is what we as churches can do now: Offer spaces of silence before God and for all who mourn, weep and lament."

Wuppertal, where the mission house of the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) is located, was also hit by heavy rain. However, the mission house itself was not damaged and operations were therefore not affected. Both churches and their diaconal organizations have begun emergency aid.

Appeal for donations

The UEM Germany Department is asking the UEM member churches in Africa, Asia and Germany and the v. Bodelschwinghschen Foundations Bethel to participate in the emergency relief to support both affected UEM member churches, EKiR and EKvW, in helping the people who have lost everything.The joint diaconal organization "Diakonie Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe" is taking care of the people and congregations who have been particularly affected by the disaster.

Please help and support the emergency aid through your online donation.

 
Information: Evangelical Church in the Rhineland (EKiR)

With around 2.4 million members, the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland is the second largest of the 20 member churches of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). Its territory stretches from Emmerich to Saarbrücken and Aachen to Altenkirchen and includes parts of the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Hesse and Saarland.

It has a presbyterial-synodal structure, which means that leadership at all levels is in the hands of elected members - from the presbyteries in the 655 church congregations to the 37 district synods and the state synod as the church's highest governing body. The members of the regional synod elect the president and the presidium, which acts as the church leadership between their annual sessions and consists of five full-time members - including department heads in the regional church office - and nine members from the congregations, in addition to the president. The church leadership performs its duties with the assistance of the Regional Church Office.

 
Information: Evangelical Church of Westphalia (EKvW)

The Evangelical Church of Westphalia has 2.1 million members and is presbyterial-synodal in structure, meaning that leadership at all levels rests with elected members - from presbyteries in 490 congregations and 27 church districts. Located in the Westphalia region, the regional church covers the areas of the administrative districts of Münster, Arnsberg and Detmold (excluding the district of Lippe). Its sphere of influence extends from the Tecklenburg region in the north to the Siegerland region in the south and from the Ruhr region in the west to the Paderborn region in the east.

The EKvW is led by the regional synod under the direction of the president. The church leadership consists of 15 members and is appointed to lead the regional church on behalf of the regional synod. Insofar as it does not perform this service itself, it is exercised on its behalf by the Regional Church Office.

The congregations in the EKvW live out the traditions of the Reformation: congregations of different denominations (Evangelical Lutheran, Evangelical Reformed, Evangelical Uniate) are united in the Uniate Church of Westphalia. People with different forms of piety come into dialogue with each other. There are traditions from the revival movement as well as social-diaconal, missionary and socio-political orientations.

Inquiries to and contact person at the United Evangelical Mission: Angelika Veddeler

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