What is a "Landeskirche"?

Germany’s main protestant Church, the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD), is made up of 20 regional Churches, the so-called “Landeskirchen”.

The Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz (EKBO) – in English ‘Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia’ – is one of these 20 regional Churches. The EKBO is charged with supporting the protestant parishes within its territory, and with representing all protestant churches (except for evangelical free churches) and parishes in Berlin, Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia. 

Next to the 1351 parishes, the EKBO is made up of 30 Church districts and of dioceses, which are run by elected representatives and perform administrative tasks.

The administrative body that runs the EKBO is called the Consistory. The Consistory prepares resolutions for the Church Governing Body, it provides legal guidance and performs a supervisory function in relation to the Church districts and to the parishes.