Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württemberg

The Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württemberg (EJW) is the umbrella organization for Protestant youth work within the Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg, based in Stuttgart. It operates as an independent state-level office on behalf of the regional church, promotes Protestant youth work in congregations and church districts, and represents their shared interests. The EJW is a member of the CVJM-Gesamtverband and is the largest member association within the Landesjugendring Baden-Württemberg. In projects such as oaseBW (online application and statistics collection for Baden-Württemberg), the EJW carries out tasks for the entire field of child and youth work in Baden-Württemberg on behalf of the Social Ministry. The EJW traces its roots to 20 January 1869, when 17 Württemberg and three Baden associations founded the Süddeutscher Evangelischer Jünglingsbund in Stuttgart. On 17 October 1946, Protestant youth work in Württemberg was reorganized: the state youth office was dissolved and all youth work was transferred to the Evangelisches Jungmännerwerk and the Evangelisches Mädchenwerk, which continued their service independently on behalf of the regional church. In 1971, the two works merged to form today's Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württemberg. At the local level, youth work is shaped predominantly by volunteers in local youth groups and CVJM chapters through group activities and individual offerings such as camps and seminars. Local congregations are organized into 47 district youth organizations, which support congregational youth work through leader training, mentoring, cross-local activities, and youth travel and camp offerings. At the state level, the state office represents Protestant youth work to the regional church, state, and society, tests and multiplies models of youth work, organizes major events, and offers supra-regional camps and training. At the federal level, the CVJM-Gesamtverband represents Protestant youth work, offering nationwide training such as official exercise leader licenses and adventure education. The central conference center Bernhäuser Forst in Württemberg is run by CVJM Deutschland. Each year in Baden-Württemberg, roughly 300,000 young people take part in one of more than 15,000 regular Protestant group offerings, with an additional 460,000 participations in individual offerings such as camps, seminars, or sports tournaments. These offerings are run by the EJW as well as the Evangelische Jugend Baden and other Protestant youth associations. In Württemberg alone, more than 53,000 people are involved in Protestant work with children and youth (as of 2014). The EJW's goals, adopted by the delegates' assembly on 24 May 2003 at Bernhäuser Forst, state: "We encounter young people in their life worlds and invite them to a personal faith in Jesus Christ. They thus find meaning-giving orientation for their lives. We accompany young people in shaping their lives out of this faith. They experience supportive community, gain values, and develop life skills. We enable young people to take on responsibility and accompany them in doing so. They shape youth work, church, and society in a global horizon. We therefore create, together with young people, the necessary conditions and represent their interests." Offerings for children, youth, young adults, and families include group activities such as Jungschargruppen, sports, and brass ensembles (Posaunenchor). All trombone choirs in the Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg, with about 15,000 players, are affiliated with the EJW, which is a member association of the Evangelischer Posaunendienst in Deutschland e.V. (EPiD). Every two years, the largest German state trombone festival (Landesposaunentag) takes place in Ulm, since 2000 under the direction of church music director Hans-Ulrich Nonnenmann.

The history of the Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württemberg (EJW) begins on 20 January 1869, when 17 Württemberg and three Baden associations founded the Süddeutscher Evangelischer Jünglingsbund in Stuttgart. This early association laid the groundwork for organized Protestant youth work in the region. On 17 October 1946, a major reorganization of Protestant youth work in Württemberg took place: the state youth office (Landesjugendstelle) was dissolved, and all youth work was transferred to the Evangelisches Jungmännerwerk and the Evangelisches Mädchenwerk, which continued their service independently on behalf of the regional church. In 1971, these two works merged to form today's Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württemberg. Since then, the EJW has operated as the umbrella organization for Protestant youth work in the Evangelische Landeskirche in Württemberg, with its headquarters in Stuttgart. It works as a state-level office independently on behalf of the regional church, promotes Protestant youth work in congregations and church districts, and represents their shared interests. The EJW is a member of the CVJM-Gesamtverband and is the largest member association within the Landesjugendring Baden-Württemberg. In projects such as oaseBW (online application and statistics collection for Baden-Württemberg), the EJW carries out tasks for the entire field of child and youth work in Baden-Württemberg on behalf of the Social Ministry. On 24 May 2003, the delegates' assembly at Bernhäuser Forst discussed, supplemented, and adopted the EJW's goals as a supplementary declaration to § 2 para. 1 of the EJW's order. The EJW continues to organize major events such as the EJW-Fest, the Landesposaunentag, and ChurchNight, and maintains various facilities and affiliated associations.

• 17 Württemberg and three Baden associations found the Süddeutscher Evangelischer Jünglingsbund in Stuttgart.

• Reorganization of Protestant youth work in Württemberg: state youth office dissolved; work transferred to Evangelisches Jungmännerwerk and Evangelisches Mädchenwerk.

• Evangelisches Jungmännerwerk and Evangelisches Mädchenwerk merge to form the Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württemberg.

• Hans-Ulrich Nonnenmann becomes director of the Landesposaunentag in Ulm.

• Delegates' assembly at Bernhäuser Forst adopts the EJW's goals as a supplementary declaration.

• ChurchNight campaign conducted by the EJW begins.

• EJW-Fest 2026 to be held at Tagungszentrum Bernhäuser Forst near Stuttgart.

Umbrella organization for Protestant youth work in Württemberg, operating on behalf of the regional church and representing the largest member association in the Landesjugendring Baden-Württemberg.

• Jungschargruppen

  Local youth groups for children and youth.

• Posaunenchor

  Brass ensembles affiliated with the EJW, with about 15,000 players in Württemberg.

• TEN-SING

  Supra-regional youth choir work.

• musikplus

  Popular music division of the EJW.

• EJW-weltdienst

  Action groups for partnership with developing countries and integration of people with disabilities.

• buch+musik

  Christian publishing house belonging to the EJW.

1. 1Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württemberg (EJW) official websiteejwue.de
2. 2Wikidata entry for Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württembergwikidata.org
3. 3German Wikipedia article on Evangelisches Jugendwerk in Württembergde.wikipedia.org