Evangel. Oberkirchenrat

What Evangel. Oberkirchenrat does

The Evangel. Oberkirchenrat (legal name: Evangelisch-Lutherischer Kirchenkreis Mecklenburg, "ELKM") is the administrative body of the largest Protestant Lutheran church district in northern Germany by area, covering 15,687 km² across the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Formed in 2012 when the former Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Mecklenburgs merged with the Pommersche Evangelische Kirche and the Nordelbische Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche to create the Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Norddeutschland (Nordkirche), the Kirchenkreis now operates as one of 13 constituent districts of the Nordkirche. Governance is exercised through the Kirchenkreisrat (council), Kirchenkreissynode (parliament), and four Pröpstinnen and Pröpste overseeing the Propsteien Neustrelitz, Parchim, Rostock, and Wismar.

The organization delivers religious, social, educational, and cultural services through 172 Kirchengemeinden (parishes), the Diakonie Mecklenburg-Vorpommern social services network (~1,000 facilities, 15,000+ employees), 50+ evangelical kindergartens, 19+ evangelical schools, the Zentrum Kirchlicher Dienste in Rostock, the 24/7 Telefonseelsorge crisis line, conference and pilgrimage houses, and 664 historic churches (97% under heritage protection). Pastoral and sacramental services reach ~133,498 members (2025), roughly 16% of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's population, served by approximately 200 active and retired pastors and supported by ~10,000 volunteer employees.

Revenue is generated primarily through the Kirchensteuer (church tax), a legally enshrined percentage of members' income tax collected by the German state tax authorities, supplemented by donations, offerings, fees for Diakonie social services, and approximately €14 million in annual construction investment funded by federal and state subsidies, foundation grants, the partner Landeskirche Bayern, and parish contributions. The organization does not sell commercial products. No proprietary technology systems are described; operations rely on standard church management software, a content-managed website (kirche-mv.de), the Kirchenland MV mobile app, and IT infrastructure managed by the Kirchenkreisverwaltung.

Name

Evangel. Oberkirchenrat

Legal name

Evangelisch-Lutherischer Kirchenkreis Mecklenburg

Website

https://kirche-mv.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Evangel. Oberkirchenrat (Evangelisch-Lutherischer Kirchenkreis Mecklenburg) is the administrative body of northern Germany's largest Protestant Lutheran church district, serving ~133,498 members across 172 parishes, 664 historic churches, and a Diakonie social services network of ~1,000 facilities in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA), Faith-Based Healthcare Ministries (Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Missions) (BPAGAJAH)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Pastoral care
• Social welfare services
• Religious education
• Church administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Schwerin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Church Tax (Kirchensteuer): The primary funding source is the church tax (Kirchensteuer), collected by German state tax authorities on behalf of the church. Members pay a percentage of their income tax to the church. This constitutes the overwhelming majority of church funding.
2. Donations and Offerings: Voluntary donations, offerings collected during worship services, and special collections (Kollekten) for designated causes. The organization runs a Kirchgeld- und Spendenservice (church dues and donation service) for the Kirchengemeinden.
3. Diakonie Social Services Fees: Fees for social services provided by Diakonie Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, including childcare facilities, elderly care, disability services, counseling, addiction support, and refugee services. The Diakonie operates approximately 1,000 facilities and services.
4. Building Investment Funding: Annual construction investments of approximately €14 million (zireka 14,0 Mio. Euro) funded through a combination of government subsidies (Bund und Land), foundation grants, state church funding (Landeskirche Bayern), donations, parish own funds, and Kirchenkreis contributions. This covers maintenance of the 664 churches (84 Stadtkirchen + 580 Dorfkirchen) and more than 1,500 total church buildings.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Evangelisch-Lutherischer Kirchenkreis Mecklenburg (ELKM) is a Protestant Lutheran church district that delivers pastoral care, worship services, and sacramental life (baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals) through 172 Kirchengemeinden (parishes) organized into 4 Propsteien and approximately 20 Kirchenregionen. It also operates religious education (Christenlehre), runs approximately 50 evangelical kindergartens and 19 evangelical schools, maintains 664 historic churches, and delivers social welfare services through Diakonie Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, which operates approximately 1,000 facilities.

Product overview

Evangel. Oberkirchenrat (Evangelische Kirche in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) is a religious administrative institution, not a technology company. It operates a content-managed website providing church administrative services, pastoral care, community programs, and ecclesiastical resources. No software products or technology services are offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services and Sacramental Care Regular worship services, baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals delivered across 172 Kirchengemeinden for approximately 133,498 church members and the wider public.
• Diakonie Social Services Social welfare services delivered through approximately 1,000 Diakonie facilities, including childcare, elderly care, disability services, family counseling, addiction support, refugee integration, and hospice care.
• Religious Education (Christenlehre) Pre-confirmation religious education for children and youth, plus school religious instruction and adult confirmation courses delivered through Kirchengemeinden and parish staff.
• Evangelical Kindergartens More than 50 evangelical kindergartens across Mecklenburg providing early childhood education and care.
• Evangelical Schools At least 19 evangelical schools across Mecklenburg providing primary and secondary education with values-based orientation.
• Church Building Preservation Maintenance, conservation, and emergency stabilization of 664 historic churches (84 Stadtkirchen and 580 Dorfkirchen) and more than 1,500 church buildings, with approximately 14 million euros in annual construction investment.
• Telefonseelsorge (Telephone Pastoral Care) 24/7 ecumenical telephone pastoral care service for Vorpommern, providing crisis support to people in life crises around the clock.
• Tagungs- und Gästehäuser (Conference and Guest Houses) Conference, retreat, and guest facilities including Haus der Kirche Güstrow, Pfarrhaus Damm, Haus der Stille Bellin, and Pilger-Kloster Tempzin, available for parish and external group bookings.
• Urlaubskirche and Open Churches Tourism Program Open Churches program, Wegekirchen pilgrimage routes, and the Kirchenland MV mobile app supporting cultural tourism across Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~133,498 church members as of 2025, with declining trend
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtestant development service organization co-funded by the Zentrum Kirchlicher Dienste, supporting global justice and development projects.
• Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Norddeutschland (Nordkirche)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Evangelisch-Lutherischer Kirchenkreis Mecklenburg is one of 13 Kirchenkreise of the Nordkirche. The Nordkirche provides overarching governance, the Landesbischöfin, Landeskirchenamt, Landessynode, and Kirchenleitung. At Pentecost 2012, the former Landeskirche Mecklenburgs merged with the Nordelbische Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche and the Pommersche Evangelische Kirche to form the Nordkirche.
• Pommerscher Evangelischer Kirchenkreis (PEK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe PEK is the sister Kirchenkreis of the ELKM, sharing the same website portal (kirche-mv.de). Both Kirchenkreise belong to the Nordkirche and collaborate on shared initiatives such as the 'Starke Stücke' film series, the Landtagswahl campaign, and joint news coverage.
• Partnerschaft Bayern-MecklenburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA formal partnership relationship between the Bavarian church and the Mecklenburg church, with church-to-church exchanges, Kirchbauvereine (church building support) funding, and cross-regional cooperation programs.
• Diakonie Westmecklenburg-SchwerincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiakonische Träger (diaconic organizations) affiliated with the church provide social services including Stift Bethlehem in Ludwigslust, which operates the Oblatenbäckerei (wafer bakery) and Paramentenwerkstatt (vestment workshop).

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Sachsens: Another regional EKD Lutheran state church of comparable scale, with similar parish structure, Kirchensteuer funding, and Diakonie integration. Provides a strong reference point for governance, funding mechanics, and parish consolidation trends.
• Evangelische Kirche Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz (EKBO): Large EKD regional church with similar Kirchensteuer-funded parish network, Diakonie affiliate, and heritage-building preservation obligations. Comparable in administrative complexity and scale of social services.
• Diakonie Deutschland: National umbrella of Protestant social welfare organizations affiliated with the EKD. Diakonie Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is part of this federation, which coordinates advocacy, funding, and standards across Germany's largest faith-based social services network.
• Deutscher Caritasverband: Catholic counterpart to Diakonie, operating parallel social services (childcare, elderly care, counseling) at national scale. Comparable mission, funding structure, and demographic challenges in eastern Germany, making it a natural cross-denominational peer.

Direct peers

• Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Norddeutschland (Nordkirche): Parent body formed in 2012 by merger of the ELKM's predecessor Landeskirche Mecklenburgs with the Pommersche Evangelische Kirche and the Nordelbische Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche. Provides overarching governance, Landesbischöfin, and Landeskirchenamt; the most direct structural peer.
• Pommerscher Evangelischer Kirchenkreis (PEK): Sister Kirchenkreis within the Nordkirche, sharing the same kirche-mv.de web portal and joint initiatives like the 'Starke Stücke' film series and Landtagswahl campaign. Operates the same ecclesiastical governance model across the adjacent Pommern region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Others

• Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD): Umbrella organization of 23 German Protestant regional churches including the Nordkirche. Sets common policy, theological standards, and represents the churches at federal level; the apex governance and coordination peer.
• Stiftung Denkmalschutz (German Foundation for Monument Protection): Major German heritage preservation foundation that co-funds church building maintenance together with Bund and Land. A core funding and ecosystem partner for the ELKM's €14M/year construction investment program.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/evangel.-oberkirchenrat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Evangel. Oberkirchenrat