Berlin, November 29, 2025. With its founding meeting, the Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association takes the first step toward establishing a nationwide corporation under public law (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts). The delegates of the state associations of Baden-Württemberg, Hessen, Berlin-Brandenburg, Niedersachsen, and Nordrhein-Westfalen, which are already recognized as corporation under public law, adopted a new constitution and elected the legal entities of the corporation.
The newly elected federal executive committee consists of Katrin Raczynski (spokesperson), Thomas Fehse, Andrée Gerland, Christiane Herrmann, and Christian Lührs. All board members are already active in the Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association e.V. and stand for continuity, reliability, and a clear humanist stance. With its status as a corporation under public law, the Humanist Association of Germany will in future have greater freedom to shape its work and institutional security for its work in the areas of humanist education, life coaching, and ethical counseling.
Board member Christian Lührs emphasizes, “Through the formation of the federal corporation under public law, we demonstrate that humanist beliefs and dedication deserve representation in Germany, just like other religious and ideological groups. We are taking responsibility for building a community based on reason, solidarity, and individual freedom. Humanism needs a strong, democratic voice.”
The next steps are the recognition process and submitting the necessary documents to the Berlin Senate. Once recognized, the new federal corporation under public law will accept members of the federal association without corporate rights as its own members. This will further strengthen nationwide cohesion.
