Evangelische Akademikerschaft in Deutschland

The Evangelische Akademikerschaft in Deutschland e.V. (EAiD) is a German voluntary association of Christians, many of them university-educated, that works under the motto 'glauben, denken, handeln' — believe, think, act. It describes itself as combining orientation to the biblical message and Christian values with critical, open-minded reflection and concrete engagement for peace, justice and the preservation of creation. Although its name contains the words 'evangelisch' (Protestant) and 'akademisch' (academic), the association states that it is not open only to Protestant or university-educated people: anyone who supports its goals and principles and is interested in its themes is welcome. The association is active in education and higher-education work, in social and church-related projects, and as a socio-political force. Each year it organises conferences, study trips and individual events, and it publishes the quarterly magazine 'evangelische aspekte', each issue devoted to a focus theme. Its 'Evangelische Hochschuldialoge' (Protestant university dialogues) bring scientific and socially relevant topics into conversation with basic statements of the Christian faith, following the model of classical symposia in which theses and counter-theses are presented and then opened to general discussion with neutral moderation; results are published in the 'Evangelische Hochschuldialoge' series. Organisationally, the registered association has existed since 1954 and is active throughout Germany. Tasks are divided between the federal association and its regional associations (Landesverbände), of which the website lists thirteen, including Baden, Bavaria, Berlin/Brandenburg, Hesse, Mitteldeutschland, Pfalz-Saar, Saxony and Württemberg, alongside regional groups such as Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen, Nordwest, Rheinland and Westfalen. Working groups with members from different regional associations address specific projects and fields, for example 'Hochschularbeit' (higher-education work), 'Gerechtigkeit' (justice) and 'Kirchen öffnen und erhalten' (opening and preserving churches). The association's work is financed primarily from membership fees. Its roots reach back to the nineteenth century, to the alumni fellowship of the Deutsche Christliche Studenten-Vereinigung (DCSV), founded in 1895, and to parallel women's student organisations. After the Second World War the work was resumed, and in 1954 the alumni fellowship was reconstituted as an independent partner of the student congregations, taking the name Evangelische Akademikerschaft in Deutschland. Today the EAiD continues to run events, publish its magazine and engage in church, academic and societal debates, with current themes ranging from artificial intelligence and transhumanism to church music, conscience and peace.

The prehistory of the Evangelische Akademikerschaft reaches back into the nineteenth century. Its predecessor organisation is the 'Altfreundeschaft der Deutschen Christlichen Studenten-Vereinigung' (alumni fellowship of the German Christian Student Association). The Deutsche Christliche Studenten-Vereinigung (DCSV) was founded in 1895, and in 1900 the association of 'Altfreunde' (old friends/alumni) of the DCSV was formed, conceived according to the then-common social model of an 'Altherrenschaft' (old-boys' association). In 1905 the DCVSF, the 'Deutsche Christliche Vereinigung Studierender Frauen' (German Christian Association of Women Students), came into being, renamed in 1931 as DCSB, 'Deutsche Christliche Studentinnen-Bewegung' (German Christian Women Students' Movement). Both student organisations were banned and dissolved by the Gestapo in 1938. After the Second World War, work began anew. In 1947 Ewald Katzmann and Eberhard Müller invited 'the former Altfreunde of the German Christian Student Association, the former members of the DCSB and former members of the Protestant student congregations in Germany' to Bad Boll for a gathering of reorientation at the end of February. Student congregations had already been founded in East and West in 1946. In May of the same year there was already an 'Altakademikerarbeit' (alumni academic work) of the Protestant student congregation, in whose name Prof. Julius Schniewind, Pastor Martin Fischer, the Berlin General Superintendent Friedrich-Wilhelm Krummacher and the physician Dr. Herzfeld sent out a circular. The letter reported on the Bad Boll gathering and invited people 'to a Christian academics' conference' from 6 to 10 August 1947. The invitation was signed by the names Wurm, Lilje, Dibelius, Maas, von Thadden, Lütkemann, Martin Fischer and Eberhard Müller. On 10 August 1947, as a resumption of the work of the Altfreundeschaft of the DCSV, the 'Altfreundeschaft der Evangelischen Studentengemeinde in Deutschland' (alumni fellowship of the Protestant student congregation in Germany) was founded. At the delegates' assembly of this alumni fellowship in 1954 in Mülheim, the paradigm of the 'Altherrenverband' (old-boys' association) was abandoned, and it was decided to make the 'Altfreundeschaft' an independent partner of the student congregations standing in its own right. In this sense the Evangelische Akademikerschaft in Deutschland was founded. The registered association has existed since 1954 and is active throughout Germany. In the decades since, the association has developed a nationwide structure dividing tasks between the federal association and its regional associations, and it has built a programme of annual conferences, study trips and individual events. It publishes the quarterly magazine 'evangelische aspekte', each issue devoted to a focus theme, and runs the 'Evangelische Hochschuldialoge', which confront scientific and socially relevant topics with basic statements of the Christian faith in the manner of classical symposia, publishing the results in a dedicated series. Working groups with members drawn from different regional associations address particular fields such as higher-education work, justice, and the opening and preservation of churches. The association's work is financed primarily from membership fees. Its current themes, as presented on its website, range across church music, conscience, artificial intelligence and transhumanism, Christian images of humanity, peace, justice and environmental protection.

• 1954

  At the delegates' assembly in Mülheim, the 'Altherrenverband' paradigm is abandoned and the Evangelische Akademikerschaft in Deutschland is founded as an independent partner of the student congregations.

• 1947

  On 10 August, the Altfreundeschaft der Evangelischen Studentengemeinde in Deutschland is founded, resuming the work of the DCSV alumni fellowship.

• 1938

  Both student organisations are banned and dissolved by the Gestapo.

• 1931

  The DCVSF is renamed DCSB, Deutsche Christliche Studentinnen-Bewegung.

• 1905

  Founding of the DCVSF, Deutsche Christliche Vereinigung Studierender Frauen.

• 1900

  Formation of the association of 'Altfreunde' (alumni) of the DCSV.

• 1895

  Founding of the Deutsche Christliche Studenten-Vereinigung (DCSV), predecessor organisation of the EAiD.

A Protestant, academically oriented membership association that combines biblical orientation and Christian values with critical, open-minded reflection and concrete engagement for peace, justice and the preservation of creation; open to anyone who supports its goals.

• evangelische aspekte

  Quarterly magazine of the association, each issue devoted to a focus theme.

• Evangelische Hochschuldialoge

  University dialogue events and a publication series confronting scientific and socially relevant topics with basic statements of the Christian faith.

• Annual conferences, study trips and individual events

  The association organises conferences, trips and individual events each year.

• Working groups

  Working groups with members from different regional associations, e.g. 'Hochschularbeit', 'Gerechtigkeit', 'Kirchen öffnen und erhalten'.

1. 1glauben, denken, handeln – Evangelische Akademikerschaft in Deutschland e.V.ev-akademiker.de
2. 2Woher wir kommen – Unsere Geschichteev-akademiker.de
3. 3Wir über unsev-akademiker.de
4. 4Die Landesverbändeev-akademiker.de
5. 5Evangelische Akademikerschaft in Deutschland – Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Evangelische Akademikerschaft in Deutschland – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org