National Assembly
As a meeting of representatives from all local churches, the National Assembly is the highest governing body of the Church of God in Germany. It decides on all issues relating to the national church, except for decisions falling under the remit of the National Executive Council or Executive Committee.
In particular, it decides on the admission of churches into fellowship with the national church, at the recommendation of the National Executive Council; it elects the members of the National Executive Council and passes resolutions concerning changes to the church constitution and bylaws. The National Assembly accepts the report of the National Executive Council and exonerates the council in connection with its leadership responsibility.
The National Assembly convenes once a year. Beyond that, it must be convened without delay if the National Executive Council or at least ten local churches request an extraordinary session, stating the reasons for it.
The following individuals have the right to vote and speak in the National Assembly: elected lay delegates from the local churches, ordained pastors and ordained ministers of the Church of God in Germany, and members of the National Executive Council.
Further details can be found in the document “Leitlinien der Gemeinde Gottes” [Guidelines of the Church of God in Germany], available in German in the download area.
Over the past years, the German National Assembly has regularly convened at the end of October / beginning of November in Schwäbisch Gmünd (at Gästehaus Schönblick) in connection with the annual National Conference. The date of the next meeting can be found in the current calendar.