Withdrawal from the Church; Statement

Withdrawal from a church, religious community, or ideological community that is a public-law corporation requires, pursuant to Article 3(4) of the Bavarian Church Tax Act (KirchStG), a verbal or written declaration submitted to the registry office of the person’s place of residence or habitual residence is required for the withdrawal to take effect under public law. If the declaration of withdrawal is in writing, the signatory’s signature must be notarized.

The following churches, religious communities, and ideological communities are recognized as public-law corporations:

1. the Roman Catholic Church,
2. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria,
3. the Evangelical Reformed Church in Bavaria,
4. the Old Catholic Church in the Free State of Bavaria,
5. the Evangelical Methodist Church,
6. the Association of Bavarian Mennonite Congregations,
7. the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad,
8. the State Association of Jewish Communities in Bavaria,
9. Christian Science in Bavaria,
10. the New Apostolic Church of Southern Germany,
11. the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bavaria,
12. the Christian Community in Bavaria,
13. the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Germany,
14. the Bavarian Association for Freedom of Thought,
15. the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany,
16. the Federation of Pentecostal Free Churches,
17. the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis for Germany, Central and Northern Europe,
18. Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany
19. Humanist Association
20. Federation of Free Evangelical Churches in Germany

The declaration of withdrawal in the case of Section 8 states that the withdrawal is from the Israelite confession (Art. 2, para. 1, KirchStG).

Churches, religious communities, and ideological communities that are public-law entities are authorized to collect church tax from their members. Withdrawal from a religious community affects any church tax that may be due.

The registry office notifies the relevant church tax office, the tax office, and the registration authority of the withdrawal.

It is also possible to leave the “Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch in Germany” (effective June 30, 2021).

The resignation letter must include:

• the last name and first names of the person making the declaration,
• the date and place of their birth, and
• their place of residence or permanent residence.

The declaration must clearly identify the religious or philosophical community from which the declarant wishes to withdraw.

The withdrawal may not be declared subject to any condition or reservation. A representative may submit the declaration of withdrawal on behalf of the declarant. The representative must prove his or her authority by presenting a written power of attorney that expressly authorizes the submission of a declaration of withdrawal from a specific church, religious community, or ideological community. The principal’s signature must be publicly notarized by a notary public.

You must submit your oral or written notice of withdrawal to the registry office in your place of residence or habitual residence.

• Identification card or passport
• If represented by an authorized representative: Power of attorney, along with the applicant's and the representative's identification cards

A fee of 25.00 euros is charged for the preparation of a written record of the oral notice of withdrawal. A fee of 10.00 euros is charged for the certification of the oral notice of withdrawal in the form of a copy of the written record.

Declarations of Withdrawal from the Church by Appointment Only

You can submit declarations of withdrawal from the church only by appointment. You can contact us and schedule an appointment by email (standesamt@stadt.erlangen.de).