2014 Report from Iowa Conference to the UEK Forum

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

The process of the Iowa Conference entering into a partnership with one of the Landeskirchen in
German continues to move forward. In the last year there has been exciting progress.

The process of the Iowa Conference entering into a partnership with one of the Landeskirchen in Germany continues to move forward. In the last year there has been exciting progress.

The desire of the Iowa Conference as it moves toward an official declaration of partnership is that the relationships between congregations in Iowa and congregations in Germany will be the base of our partnership. It will be the strength of the relationships between congregations and individuals that will define the eventual strength of the partnership between Iowa and it’s potential partner.

Over the last three years the Iowa Conference has been in conversation with the Evangelical Church of Bremen (Bremische Evangelische Kirche – BEK.) Rev. Erik Breddin initiated the conversation, and visited Bremen individually in 2011. Following his visit there was a desire on both sides to further explore a potential partnership. Iowa welcomed Rev. Horst Janus as a representative of the BEK to Iowa for a week in 2012. He spent time in several different congregations as well as meeting with Conference staff. His visit and report to the BEK furthered our journey toward Kirchengemeinschaft.

In June of 2013, a delegation of seven individuals, made up of representatives from various congregations of the Iowa Conference and our Conference Minister Rich Pleva visited Bremen, Germany as guests of the Evangelical Church of Bremen. During our time in Bremen we were hosted in private homes throughout the area, and spent time getting to know the city, the churches, and the people of Bremen.

In October of 2014 the Iowa Conference will be welcoming a delegation of thirteen individuals from congregations in Bremen. During their visit a majority of their time will be spent with congregations spread across Iowa. It is the hope that their visit will continue to strengthen the connections that are developing between our churches.

It is the shared hope of both the Iowa Conference and the BEK will enter into an official relationship of Kirchengemeinschaft in the next few years. Parties on both sides are excited about the future, and look forward to deepening our understanding of one another, and how we together share in the covenantal task of sharing and living out the good news of Jesus the Christ.