Zum Erwerb eines öffentlich-rechtlichen Körperschaftsstatus durch Gemeinschaftsverbände

This article examines the acquisition of public corporation status by community associations from the perspective of constitutional law on religion and ecclesiastical law. The classification of community associations as religious societies depends on their self-conception and their legal commitment to ecclesiastical law. When corporate status is originally granted, the financial resources and membership of the regional churches may not be attributed to a community association. Dual membership in a regional church and an independent community association is not permitted under the current Church Membership Act of the EKD. The regional churches are obliged to counteract such dual memberships.