Old denominational churches

In the ecumenical context, ecclesiastical identities are referred to as old confessional churches that refer to the old church confessions, Reformation confessions or a link to church traditions. Old denominational church formations take place in the conviction and with the claim to remain true to their true identity in the face of doctrinal or structural changes in the original church.

Old denominational churches that do not see themselves as free churches

• Old Catholic Church
• Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK)
• Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baden (ELKiB)
• Christian Catholic Church

Because the above-mentioned old denominational churches do not see themselves as free churches , they have their own representative on the federal board in the Working Group of Christian Churches in Germany , currently Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt from the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church. This also represents the Evangelical Old Reformed Church mentioned below.

The following old denominational communities, which belong to the old Orthodox churches , do not see themselves as free churches either:

• Russian Old Orthodox Church
• Russian Orthodox Old Ritualist Church

Old denominational churches that see themselves as free churches

• Evangelical Old Reformed Church in Lower Saxony (EAK)
• Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (ELFK)
• Independent Evangelical Reformed Church Heidelberg (SERK)

literature

• Georg Hintzen: Old denominational churches. In: Johann Adam Möhler Institute (Hrsg.): Brief Konfessionskunde. Bonifatius, Paderborn 1996, ISBN 3-87088-920-9 , p. 307 ff. ( Confessional writings of the Johann Adam Möhler Institute 19).

Web links

• Self-image of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church

Footnotes

1. ^ Official website of the Old Reformed Church
2. ↑ The ELFK is not a member of the Working Group of Christian Churches in Germany
3. ↑ Official website of the SERK