One of these is the Evangelical Church of Westphalia, to which the Ohio Conference of the United Church of Christ is especially related. Opportunities Within the relationship of full communion between the UCC and the EKU, several opportunities exist to further the unity of the one Church of Jesus Christ. Such a relationship may reflect the origins of a congregation in a certain parish or region in Germany, or the relationship may connect parishes with a common mission interest or a common life setting. Pastoral Exchanges A pastor may arrange to exchange places with a German pastor for a shorter or longer period of time. Group Visits Tours by local churches or groups from the Ohio Conference may be arranged.
Historical tours give participants an opportunity to trace their own faith roots.
Tours of sites where the church is at work in Germany allow participants to see how the church ministers in a different cultural setting. Host a Group A local congregation may wish to invite a group from Germany to visit. Housing in homes and visits to local sites where the church is at work can help German Christians to get to know American Christians more deeply. Individuals and congregations have already taken part in each of these opportunities, and the Working Group can make the way smoother for you and your congregation.