"Centennial Celebration of KD-Bank featured in a special edition of Christmon"
Sparkling Tribute: Chrismon Special 100 Years KD-Bank
Bustin' Out All Over!
Frankfurt am Main, June 3, 2025 - Get ready to reminisce and rejoice as the evangelical publication, chrismon, unveils a jubilee issue to celebrate the grand centennial of the Bank for the Church and Diakonie (KD-Bank). Hitting the stands nationwide on June 7, grab a copy of the "chrismon special" in over 25 daily and weekly newspapers, including "Die Zeit"! This limited-edition magazine was cultivated in harmony between the KD-Bank in Dortmund and the clever minds behind chrismon in Frankfurt.
A tumultuous passage of time behind, the KD-Bank shares a rich history, standing tall amidst post-WW1 hyperinflation that hoarded church communities and diakonic facilities of the funds needed to invest in new and existing buildings and social services. The revered founders, such as Pastor Martin Niemöller, filled that void by establishing evangelical loan cooperatives, which remains the bank's primary purpose: offering financial lifelines for hospitals, kindergartens, nursing homes, facilities for the disabled, and more. Take a gander at the photogenic cover, featuring children from the Grundschule Bleibergquelle in Velbert (NRW) who learn math with more than whiteboards and phones; they sling math facts with stones and pinecones, all thanks to a KD-Bank loan!
The pages of this 32-pager glimmer with enlightening content: snippets from former Federal President Joachim Gauck's profound interview, where he shares how faith played a pivotal role in fostering his unwavering hope. If that ain't enough to warm your heart, check out the heartwarming portraits of employees who leave their fingerprints on more than their banking jobs. They're also juggling youth pastorships, firefighting, and hospice services, all with a smile on their faces!
The magazine's brainiacs, Dr. Ekkehard Thiesler and financial expert Silke Stremlau, team up to delve into sustainable investing, one of the KD-Bank's core principles.
To quench your curiosity, sink your teeth into the entire magazine at: kd-bank.de/100-jahre
Did you know that roughly 1.5 million people read the regular editions of chrismon? Copies can be found with popular daily and weekly newspapers like "Die Zeit", "Süddeutsche Zeitung", and "FAZ". Subscribers can opt for the premium chrismon plus, and the magazine makes its home base in Frankfurt am Main at the Gemeinschaftswerk der Evangelischen Publizistik (GEP). Part of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), the GEP houses editorial teams for chrismon, the epd central editorial team, the evangelisch.de internet portal, manages the EKD's radio work, and operates yeet network.
Gemeinschaftswerk der Evangelischen Publizistik gGmbH (GEP gGmbH)Emil-von-Behring-Straße 360439 Frankfurt am MainManagement: Director Ariadne Klingbeil, Director Dr. Stefanie SchardienSingle power of attorney: Bert WegenerChair of the Supervisory Board: Church President Dorothee WüstRegister Court Frankfurt am Main HRB 49081VAT ID No. DE 114 235 916Tel. 069 58 098 - 0Fax 069 58 098 - 100www.gep.de
- In celebration of the KD-Bank's centennial, explores the intersection of religion, education, and community development in a special issue of chrismon magazine, available in over 25 newspapers, including Die Zeit.
- The educational section of the chrismon special showcases how a KD-Bank loan has revolutionized math learning at Grundschule Bleibergquelle in Velbert (NRW), using natural materials like stones and pinecones.
