Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung
IAFW is the continuing-education institute of the Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen, delivering training for clergy, lay preachers, church musicians, and pastoral counselors across four partner German Protestant regional churches through the Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg and an Antragocloud-based online event portal.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersSchwerte, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung does
The Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung (IAFW) is the continuing and further education institute of the Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (EKvW), a public-law Protestant regional church in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Founded in 2001 and headquartered at Haus Villigst in Schwerte, the institute delivers vocational, continuing, and further education programs for ordained clergy, lay preachers (Prädikant*innen), church musicians (Kirchenmusiker*innen), pastoral counselors, and volunteer chaplains serving the regional church and its 25+ church districts (Kirchenkreise). Its flagship offering is the Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg, a joint continuing education college co-coordinated with three partner churches (Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland, Lippische Landeskirche, Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche), supplemented by specialist departments in worship and church music, pastoral care (Zentrum Seelsorge), lay preacher training, and process consulting for congregations.
IAFW's technology stack is built on a TYPO3 CMS-based website integrated with an Antragocloud-powered event portal (antragocloud.de) that provides self-service course registration, user accounts, and digital correspondence. Operational tooling includes a privacy-focused Matomo analytics deployment (self-hosted, no cookies, anonymized config_id), the Brevo newsletter platform for the Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg's mailing list, and embedded YouTube/Vimeo media. The institute co-locates and co-operates the Westfälisches Kirchenmusikwerk and jointly develops digital formats such as KachelTalk with six Pastoralkollegs across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The institute is a non-independent institution (unselbständige Einrichtung) of the EKvW and has no separate legal personality, funding rounds, investors, or publicly disclosed revenue. Revenue derives primarily from participation fees (Teilnahmebeiträge) for seminars and events — billed after written registration confirmation with discounts for early-career clergy (FEA) — augmented by fees for multi-interval programs such as the Prädikant*innen Grundkurs. Distribution is event-driven and channeled through the EKvW's hierarchical church network, the Antragocloud portal, the Brevo newsletter, the KachelTalk digital format, and on-site programs at Haus Villigst.
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung
- Legal name
- Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung der Evangelischen Kirche von Westfalen (IAFW)
- Website
- https://institut-afw.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- IAFW is the continuing-education institute of the Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen, delivering training for clergy, lay preachers, church musicians, and pastoral counselors across four partner German Protestant regional churches through the Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg and an Antragocloud-based online event portal.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Education and Pastoral Training Services
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611), Religious Organizations (81311)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)
Keywords
Where Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schwerte
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Course/Event Participation Fees: The institute generates revenue through participation fees (Teilnahmebeiträge) for educational events, seminars, and courses. Fees vary based on participant status, with discounts available for those in their first years of ministry (FEA - Fortbildung in den ersten Amtsjahren).
- Long-term Course Fees: Multi-session educational programs including basic courses (Grundkurs) for Prädikant*innen with binding commitments for all course intervals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard Participation Fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung (IAFW) is the educational institute of the Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (EKvW), delivering continuing education, vocational training, and consulting for ordained clergy, lay preachers (Prädikant*innen), church musicians (Kirchenmusiker*innen), pastoral counselors (Seelsorger*innen), and church congregations. Its core offering is the Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg, a joint pastoral college operating with four partner regional Protestant churches, complemented by specialized programs in worship, church music, pastoral care, and process consulting for congregations.
Product overview
The Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung (IAFW) is an educational institution of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia providing continuing education and professional development for church professionals. Its portfolio consists of the Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg (joint pastoral college with four partner churches) as the core offering, supplemented by specialized divisions including the Fachbereich Gottesdienst und Kirchenmusik (worship and church music), Zentrum Seelsorge (pastoral care center), and Prädikantenausbildung (lay preacher training). Supporting services include Beratung und Bildung (consulting and education), the Westfälisches Kirchenmusikwerk, KachelTalk digital discussion formats, and Prozessberatung (process consultation). The institution also provides qualification programs for pastoral care, emergency chaplaincy, and digital pastoral care.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg (GPK): A joint continuing education program operated together with the Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland, Lippische Landeskirche, and Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche, offering theological and pastoral training programs.
Products and services
- Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg Joint pastoral college offering continuing education and training programs for clergy across four partner Protestant regional churches (Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland, Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen, Lippische Landeskirche, and Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche), covering theology, pedagogy, and societal responsibility.
- Beratung und Bildung in der EKvW Consulting and educational services provided within the Evangelical Church of Westphalia, including supervision, counseling, and professional development programs for church staff and congregations.
- Fachbereich Gottesdienst und Kirchenmusik Division covering worship services and church music, offering consultation, continuing education, and practical support for liturgical and musical matters in church services for worship leaders and church musicians.
- Zentrum Seelsorge Center for pastoral care that connects various fields of pastoral work, supports transformation processes, and provides qualification for those working in pastoral care, including hospital chaplaincy, crisis intervention, and emergency response.
- Prädikantinnen und Prädikanten Ausbildung Training program for lay preachers (Prädikant*innen) including basic courses, mentoring programs, homiletics (sermon preparation), and liturgy training for volunteer and lay preaching ministry.
- Westfälisches Kirchenmusikwerk Church music network and continuing education programs for church musicians, including workshops, study days, choir days, and events such as Orgeltag Westfalen for professional and volunteer church musicians.
- KachelTalk Formate Digital discussion format (KachelTalk Theologie and KachelTalk Pädagogik) providing 90-120 minute online sessions with expert impulses and conversations on current theological and educational topics for church professionals.
- Prozessberatung Process consultation service for congregations and church districts on worship planning, liturgy unification, and worship landscape development, delivered on-site upon request.
- Pädagogik Themenfeld Educational offerings focused on pedagogical competencies, group work, team collaboration, trauma-sensitive work, and mentoring for church professionals across the partner church network.
Companies that use Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature3 records
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg (Partner Churches)coreIAFW coordinates the Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg together with three partner churches: Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland, Lippische Landeskirche, and Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche. This joint program provides shared continuing education for clergy across all four regional churches.
- Six Pastoralkollegs (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)flagshipCollaborative network of six Pastoralkollegs developing joint formats like KachelTalk. Partners include: Pastoralkolleg Wien, Theologisches Studienseminar Pullach, Pastoralkolleg Drübeck, Evangelisches Studienseminar Hofgeismar, Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg, and Pastoralkolleg Ratzeburg.
- Westfälisches KirchenmusikwerkcoreThe Westfälische Kirchenmusikwerk (Westphalian Church Music Association) works in close collaboration with IAFW for organizing church music events including Orgeltag Westfalen and regional choir days. The association's office is co-located at IAFW.
- Haus VilligstcoreHaus Villigst is the conference facility where IAFW's main office is located and most residential programs are held. This historic estate serves as the primary venue for educational events and seminars.
- Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (EKvW)flagshipIAFW is an integral part of the Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen as a non-independent unit. The church is a public law corporation (Körperschaft des Öffentlichen Rechts) represented by Präses and provides institutional backing, governance, and policy alignment.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Pastoralkolleg Wien: Continuing education institution for Protestant clergy of the Evangelical Church A.B. in Austria. Named KachelTalk partner; comparable model but serves a different national church (Austria vs. Germany's EKvW).
Direct peers
- Predigerseminar der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland: Preacher seminary of the Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland (EKiR), one of IAFW's four Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg partner churches. Comparable lay-preacher training and clergy formation role within a neighboring regional church.
- Evangelisches Studienseminar Hofgeismar: Protestant study seminary in Hesse providing pastoral continuing education and theological training. Listed as one of the six Pastoralkolleg partners co-developing the KachelTalk digital format with IAFW.
- Pastoralkolleg Drübeck: Continuing education institution for Protestant clergy in the Evangelical Church in Central Germany (EKM). Direct peer explicitly named in IAFW's KachelTalk collaboration network and operating the same Pastoralkolleg model of clergy formation.
- Pastoralkolleg Ratzeburg: Clergy continuing education center of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany (Nordkirche). Named as one of six KachelTalk partners with directly comparable programs for ordained pastors.
- Theologisches Studienseminar Pullach: Theological study seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria, providing clergy formation and continuing theological education. Named KachelTalk partner with directly comparable offerings.
Emerging players
- Evangelische Akademie Villigst: Protestant adult education academy co-located at Haus Villigst (IAFW's primary venue) in Schwerte. Adjacent provider of theological and societal discourse programming serving overlapping Protestant audiences in Westphalia.
Broad incumbents
- Pädagogisch-Theologisches Institut der Evangelischen Kirche von Kurhessen-Waldeck: Protestant pedagogical-theological institute providing continuing education for religious educators and clergy in the EKKW regional church. Comparable model of denomination-specific continuing education across theology and pedagogy.
- Religionspädagogisches Institut Loccum: Protestant religious-education institute serving the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover. Comparable interprofessional continuing-education mandate covering pedagogy, theology, and church music.
- Theologisches Zentrum Braunschweig: Protestant continuing education center in the Braunschweig regional church, offering clergy and lay leader training. Comparable scope and target audience as IAFW.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung social profiles
Digital presenceInstitut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung
What does Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung do?
The Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung (IAFW) is the educational institute of the Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (EKvW), delivering continuing education, vocational training, and consulting for ordained clergy, lay preachers (Prädikant*innen), church musicians (Kirchenmusiker*innen), pastoral counselors (Seelsorger*innen), and church congregations. Its core offering is the Gemeinsames Pastoralkolleg, a joint pastoral college operating with four partner regional Protestant churches, complemented by specialized programs in worship, church music, pastoral care, and process consulting for congregations.
Is Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung a public or private company?
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung founded?
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung based?
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung is headquartered in Schwerte, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Course/Event Participation Fees are the primary driver. The others are long-term Course Fees.
Who are Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung's main competitors?
Pastoralkolleg Wien is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Predigerseminar der Evangelischen Kirche im Rheinland, Evangelisches Studienseminar Hofgeismar, Pastoralkolleg Drübeck, Pastoralkolleg Ratzeburg and Theologisches Studienseminar Pullach. Evangelische Akademie Villigst is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Pädagogisch-Theologisches Institut der Evangelischen Kirche von Kurhessen-Waldeck, Religionspädagogisches Institut Loccum and Theologisches Zentrum Braunschweig.
Does Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung have an API?
No public API is recorded for Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung.
What industry is Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung in?
Institut für Aus-, Fort- und Weiterbildung's product category is Religious Education and Pastoral Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAKAM, Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical), with a secondary code of EDAHAKAA, Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry). Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.