▁for ▁their ▁importance ▁in ▁the ▁life ▁of ▁the ▁Church ▁and ▁its ▁ag encies . ▁M embers ▁serve ▁six ▁year ▁terms ▁and ▁the ▁syn od ▁meets ▁ann ually . ▁ ▁Pra es ides ▁of ▁the ▁Syn od ▁▁▁▁ 1 9 4 9 – 1 9 5 5 : ▁Gustav ▁Hein emann ▁▁ 1 9 5 5 – 1 9 6 1 : ▁Constantin ▁von ▁Diet ze ▁▁ 1 9 6 1 – 1 9 7 0 : ▁▁▁ 1 9 7 0 – 1 9 7 3 : ▁▁▁ 1 9 7 3 – 1 9 8 5 : ▁Corn el ius ▁von ▁He yl ▁▁ 1 9 8 5 – 2 0 0 3 : ▁J ürgen ▁Sch m ude ▁▁ 2 0 0 3 – 2 0 0 9 : ▁Barbara ▁R in ke ▁▁ 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 3 : ▁K atr in ▁G ör ing - E ck ard t ▁ ▁since ▁ 2 0 1 3 : ▁I rm g ard ▁Sch wa et zer ▁ ▁Council ▁of ▁the ▁E K D ▁The ▁E K D ▁Council ▁is ▁the ▁representative ▁and ▁gover ning ▁body ▁of ▁the ▁Evangel ical ▁Church ▁in ▁Germany . ▁The ▁Council ▁of ▁the ▁E K D ▁has ▁ 1 5 ▁members ▁joint ly ▁elected ▁by ▁the ▁Syn od ▁and ▁Church ▁Conference ▁who ▁serve ▁terms ▁of ▁six ▁years . ▁ ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the ▁Council ▁of ▁the ▁E K D ▁The ▁representative ▁of ▁the ▁E K D ▁is ▁the ▁Chair man ▁of ▁the