The Sunday worship (in German) serves as a central focal point of the German Lutheran Church Washington D.C. The congregation, typically described as dynamic and festive, is comprised of approximately 230 members of all age groups from 115 households, and is one of the 100 congregations of the Protestant Church in Germany (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland, EKD) existing outside of Germany proper. Some members of the congregation have lived in the U.S. for many years while other members reside for a much more limited period of time. For this reason, there are always new faces being welcome in our congregation.

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Our congregation exists on the crossroads of two cultures. Our church services are celebrated in the German tradition and, for the most part, in the German language, but our congregational structure has characteristics similar to those in the U.S. with "self-initiative" being the principal driver of church activities. Reflecting the international character of the Washington, D.C. area, members of the congregation are employed at various international organizations such as the IMF and World Bank, in the service of the German government as members of the diplomatic core or military, in one of the varied national or international research organizations such as the National Institutes of Health or IFPRI, or are employed in private business at both German and American firms.

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The Germans of the congregation, often far away from home in a foreign country, find an important part of their German tradition in congregational experiences and activities, and in the celebration of church services. At the same time, however, the congregation is young-at-heart in that it remains open-minded and receptive to new ideas. For all members, our church community has not only a religious and spiritual dimension, but also serves an important cultural function with its rich offering of activities (seminars, musical performances, filmes, etc.), independent of nationality or place-of-birth of members.

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A high percentage of our church members are actively engaged in voluntary church activities that contribute and establish a rich and dynamic environment and experience for members. At the forefront is the work of the church council and the many associated committees that provide direction and planning for many of the church activities, the members of the choir and associated musicians who provide wonderful musical experiences during church services and other related events, the lectors and assistants by communion. Very important to the German Lutheran Church in Washington is its strong community outreach program. Members of the congregation are both financially and actively involved (e.g., running a clothing bank and serving breakfast) with the Community Family Life Services, a charitable organization serving the less fortunate in the Washington D.C. area.

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