Deregistration from a church | City of Frankfurt am Main (2024)

FAQs

Deregistration from a church | City of Frankfurt am Main? ›

You can deregister from your church, religious or ideological community by applying in person at one of Frankfurt's Citizens' Offices ("Bürgerämter") or, alternatively, by submitting your deregistration in writing to one of Frankfurt's Citizens' Offices.

To stop paying church tax, there's a formal leaving process known as Kirchenaustritt. In most states of Germany, this involves a personal visit to the district court, Standesamt (civil registration office) or church office. It's also possible to get a declaration notarized independently, but it costs more.

You can easily deregister from Germany by going to the Einwohnermeldeamt in person and informing them that you are moving abroad. The only documents you will need are your current identity card (and residence permit) and a completed deregistration form.

Every person with residence in Germany has to be registered there (general compulsory registration). This includes the obligation to register change of residence within a week after the move to the registration office in Germany. Not doing so constitutes a misdemeanour and carries an automatic financial penalty.

You will not have to pay taxes in Germany anymore. An Abmeldebestätigung helps you cancel health insurance, phone, internet and any other contracts you had in Germany. Two years after deregistration, you might get a refund on pension payments made in Germany. Not deregistering might end in a fine up to 1000 Euros.

Returning to Germany after Unregistering from Germany

However, if you intend to stay beyond 90 days, you need to register your residency again within or latest after those 90 days. This will typically also make you a tax resident of Germany even when you leave Germany again in less than 183 days.

Put simply, Anmeldung is a compulsory registration of the address at which you are living. Every person living in Germany is obliged to do this within 14 days of moving into a new residence. Without it you basically do not officially exist; it is the foundation upon which all your other German life admin is built.

Don't leave without a conversation—a healthy, respectful conversation. In a small church, that might be with the pastor directly. In a larger church, that might be your group leader, someone you serve with, or the campus pastor. Either way, don't just slip away.

Let your pastor know the main reasons you are leaving, but do so with humility, love and grace. Be wise and thoughtful about this. Be sure to let your pastor know some of the things you are thankful for regarding your time at your church. I'm sure there are plenty of things you are thankful for.

Can you resign from the church? ›

In the United States, you are allowed to resign from a church whenever you wish to do so, no matter what your covenant, church constitution or designated church leader says, even if you are under church discipline. Your membership in the church is voluntary according to the law.

excommunication, form of ecclesiastical censure by which a person is excluded from the communion of believers, the rites or sacraments of a church, and the rights of church membership but not necessarily from membership in the church as such.