6th Conference

of the International Loehe Society

July 27-30, 2025 in Neuendettelsau, Germany

Numerous institutions in Europe, North America and Australia are still associated with Wilhelm Loehe (1808-1872) today, even though he lived as a simple village pastor in Franconia (southern Germany) two hundred years ago. Loehe experienced first-hand the European crisis that created immense need and drove millions of people to emigrate across the Atlantic. He struggled with an unresponsive and rigid church. In response, Loehe participated in efforts for the renewal of the church in Bavaria. He organized help for those in need at home and support for the young emigrants, who were going through a painful process of dislocation and change. They wanted to face the new situations openly and at the same time not lose their roots. They had to realign their Christian faith and build up the church in the new context—imagining church anew.

Loehe proved to be a pioneer of how the church can and must be renewed through confession and pastoral care, education and liturgy, diakonia and mission—and not least through suitable structures. The conference will discuss the extent to which his ideas and the debates within the churches in Germany and North America are also relevant for today’s difficult transformation processes.