Contents

Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine

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Alsace
Rot un Wiss, traditional flag of Alsace
History Germania Superior (Pagus Alsatiae) (83–475) Alemanni (circa 213–496) Alamannia (3rd-century–911) Duchy of Alsace (circa 630–699) Treaty of Verdun (843) Prince-Bishopric of Strasbourg (982–1803) County of Ferrette (11th-century–14th-century) Salm (1165−1793) Landgraviate of Alsace (1186–1646) Lower Alsace Upper Alsace Further Austria (13th-century–1648) Décapole (1354–1679) County of Hanau-Lichtenberg (1456–1736) Upper Rhenish Circle (1500–1679) Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine (1871–1918) Gau Baden-Elsaß (1940–1945) Alsace (1945–2016) Grand Est (2016–) European Collectivity of Alsace (2021-)
Culture Coat of arms Flag Anthem People Language Demographics Musée alsacien (Hagenau | Strasbourg)
Religion according to Concordat in Alsace-Moselle (1801): (including Lorraine) Catholic Church Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Strasbourg (Immediately subject to the Holy See) (Prince-Bishopric of Strasbourg) (Lorraine: Roman Catholic Diocese of Metz) Protestantism: Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine: Lutheranism: Protestant Church of the Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine Calvinism: Protestant Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine Jewish consistories: Strasbourg Colmar (Lorraine: Metz)
Law Local law in Alsace-Moselle Concordat in Alsace-Moselle
Administrative divisions Capital: Strasbourg Bas-Rhin (Unterelsaß) Arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg Arrondissement of Molsheim Arrondissement of Saverne Arrondissement of Sélestat-Erstein Arrondissement of Strasbourg Haut-Rhin (Oberelsaß) Arrondissement of Altkirch Arrondissement of Colmar-Ribeauvillé Arrondissement of Mulhouse Arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller
Politics Regional Council of Alsace (1982–2015) Alsace independence movement Assembly of Alsace (2021-)
Alsace in the European Union European Parliament elections Constituency
Related topics Politics of France Politics of Germany Politics of the European Union
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Lorraine
Flag of Lorraine since the 13th century
History Mediomatrici & Leuci Gallia Belgica Lotharingia Duchy of Lorraine Duchy of Bar Three Bishoprics Lorraine and Barrois German Empire Lorraine department Third Reich Lorraine department Lorraine region Grand Est
Culture Coat of arms Flag Symbol People Languages Lorrain Lorraine Franconian Low Alemannic Demographics Musée lorrain
Religion Roman Catholicism: Diocese of Metz (Immediately subject to the Holy See) Diocese of Nancy Diocese of Saint-Dié Diocese of Verdun Protestantism: Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine (Moselle) Lutheranism: Protestant Church of the Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine (Moselle) Calvinism: Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine (Moselle) United Protestant Church of France (rest of Lorraine) Jewish consistories: Metz (Moselle) Nancy (rest of Lorraine)
Law Local law in Alsace-Moselle Concordat in Alsace-Moselle (1801)
Administrative divisions Meurthe-et-Moselle (54) Capital: Nancy Arrondissement of Briey Arrondissement of Lunéville Arrondissement of Nancy Arrondissement of Toul Meuse (55) Capital: Bar-le-Duc Arrondissement of Bar-le-Duc Arrondissement of Commercy Arrondissement of Verdun Moselle (Lothringen, 57) Capital: Metz Arrondissement of Forbach-Boulay-Moselle Arrondissement of Metz Arrondissement of Sarrebourg-Château-Salins Arrondissement of Sarreguemines Arrondissement of Thionville Vosges (88) Capital: Épinal Arrondissement of Épinal Arrondissement of Neufchâteau Arrondissement of Saint-Dié
Lorraine in the EU European Parliament elections Constituency
Related topics Politics of France Politics of Germany Politics of the European Union
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The Union of Protestant Churches of Alsace and Lorraine (French: Union des Églises protestantes d'Alsace et de Lorraine, UEPAL; German: Die Union der Protestantischen Kirchen von Elsass und Lothringen; Alsatian: D' Union vu da Protäschtàntischa Kìrcha vum Elsàss ùn Lothringa) was created in 2006 by bringing together the Protestant Church of Augsburg Confession of Alsace and Lorraine (EPCAAL) and the Protestant Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine (EPRAL).^[1]

While the new body is not a united church, it provides a common decision-making structure and a single body of pastors.^[2]

Overview[edit]

The Union was established by virtue of a decree of 18 April 2006. It was celebrated on 7 May 2006 with a special service at St. Thomas ChurchinStrasbourg.

It has the responsibility for organizing joint activities and strengthening relations between the two constitutive churches in Alsace and the department of MoselleinLorraine.

UEPAL totals some 250,000 church members, served by 250 pastors. About 80% belong to EPCAAL, with the remaining 20% belonging to EPRAL. The two churches keep their own structures and retain separate membership in international organizations. Both are members of the Protestant Federation of France (FPF).

UEPAL normally holds two assemblies each year, in June and November. At the first assembly in 2006, the former Dean of the Faculty of Protestant Theology of the University of Strasbourg and President of EPCAAL, Jean-François Collange, was elected president. The term of office is three years. In 2009 Collange was elected for a second term. In 2012 he announced that he would be standing down at the end of 2013.^[3]

In June 2013, the UEPAL announced that it was studying the issue of blessings for unions of same-sex couples.^[4] The churches decided to consider the study, which would last for three years, and the issue at the assembly in 2017.^[5] In November 2019, UEPAL allowed the blessing of the same sex marriages.^[6]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Union of Protestant Churches Alsace and Lorraine