Get to Know the Presbyteries: An Overview of the 2024 Presbyterian Election in the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland

The next presbyterian election will be held on February 18, 2024. The first nomination period for candidates ends on June 16. All candidates must have been nominated by mid-September at the latest. In our series until the end of July we will give an overview of presbyteries, what the duties of a presbyter are, who is eligible, and many other interesting facts and backgrounds. “I’m standing for election – I’m going to vote”, this two-part motto accompanies the presbyterian elections in 2024 in the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland. All articles can then be found at www.kirche-koeln.de.

What are presbyters?

Presbyters are volunteers elected for a period of four years who, together with pastors, lead the congregations in the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland.

What is the job of presbyters?

Presbyters are interested in participating in the leadership and development of the congregation and contribute their skills to this. They can also work in individual specialist committees that correspond to their own inclination. The theology or finances, buildings, child and youth work or social welfare work are themes.

Who can be elected and how can nominations be submitted?

Eligible for election are all parishioners who are suitable for leadership and development of the parish, who are at least 18 years old on the day of the election and who have been confirmed or have the same status as those who have been confirmed. Every member of a church congregation who is entitled to vote can submit written nominations to the administrative office and to every member of the presbytery up to the end of the nomination period. There will be a second chance to propose preferred candidates or to have them proposed at the public community meetings in September 2023. Candidates proposed in this way must declare their willingness to run in person or in writing and introduce themselves or be introduced to the community members present .

What’s new this time?

In the 2024 presbytery election, parishioners in the Rhenish church will be able to cast their votes online for the first time. Administrative employees can find out more about the digital election process online on December 12.

Here see more information.

Text: APK
Photo(s): APK