In 2005, a delegation from the United Church of Christ went to Germany to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ecumenical partnership that has existed with the EKU, the protestant church there. A member of that delegation was Rev. Geoffrey Black, conference minister of the New York Conference. The national church in Germany has been joined with some other churches and is now known as the EUK. One of these new members is the EKHN, Deaneries in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt. Leaders of the EKHN met with Rev. Black during his visit and expressed interest in a direct ecumenical relationship with the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Conversations between both groups lead to a German delegation visiting New York and attending our Annual meeting at Silver Bay on Lake George, NY in June of 2006. By 2007 a formal covenant was established between the two churches and a document was signed at the meeting of the New York Conference in June at Hartford CT.

German visitors and New York Conference members meeting in June 2008.

It was agreed that for 5 years the churches will exchange delegations of up to 10 people each time. The visitors will pay their transportation costs to the other country and the host church will cover expenses in the country. Germans will visit on odd number years and New Yorkers will visit on event number years. A 10 person delegation from New York is visiting in late April. There is also a youth exchange that will start in the summer of 2008.

Another exchange with this covenant is the assignment of an intern from the EKHN to a church in New York for one year. When a seminary student finished schooling, they are assigned to an internship of at least a year before getting a position in the church. With the covenant, one of the student options is to serve in New York State. The first to serve was Peter Dennenbaum (2006-2007). Presently Daniel Heppel is serving in Homer, NY (2007-2008).

• Read the covenant agreement.
• Background discussion, September 2006