Evangelical Regional Church in Baden: A History of Faith and Resistance
The Evangelical Regional Church in Baden stands as a testament to the complex intersection of faith, governance, and political pressure. From its origins as a unifying force for Protestant denominations to its harrowing struggle against totalitarianism during the Third Reich, the church's journey reflects the broader narrative of German religious history.
Foundations and Early Evolution
The church was established in 1821 through the unification of Lutheran and Reformed churches within the Grand Duchy of Baden. Originally known as the United Evangelical Protestant Church of the Grand Duchy of Baden, the body consisted exclusively of congregations of the united Protestant confession.
Political shifts in the early 20th century necessitated structural changes. Following the transition of the grand duchy into the Republic of Baden in 1918 and the subsequent separation of church and state mandated by the 1919 Weimar Constitution, the church adopted a new constitution in December 1919. It was renamed the United Evangelical Protestant Regional Church of Baden. By 1922, the church had grown to include 821,000 parishioners.
The Rise of the German Christians and the Führerprinzip
The 1930s brought ideological conflict as Nazi-aligned activists began infiltrating church leadership. The Nazi Federation of Pastors of Baden (NS-Pfarrbund), founded in 1931, campaigned under the "German Christians" banner. While they initially remained a minority in the Landessynode (the church's legislating assembly), the Nazi takeover of Germany led members of the Ecclesiastical Liberal Union (KLV) to defect to the German Christians' faction.
On June 1, 1933, a new episcopal constitution was passed. This overhaul stripped the Landessynode of most of its power and created the office of the Landesbischof (regional bishop). This role consolidated spiritual, legislative, and executive authority into a single individual, mirroring the Führerprinzip (leader principle). This move directly contradicted the Protestant traditions of collegiality and synodal legislation.
The Kirchenkampf: The Struggle of the Churches
The erosion of traditional governance sparked the Kirchenkampf (struggle of the churches) in Baden. On June 24, 1933, Prelate Julius Kühlewein was elected as the first powerful Landesbischof. By July 1933, following unconstitutional re-elections imposed by Hitler, the German Christians secured a dominant majority of 32 seats in the Landessynode, leaving only 25 members of the conservative Ecclesiastical Positive Association (KPV) in opposition.
In response, opposing groups formed the Badischer Bekennerbund (Baden Covenant of Confessors) on April 5, 1934. This branch of the Confessing Church viewed the official church body as a "destroyed church" due to Nazi infiltration. These dissenters participated in the first Reich's Synod of Confession and endorsed the Barmen Declaration. By June 1934, they established the Regional Brethren Council (Landesbruderrat) as a parallel leadership structure to oppose Kühlewein.
Political Shifts and State Repression
The leadership of Julius Kühlewein was marked by volatility. In July 1934, he merged the Baden church into the Protestant Reich Church, though he reversed this decision by the end of the year following legal disputes within the old-Prussian Union. By 1936, Kühlewein's stance shifted toward protecting his members. He informed the Nazi Gauleiter for Baden that only 25% of his church followed the German Christians, while 50% adhered to the Confessing Church.
This shift led to reconciliation with many Confessors and an alliance with other "intact" regional Lutheran churches in Bavaria, Hanover, and Württemberg. However, the Nazi government responded by targeting the Confessing Church's finances. The 1938 implementation of the "Law on the Wealth Formation within the Regional Evangelical Churches" placed all church budgets and offerings under the control of government-appointed comptrollers.
During World War II, the state's approach shifted again. To avoid disrupting the Wehrmacht, Hitler ordered a reduction in wide-ranging actions against the Confessing Church, though the Gestapo continued selective repression of pastors who had not been drafted into the army.
Post-War Reconstruction and Modern Identity
Following the war, Julius Kühlewein resigned in November 1945. The first post-war Landessynode elected Julius Bender, a proponent of the Confessing Church, as the new Landesbischof. This era focused on ensuring the church would never again be so vulnerable to state pressure.
The church strengthened its commitment to synodalism and the separation of religion and state. As part of a broader movement to redefine regional churches by denomination rather than nationality, the body officially became the Evangelical Regional Church in Baden on July 1, 1957.
Key Facts
- Founded: 1821 through the union of Lutheran and Reformed churches.
- Membership: Counted 821,000 parishioners in 1922.
- The Kirchenkampf: A period of intense struggle (1933–1945) between Nazi-aligned "German Christians" and the Confessing Church.
- Governance Shift: The 1933 constitution replaced synodal legislation with the Führerprinzip under a single Landesbischof.
- Resistance: The Badischer Bekennerbund formed in 1934 to oppose the Nazi-influenced official church.
- Final Renaming: Adopted the current name, "Evangelical Regional Church in Baden," on July 1, 1957.
| Year | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1821 | Foundation | Union of Lutheran and Reformed churches in Baden. |
| 1919 | New Constitution | Separation of religion and state under the Weimar Constitution. |
| 1933 | Episcopal Constitution | Introduction of the Landesbischof and the Führerprinzip. |
| 1934 | Baden Covenant of Confessors | Formation of the Confessing Church branch in Baden. |
| 1938 | Wealth Formation Law | Government seizure of financial control over the church. |
| 1945 | Election of Julius Bender | Return to Confessing Church leadership after WWII. |
| 1957 | Final Renaming | Official adoption of the current church name. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the "Kirchenkampf"?
The Kirchenkampf, or "struggle of the churches," was a conflict from 1933 to 1945 between the Nazi-aligned "German Christians," who sought to align the church with Nazi ideology, and the Confessing Church, which resisted this takeover to preserve traditional Christian doctrine.
Who were the "German Christians"?
The German Christians were Nazi-aligned Protestant activists who sought to implement the Führerprinzip within the church, concentrating power in a single leader and removing the democratic, synodal elements of church governance.
What was the role of Julius Kühlewein?
Julius Kühlewein served as the Landesbischof during the Nazi era. His leadership was complex; while he initially implemented the Nazi-backed episcopal constitution, he later shifted his stance to protect church members from government attacks and distanced himself from the Reich church.
What was the Barmen Declaration?
The Barmen Declaration was a theological statement endorsed by the Baden Covenant of Confessors and other members of the Confessing Church to reject the Nazi-aligned "German Christian" ideology and reaffirm the sovereignty of Christ over the church.
How did the Nazi government suppress the Confessing Church financially?
In 1938, the government implemented the Law on the Wealth Formation within the Regional Evangelical Churches, which required all church budgets, payments, and offerings to be approved by government-appointed comptrollers.