Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche

What Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche does

Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche is a German nonprofit ecumenical center that functions as the international relations body of the Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Norddeutschland (Nordkirche). The organization coordinates bilateral church partnerships across 28 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and the Pacific, sustaining roughly 50 active projects worldwide. Its program portfolio comprises international church relationship management (Weltweit verbunden), long-term volunteer exchange (Freiwilligendienst im Ausland and the South-North program hosting volunteers in Germany), a scholarship program (Ecumenical Sharing), Christian-Jewish and Christian-Islamic interreligious dialogue, climate justice advocacy (including the Infostelle Klimagerechtigkeit and the Church Climate Action Partnerships with Tanzania, 2023-2026), and a grant program for migrant self-organization. Educational programming is delivered through Campus Breklum and Jugendcampus Breklum, including seminars, exhibitions, and youth work.

The underlying technology stack is modest: a website platform (nordkirche-weltbewegt.de) with donation processing, volunteer application intake, newsletter distribution, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok). No public-facing API, AI/ML capability, or proprietary software product is offered; internal collaboration uses Cisco Webex and Zoom. Two physical sites anchor operations: the Hamburg administrative office (Agathe-Lasch-Weg 16, headed by Managing Director Matthias Kahnert) and the Breklum headquarters (Kirchenstraße 4, housing Campus Breklum and the Christian Jensen Kolleg).

The business model is donation- and church-funding based, not commercial. Revenue streams consist of individual and congregational donations to designated projects (confirmation donation campaigns, social justice, environmental sustainability, humanitarian aid) plus institutional allocations from the Nordkirche parent. The organization is legally constituted as a self-standing legacy association ("altrechtlicher Verein") within the Nordkirche and was formed via merger on January 26, 2024, consolidating the Zentrum für Mission und Ökumene with the Nordkirche's main-department ecumenical services. There is no product pricing, no subscription fee, and no commercial pricing model; financial figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche

Legal name

Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche

Website

https://nordkirche-weltweit.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche is the ecumenical center of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany. It coordinates international church partnerships across 28 countries, manages volunteer exchange and scholarship programs, and leads interreligious dialogue, climate justice, and migrant support initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecumenical Church Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Councils and Dialogue Organizations (BPAGAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Ecumenical partnerships
• Volunteer exchange programs
• Interreligious dialogue
• Climate justice education
• International church relations

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg, Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization receives donations from individuals, congregations, and organizations for various projects including confirmation donation campaigns, social justice initiatives, education programs, environmental sustainability, and humanitarian aid.
2. Church Funding: As a self-governing institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany (Nordkirche), the organization receives institutional church funding and support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche is the ecumenical center of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany (Nordkirche), functioning as the church's international relations department. It coordinates partnerships with Lutheran and ecumenical churches in 28 countries, manages long-term volunteer exchange programs for young adults, facilitates Christian-Jewish and Christian-Muslim dialogue, and runs climate justice initiatives including the Church Climate Action Partnerships project with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania.

Product overview

Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche is an ecumenical center of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany that functions as the church's international relations department. The organization offers a diverse portfolio of programs and services centered on global church partnerships, volunteer exchange programs, interreligious dialogue, and social advocacy. The main service areas include: (1) international church partnerships connecting the Nordkirche with partner churches in Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and the Pacific; (2) volunteer programs including North-South placements abroad and South-North hosting in Germany; (3) interreligious dialogue initiatives covering Christian-Jewish and Christian-Islamic relations; (4) climate justice work including the Church Climate Action Partnerships (CCAP) project with Tanzania; (5) educational programs at Campus Breklum for youth and adults; and (6) grant programs supporting migrant organizations. The organization operates from two locations (Hamburg and Breklum) and maintains a network of 50 projects worldwide with 102 volunteers across 28 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nordkirche weltbewegt: Website and brand identity for the Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche
• Church Climate Action Partnerships (CCAP)
• Jugendcampus Breklum
• Campus Breklum
• Infostelle Klimagerechtigkeit
• Umwelt- und Klimaschutzbüro

Products and services

• Weltweit verbunden (Worldwide Connections) Coordinates international church partnerships and relationships with churches, ecumenical institutions, and NGOs across Africa, Asia, Europe, America, and the Pacific.
• Freiwilligendienst im Ausland (Volunteer Service Abroad) Facilitates long-term volunteer placements (up to one year) for young adults in partner churches worldwide, including diaconal institutions, educational projects, and community programs.
• Freiwilligendienst in Norddeutschland (South-North Program) Hosts volunteers from partner churches in Germany, providing placements in diaconal institutions and community projects in northern Germany.
• Stipendienprogramm Ecumenical Sharing (Scholarship Program) Provides scholarships and exchange opportunities for ecumenical learning and development.
• Dialog interreligiös (Interreligious Dialogue) Promotes Christian-Jewish and Christian-Islamic dialogue through education, encounters, and cooperation with religious communities and organizations.
• Infostelle Klimagerechtigkeit (Climate Justice Information Center) Provides educational resources, materials, and networking opportunities on climate justice, sustainability, and environmental protection within church contexts.
• Church Climate Action Partnerships (CCAP) A three-year climate partnership project (2023-2026) between the East of Lake Victoria Diocese in Tanzania and the Nordkirche, focused on climate protection, adaptation, and developing climate action plans at parish level.
• Campus Breklum / Jugendcampus Breklum An educational and conference facility offering seminars, workshops, and youth programs including the 'Breklumer Gezeiten' and 'Eine Welt Ausstellung' exhibitions.
• Förderprogramm für Migrant*innen (Grant Program for Migrants) Grant program 'Migrantische Selbstorganisationen stärken' that supports migrant organizations in social and educational projects.
• Ökumenische Bildungsarbeit mit Schwerpunkt Rassismuskritik (Ecumenical Education with Focus on Anti-Racism) Educational programs and materials promoting critical reflection on racism and colonial histories within church contexts.
• Spendenprojekte (Donation Projects) Various donation-funded projects including social justice, education for children and youth, sustainability, theology, women's empowerment, and human rights and peace initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23 young volunteers sent annually to partner churches
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• East of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELVD) - Evangelical Lutheran Church in TanzaniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey strategic partnership for Church Climate Action Partnerships (CCAP) project 2023-2026. Eight parishes and one church educational institution participate. Joint work on climate protection, adaptation, and developing climate action plans at parish level.
• Partner Churches in 28 CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive network of ecumenical partnerships including: Kenya, Congo, South Africa, Tanzania (Africa); England, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden (Europe); China, Philippines, Papua New Guinea (Asia-Pacific); Jordan, Iraq, Israel (Middle East); Brazil, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Rio de la Plata, USA (Americas); India (Assam Diocese, Jeypore Church,UELCI)
• Kirchlicher Entwicklungsdienst der Nordkirche (KED)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch development service of the Nordkirche that cooperates on development policy issues and may receive funding or coordinate on programs
• Lutherischer WeltbundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Lutheran communion; Secretary General Dr. Anne Burghardt acknowledged the election of Bishop Catherine Ngina Musau as important sign of hope for gender justice
• Churches for Future / KlimastreikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate action initiative; organization cooperates through Infostelle Klimagerechtigkeit and participates in climate strikes
• Mission Eine WeltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Protestant mission organization; provided coverage on the inauguration of Bishop Catherine Ngina Musau

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mission Eine Welt: German Protestant mission and ecumenical organization affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria. Direct peer as a sister regional church mission agency coordinating international partnerships, volunteer exchanges, and development programs with similar programmatic structure.
• Brot für die Welt: The development and relief service of the German Protestant churches (EKD). Comparable as a faith-based organization funding international development projects, advocacy, and partner church support across multiple regions.
• Church of Sweden – International Work: International department of the Church of Sweden coordinating ecumenical partnerships, mission work, and development cooperation. Direct peer as a Lutheran national church body performing comparable functions for Swedish Lutherans.
• Vereinte Evangelische Mission (VEM): United Evangelical Mission linking Protestant churches in Germany, Africa, Asia, and Indonesia. Direct peer coordinating international church partnerships, development cooperation, and ecumenical programs across multiple continents.
• Weltgebetstag – Deutsches Komitee: German committee for the ecumenical World Day of Prayer movement. Comparable as an ecumenical initiative mobilizing German Protestant and Catholic congregations around international solidarity and interfaith themes.

Broad incumbents

• Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung: Umbrella organization of German Protestant social welfare and development work, parent of Brot für die Welt. Comparable as a broader institutional actor coordinating Protestant international and social programs within which the Ökumenewerk operates.
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschland (ACK): German Council of Churches coordinating ecumenical cooperation among Christian denominations in Germany. Comparable as an ecumenical body facilitating inter-church and interfaith dialogue, of which the Ökumenewerk's ecumenical work is complementary.
• Lutherischer Weltbund (Lutheran World Federation): Global communion of Lutheran churches worldwide. Comparable as the umbrella Lutheran body coordinating ecumenical relationships and global programs, of which the Ökumenewerk is effectively a regional implementing partner.
• Caritas Deutschland: German Catholic social welfare organization. Comparable as a faith-based nonprofit providing social services, volunteer programs, and migrant/refugee support, though much larger in scale and Catholic-affiliated.
• Misereor: German Catholic development agency funding international development and partnership projects. Comparable as a large German faith-based organization with similar international partnership, climate justice, and advocacy programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/nordkircheweltweit
• Facebookfacebook.com/oekumenewerk.der.nordkirche
• Instagraminstagram.com/oekumenewerk_nordkirche
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oekumenewerk-der-nordkirche

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ökumenewerk der Nordkirche