Evangelisch-Lutherische Landeskirche Hannovers Sprengel Ostfriesland-Ems

The Sprengel Ostfriesland-Ems is one of six districts of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover. Geographically, it extends from the East Frisian Islands in the north to the County of Bentheim in the south, along the Ems axis. The district is characterized by its ecumenical diversity, as the Emsland is predominantly Catholic and the County of Bentheim is predominantly Reformed.

The district comprises 153 church and chapel communities with around 274,500 members, spread across the six church districts of Aurich, Emden-Leer, Emsland-Bentheim, Harlingerland, Norden and Rhauderfehn.

The spiritual leadership has been the responsibility of Regional Bishop Sabine Schiermeyer since February 2024. She represents the district in public and participates in the overall church leadership of the Church of Hanover through the Bishops' Council. Her tasks include the theological orientation of church work, the promotion of consensus within the regional church and pastoral care for full-time and volunteer staff.

The Sprengel Ostfriesland-Ems offers a wide range of services, including jobs for evangelical religious education, educational centers, adult education, family education centers, youth work, offers for church in tourism, church music, offers for church and school, Kloster Frenswegen as an ecumenical educational institution, state trombone warden, lector and preacher work, men's work, emergency pastoral care and pastoral psychological services.

A particular concern of the Church of Hanover, and thus also of the Sprengel Ostfriesland-Ems, is protection against sexualized violence. There is a ZERO-tolerance policy towards the acts and transparency in the processing. The specialist department Sexualized Violence of the Church of Hanover offers advice, support and assistance to those affected, relatives and witnesses. Comprehensive protection concepts have been developed that include prevention, intervention and processing.

The Sprengel Ostfriesland-Ems is also involved in ecumenical partnerships and promotes the work with Lektor:innen and Prädikant:innen. The Regional Bishop regularly participates in events and services to strengthen the community and provide theological impulses.

1. https://www.sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/
2. https://sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/regionalbischoefin
3. https://sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/ansprechpersonen
4. https://sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/info-und-service/sprengeldienste
5. https://sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/termine
6. https://sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/info-und-service
7. https://sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/nachrichten/2025
8. https://sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/meta/impressum
9. https://sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/nachrichten/2024
10. https://sprengel-ostfriesland-ems.de/info-und-service/synodale