Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntal

The Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntal is a self-governing Christian congregation in Korntal-Münchingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was founded in 1819 when King Wilhelm I of Württemberg signed a foundation charter permitting a Brüdergemeinde on the Korntal mark. The community emerged from the Pietist revival movement in Württemberg, whose members faced pressure from the state church's Enlightenment reforms. The congregation's founder, Gottlieb Wilhelm Hoffmann, a notary and mayor of Leonberg, petitioned the king to allow independent religious communities to stem emigration. The Brüdergemeinde is a statutory corporation under public law (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) and maintains a contractual relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Württemberg. Most members hold dual membership: active in the Brüdergemeinde and dormant in the regional church. The community has over 1,500 members and encompasses several diaconal institutions and commercial enterprises with more than 500 employees. Its guiding principles emphasize the Bible, love, gifts, diversity, mission, diakonia, hope, and independence. The congregation is led by a Brüdergemeinderat (brotherhood council) and a secular head (Vorsteher) and a spiritual head (Geistlicher Vorsteher). The Brüdergemeinde operates a wide range of social services, including a diaconal foundation established in 1823, and economic activities that support its mission. It remains an active and distinctive religious and social institution in the region.

The Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntal traces its origins to the Pietist revival movement in Württemberg around 1800. Pietist Christians faced severe pressure from the state church's Enlightenment reforms imposed by Duke Friedrich II (later King Friedrich I). Changes to the hymnal and church ordinances for baptism and communion, enforced with fines and corporal punishment, led many Pietists to consider emigration. In the hunger years of 1816/17, a massive emigration wave saw over 17,000 people leave Württemberg, many for southern Russia. In this context, Gottlieb Wilhelm Hoffmann, a notary and mayor of Leonberg, submitted a petition on 28 February 1817 to King Wilhelm I, proposing the establishment of independent religious communities within the kingdom to stem emigration. After lengthy negotiations, King Wilhelm I approved the proposal on 1 October 1818, and on 10 November 1819 he signed the foundation charter for a Brüdergemeinde on the Korntal mark. The charter permitted families to settle in the new community with freedom of religious practice, based on the Augsburg Confession. In 1819, 68 families moved to Korntal. Hoffmann resigned his offices in Leonberg and became the Vorsteher (head) of the Korntal community, aiming to build a congregation modeled on the New Testament. Until 1919, the secular Vorsteher also served as mayor. Initially, only members of the Brüdergemeinde could move to Korntal. With the founding of the German Empire in 1871, most special rights were abolished, allowing non-members to settle. A small regional church congregation developed alongside, and in 1955 the independent Evangelical Kirchengemeinde Korntal was established. A contract on 19 November 1956, under spiritual head Fritz Grünzweig, redefined the relationship with the Württemberg regional church: members of the Brüdergemeinde are also members of the regional church and can participate in synodal elections, but if residing in Korntal they pay a contribution directly to the community instead of church tax. The community has over 1,500 members and includes several diaconal institutions and commercial enterprises with over 500 employees. Leadership has included Dieter Messner (Vorsteher from 1991 to 2016), Klaus Andersen (from November 2011), Dieter Weißer (from November 2021), and spiritual heads Jochen Hägele (until 2022) and Johannes Luithle (since September 2023).

• 2023

  Johannes Luithle becomes Geistlicher Vorsteher in September.

• 2021

  Dieter Weißer becomes Vorsteher in November.

• 2011

  Klaus Andersen becomes Vorsteher in November.

• 1991

  Dieter Messner becomes Vorsteher.

• 1956

  Contract with Württemberg regional church signed on 19 November.

• 1955

  Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Korntal founded on 23 March.

• 1919

  Secular Vorsteher ceases to be mayor; Korntal becomes a regular municipality.

• 1871

  Most special rights abolished with the founding of the German Empire; non-members allowed to settle.

• 1823

  Diakonie der Evangelischen Brüdergemeinde Korntal founded.

• 1819

  Foundation charter signed on 10 November; 68 families move to Korntal.

• 1818

  King Wilhelm I approves the proposal on 1 October.

• 1817

  Gottlieb Wilhelm Hoffmann submits petition to King Wilhelm I to establish independent religious communities.

A self-governing Protestant congregation with a unique legal status, combining church life with diaconal and commercial activities.

• Diakonie der Evangelischen Brüdergemeinde Korntal

  Diaconal foundation established in 1823, providing social services.

• Commercial enterprises

  Various business operations with over 500 employees.

1. 1Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntal - Official Websitebruedergemeinde-korntal.de
2. 2Unsere Geschichte - Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntalbruedergemeinde-korntal.de
3. 3Häufig gestellte Fragen - Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntalbruedergemeinde-korntal.de
4. 4Unser Leitbild - Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntalbruedergemeinde-korntal.de
5. 5Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntal - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Evangelische Brüdergemeinde Korntal - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org