Central Conference Germany of the Evangelical Methodist Church
The Central Conference Germany of the United Methodist Church is actively shaping a vibrant, inclusive future rooted in faith, education, and outreach.
Its theological hub, the Reutlingen School of Theology, serves German-speaking Methodists across Europe and supports smaller Eastern European conferences through online learning.
Evangelism thrives through innovative ministries like the Tent Mission and the “EmK-mobil” bus, which reach communities across Germany and beyond.
There is also a commitment to pioneer new spiritual spaces, for example, fresh expressions of church, such as INSPIRE Chemnitz.
The church also runs hospitals and rehabilitation clinics, continuing its legacy of compassionate care. Looking ahead, it aims to deepen intercultural ministry, supporting 24 congregations in languages including English, Twi, Farsi, Vietnamese, and Korean.
These communities maintain strong ties with global Methodist bodies, fostering unity and shared mission. Through education, social service, and intercultural engagement, the church is building a future of connection, renewal, and hope.
Mission Partner Barry Sloan, with Gillian Sloan, leads INSPIRE, a fresh expression of church in Chemnitz city, in the east of Germany.
Germany Factfile
1992
Established
42,915
Members and affiliates
304
Active Pastors
410
Local churches
History
Methodism reached Germany via emigrants who encountered the methodist movement in England (from 1831) or the U.S. (from 1848), experienced personal conversion, and either returned as missionaries or encouraged their churches to send others.
Christoph Gottlob Müller led the first efforts in Württemberg in 1831, later joined by British missionaries who helped establish an independent Free Church in 1873, which merged with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1897.
Other branches, like the Evangelical Association and United Brethren in Christ, also sent missionaries to Germany, with the latter joining the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1905.
The 20th century proved turbulent for Methodism in Germany. The Weimar Constitution of 1919 guaranteed religious freedom, helping the churches to grow, but the two world wars and the Nazi regime caused strains.
Work came to a standstill in some areas. Church members and pastors became victims of the wars. Neither church showed significant resistance to the Nazi regime.
In 1968, the Methodist Church and the Evangelical Fellowship united to form the Evangelical Methodist Church.
The division of Germany led to the creation of two separate Cental Conferences – one in the German Democratic Republic and the other in the Federal Republic.
National reunification in 1989 paved the way for their unification in 1992, forming the Central Conference Germany of the Evangelical Methodist Church.