Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen

What Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen does

The Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (EKvW) is one of Germany's 20 Evangelical regional churches (Landeskirchen), operating as a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (public law corporation) under Article 140 of the Basic Law. Headquartered at the Landeskirchenamt in Bielefeld, the church is governed by the Landessynode, Kirchenleitung, and a central administration employing roughly 247–300 staff. Its primary revenue stream is Kirchensteuer (church tax), a constitutionally-protected percentage levy on member income tax collected by the German state on its behalf; secondary streams include donations (Kirchgeld, project collections, bequests, foundations), diaconal service fees via Diakonie Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe e.V. (3,000+ institutions, ~60,000 employees), and tuition from seven church-operated schools.

EKvW delivers its services through a hierarchical territorial structure: 422 Kirchengemeinden (local congregations) grouped into 26 Kirchenkreise (church districts) across 11 Gestaltungsräume (design areas), with more than 1,000 Pfarrstellen (pastor positions), approximately 800 churches and chapels, ~5,600 elected Presbyter/innen, and nearly 70,000 volunteers. Core offerings include weekly worship, pastoral care, lifecycle rites, diaconal social services, refugee support (Kirchenasyl), education through the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Herford-Witten and seven schools at six locations, youth work, and student chaplaincy across six Evangelische Studierendengemeinden (ESG) serving ~100,000 Protestant students.

The technology stack is modest and service-oriented: a Typo3-based website (evangelisch-in-westfalen.de), a free Homepage-Baukasten for congregations, the Veranstaltungsdatenbank event database, the Kirchenshop Westfalen e-commerce store, the Neues Kirchliches Finanzmanagement (NKF) double-entry accounting system replacing cameralistic budgeting, the Grüner Hahn environmental management system, the GuTeApp building-transformation tool, and integrations with standard SaaS (CleverReach newsletter, etracker analytics, YouTube/Vimeo, ReadSpeaker accessibility). The EKvW's most distinctive strategic initiative is the binding Klimaschutzgesetz mandating 90% greenhouse gas reduction by 2035 with full compensation of remaining emissions, supported by 14 million euros annually in climate protection funding.

Name

Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen

Legal name

Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen

Website

https://evangelisch-in-westfalen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (EKvW) is a German regional Protestant church (Landeskirche) and public law corporation headquartered in Bielefeld, serving roughly 2+ million members across 422 local congregations in Westphalia with worship, pastoral care, diaconal social services, education, and climate protection programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational & Ecclesiastical Governance Bodies (Dioceses, Synods, Conferences) (BPAGAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH), Faith-Based Missions & Evangelism Organizations (Domestic & International) (BPAGAJAE)

Keywords

• Protestant regional church
• Pastoral care services
• Diaconal social services
• Faith-based education
• Religious community services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bielefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Kirchensteuer (Church Tax): The primary revenue stream is the church tax (Kirchensteuer), collected by German state tax authorities on behalf of the church. This represents the largest portion of church revenue and is deducted as a percentage of income tax. The church also has Zweckbindung (earmarking) of Kirchensteuermittel for the Klimaschutzpauschale (climate protection surcharge).
2. Spenden und Fundraising (Donations and Fundraising): Voluntary donations include Kirchgeld (voluntary church dues), project-specific donation letters, community festival collections, bequests and major gifts, as well as funding through Fördervereine (support associations) and Stiftungen (foundations).
3. Diakonie Service Fees: Revenue from diaconal institutions operating under the Diakonie Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe umbrella, including nursing care services under the framework of the Pflegeversicherung (nursing care insurance).
4. Schulgeld / School Fees: Revenue from seven schools operated by the EKvW at six locations (Bielefeld-Sennestadt, Breckerfeld, Espelkamp, Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck, Lippstadt, and Meinerzhagen), including tuition and related educational services.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (EKvW) is a Protestant regional church (Landeskirche) operating 422 local congregations, 26 church districts, 7 schools, and a network of diaconal institutions across Westphalia. Its fundamental offering includes weekly worship services, pastoral care (baptisms, confirmations, marriages, funerals), religious education, social welfare services through 3,000+ diaconal facilities, and church administration funded primarily through the German church tax (Kirchensteuer).

Product overview

Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (EKvW) is a Protestant regional church (Landeskirche) offering a broad portfolio of religious, educational, administrative, and digital services. The core offering is pastoral care and worship, supported by administrative structures including 422 parishes, 26 church districts, and 7 schools. Digital products include a free Homepage Builder (Homepage-Baukasten) for congregations, an Event Database (Veranstaltungsdatenbank), and the Kirchenshop Westfalen online store. Specialized institutions include the Hochschule für Kirchenmusik for music education, the oikos-Institut for mission and ecumenism, the Institut für Kirche und Gesellschaft for societal engagement, and the Amt für Jugendarbeit for youth work. Environmental initiatives include Der Grüne Hahn environmental management system and the Kirche und Klima climate protection portal with the GuTeApp for building transformation. Administrative services feature the Neues Kirchliches Finanzmanagement (NKF) financial system and the Gemeinsame Rechnungsprüfungsstelle audit office. The church also operates the Medienzentrum, Büchereifachstelle, and supports approximately 300 brass choirs through the Posaunenwerk Westfalen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung: Training, continuing education, and advisory services for church staff, clergy, and lay workers.
• Institut für Kirche und Gesellschaft
• Amt für Jugendarbeit
• oikos-Institut für Mission und Ökumene
• Pädagogisches Institut
• Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Herford-Witten
• Kirche und Klima

Products and services

• Kirchenshop Westfalen Online shop for church-related merchandise, media products, and promotional materials available to congregations and the public.
• EKvW Schools (Schulen der EKvW) Seven Protestant Christian schools at six locations (Bielefeld-Sennestadt, Breckerfeld, Espelkamp, Gelsenkirchen-Bismarck, Lippstadt, Meinerzhagen) providing faith-based education to school-age children and families.
• Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Herford-Witten The only Protestant church music university in northwest Germany, offering Bachelor, Master, and Concert programs in classical and popular church music, training approximately 10% of Germany's Protestant church musicians.
• Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung Central training, continuing education, and consulting institution for church staff, clergy, and lay workers, with departments for worship, church music, supervision, personnel development, and pastoral care, located at Haus Villigst in Schwerte.
• Institut für Kirche und Gesellschaft Institute bundling competencies in theological and societal issues, economics, social affairs, sustainable development, family, and women's affairs, operating the Evangelische Akademie Villigst.
• Amt für Jugendarbeit Central office for youth work across Westphalia, supporting children and youth engagement through the Diakonisches Jahr (diaconal year) program and the Gewalt Akademie Villigst.
• oikos-Institut für Mission und Ökumene Institute responsible for congregation and church development, development services, mission, ecumenism, and global church partnerships, including support for persecuted Christians worldwide.
• Pädagogisches Institut Church educational institution supporting schools, religious instruction, confirmation work, and community pedagogy, also housing the Medienzentrum Haus Villigst.
• Posaunenwerk Westfalen Brass music program with approximately 300 brass choirs and about 5,500 musicians, providing musical education and theological support, with more than half of members being youth.
• Diakonie Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe Diaconal social services network encompassing over 3,000 facilities and approximately 60,000 employees, providing nursing care, social services, disability support, and community care across Westphalia.
• Kirche und Klima (Climate Protection Initiative) Climate protection initiative implementing the EKvW Klimaschutzgesetz with annual funding of 14 million euros for building transformation, supporting congregations to achieve 90% greenhouse gas emission reduction by 2035.
• Studierendenpfarrämter (ESG) Six Evangelische Studierendengemeinden (student congregations) at universities in Bielefeld, Bochum, Dortmund, Münster, Paderborn, and Siegen providing worship, pastoral care, and counseling for approximately 100,000 Protestant students and international students.
• Evangelische Popakademie Institution offering church-related popular music education including a Bachelor program in Church Popular Music, jointly with the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland.
• Landeskirchliches Archiv Church archive providing family history support, genealogical research, and consultation on church records for the public and academic researchers.
• Werkstatt Bibel Bible workshop offering creative and age-appropriate access to biblical texts for school classes, confirmation groups, and church groups.
• Kulturbeauftragte der EKvW Cultural officer developing practical work aids for culture and art projects for Westphalian congregations.
• Büchereifachstelle Consulting service for evangelical libraries providing qualification, training, literature tips, and library materials support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ diaconal institutions serving Westphalia with ~60,000 employees
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Diakonie Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKvW is a founding/trustee member of Diakonie Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe e.V., which encompasses 3,000+ diaconal institutions with approximately 60,000 employees providing nursing care, social services, and community support across the region. This is the primary social service delivery mechanism of the church.
• EKD (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKvW is a member church of the EKD, the umbrella organization of Protestant churches in Germany. Together with the German Bishops' Conference, the EKD publishes 'Ökumenische Berichte zur Religionsfreiheit von Christen weltweit.' EKvW participates in EKD initiatives including Reminiszere (prayers for persecuted Christians) and joint statements on antisemitism.
• Syrisch-Orthodoxe Kirche von Antiochien (in den Niederlanden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcumenical partnership with the Syriac Orthodox Church led by Mor Polycarpus Dr. Augin Aydin, Archbishop in the Netherlands. The partnership includes solidarity with persecuted Christians in the Middle East and the growing Oriental Orthodox community in Westphalia. EKvW supports these communities through hospitality and integration.
• Kirchenrecht-Westfalen (Kirchenrechtliche Informationssystem)coreTechnology or IntegrationOnline portal (kirchenrecht-westfalen.de) making Westphalian church law publicly accessible, hosting the Kirchenordnung, Klimaschutzgesetz, and other legal documents. This is a critical tool for legal compliance and transparency.
• Vereinte Evangelische Mission (VEM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEKvW participates in VEM, an ecumenical missionary organization. In 2025, EKvW contributed 50,000 euros through VEM for emergency aid to Congolese churches following the capture of Goma by M23 forces.
• AG Kirchlicher Rechnungsprüfungsämter in der EKD (kirpag)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gemeinsame Rechnungsprüfungsstelle (GRPS) of EKvW is a member of kirpag, the working group of church auditing offices within the EKD, which develops standards and best practices for church financial control and auditing.
• Klimabüro der EKvW / Institut für Kirche und GesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Klimabüro (Climate Office) embedded in the Institut für Kirche und Gesellschaft leads the implementation of the Klimaschutzgesetz, managing the Klimaschutzplan, 14 million euros in annual climate funding, and deployment of Klimaschutzmanagende across Kirchenkreise.
• Institut für Aus-, Fort- und WeiterbildungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA central education institution of EKvW combining training and consulting. Hosts the Fachbereich Gottesdienst und Kirchenmusik (worship and church music), Supervision Konvent, and Zentrum Seelsorge. Located at Haus Villigst in Schwerte.
• Amt für Jugendarbeit der EKvWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral office for all youth work in Westphalia, operating the Diakonisches Jahr (diaconal year) and Gewalt Akademie Villigst. Located at Haus Villigst, it engages young people in church and society.
• Pädagogisches Institut (PI Villigst)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandeskirchliche Arbeitsstelle for schools, religious education, confirmation work, and community pedagogy. Supports EKvW, Kirchenkreise, and Kirchengemeinden in educational responsibility. Also houses the Medienzentrum Haus Villigst.
• oikos-Institut für Mission und ÖkumenecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResponsible for congregation and church development, development service, mission, and global sustainability. Formed from the merger of MÖWe (Mission, Ökumene, church world responsibility) and igm (Institute for Congregation Development and Missionary Services). Located at Haus Landeskirchlicher Dienste in Dortmund.
• Hochschule für Kirchenmusik Herford-WittencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe only Protestant church music university in northwest Germany, one of the six largest of Germany's six evangelical music academies. Trains approximately 10% of Germany's Protestant church musicians. Offers Bachelor (Classical and Popular), Master, and Concert programs.
• Ev. Frauenhilfe in Westfalen e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvangelical Women's Aid organization in Westphalia, providing women's welfare services and support within the EKvW ecosystem.
• Westfälischer Verband für KindergottesdienstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestphalian association for children's church services (Kindergottesdienst), promoting and supporting child-centered worship and religious education.
• Ev. Medienhaus BielefeldminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvangelical media house in Bielefeld (Unsere Kirche platform), providing media production and distribution services for the EKvW.
• Grüner Hahn (Umweltmanagementsystem)coreTechnology or IntegrationSystematic environmental management system (gruener-hahn.net) for church facilities and communities, providing certification and structured ecological stewardship. A key tool in the Klimaschutzplan implementation.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Bayern (ELKB): One of the largest German Landeskirchen with a comparable governance structure (Landessynode, Kirchenleitung), a parallel diaconal network (Diakonie Bayern), own theological colleges and schools, and a public-law corporation funding model via Kirchensteuer.
• Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Hannovers: The largest German EKD member church by membership; mirrors EKvW as a regional Landeskirche with Kirchenkreise, congregations, theological faculty, schools, and its own Diakonie arm, operating under the same constitutional and tax framework.
• Evangelische Kirche in Mitteldeutschland (EKM): Central German regional Protestant church formed by merger, operating a comparable multi-state Landeskirche structure with parishes, education institutions, diaconal services, and the same public-law corporation status as EKvW.
• Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz (EKBO): Berlin/Brandenburg Protestant regional church with an analogous Landeskirche structure, congregations, diaconal network, schools and Klimaschutz program, providing a comparable peer for governance and operational benchmarking.
• Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland (EKiR): The neighboring EKD member church covering the Rhineland region of North Rhine-Westphalia; operates the same Landeskirche structure (Kirchenkreise, Kirchengemeinden, Diakonie network) with overlapping territory and shared institutions like the Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen, making it the single most comparable peer.
• Lippische Landeskirche: A smaller, neighboring EKD member church in the Lippe region with deep historic ties to EKvW; operates the same congregational, synodal, and public-law corporation model at a smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Erzbistum Paderborn (Archdiocese): The Catholic archdiocese covering parts of Westphalia adjacent to EKvW territory; parallels EKvW in operating schools, parishes, Caritas services, and a publicly incorporated funding model via church tax.
• Bistum Münster (Catholic Diocese): The Roman Catholic diocese covering the same Westphalia geography as EKvW, with an analogous cathedral chapter, parishes, schools (Bischöfliche Schulen), Caritas social services, and Kirchensteuer funding; serves as the dominant alternative religious provider in the region.

Others

• Caritas Deutschland: The Catholic counterpart to Diakonie, operating in nursing, social services, and education across Germany; functionally comparable to EKvW's social services work via Diakonie Rheinland-Westfalen-Lippe and a natural cross-reference peer.
• Diakonie Deutschland: The national umbrella federation coordinating the social-service work of German Protestant Landeskirchen, including EKvW's ~60,000 employees and 3,000+ Diakonie institutions; comparable as the ecosystem/aggregator over EKvW's most significant operational arm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EvKircheVonWestfalen
• Facebookfacebook.com/evangelischekirchevonwestfalen
• Instagraminstagram.com/ekvw_online
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/evangelische-kirche-von-westfalen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen