Frank Heinrich is stepping down as co-leader of the Evangelische Allianz in Deutschland (Evangelical Alliance in Germany, or EAD) after two and a half years in the role, the national alliance announced following a farewell event Wednesday.

The announcement came during a spring reception hosted by EAD and Tearfund Germany at St. Matthäus Church in Berlin. The event, themed “Building Bridges for Peace,” gathered supporters from EAD, Tearfund, members of the Bundestag, and other guests.

Siegfried Winkler, deputy speaker of the EAD General Assembly, expressed appreciation for Heinrich’s contributions. He lauded the co-chairman, with "great gratitude" for his "valuable contribution as a board member, bridge builder, and political representative," according to an EAD press release. 

“Again and again, he provided important impulses in a wide variety of areas and branches of work of the EEAS,” he added, highlighting Heinrich's political work as a commissioner at the seat of the German Bundestag and the Federal Government.

"He is and remains a bridge builder who has decisively shaped the work and perception of the Evangelical Alliance," Winkler said.

Last month, Christian Daily International reported that Heinrich encouraged EAD members to participate in an annual prayer initiative by the evangelical alliance, titled, 30 Days of Prayer for the Islamic World, from Feb. 28 to March 29. as he recounted his own experience of engaging with Muslims.

A Salvation Army pastor by calling, Heinrich referred at the time to the Apostle Paul's exhortation to believers to “pray without ceasing!” (1 Thessalonians 5:17),  Heinrich acknowledged the impracticalities of literally praying all the time but emphasized the importance of a posture of prayer in daily life.

“The world is not helped if we live a hermit life and completely pull ourselves out of everything to be on our knees around the clock,” said Heinrich. “And if it does, then this is probably a direct and special and personal calling of God.”

What applies to all believers, however, is the personal relationship to the Creator God, according to Heinrich. “The more I come to know God, our Father, the more I understand that I was created for this life-bringing connection. And I become aware of the authority with which God has endowed us humans.”

Heinrich previously led the Salvation Army department in Chemnitz. A former member of parliament with a particular focus on fighting human trafficking, Heinrich joined the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in 2007 and won the Chemnitz constituency in the national elections of 2009, 2013 and 2017, according to the Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking. He was deputy speaker of the CDU/CSU (Christian Social Union in Bavaria) Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid. He stepped down as MP in 2021.

Heinrich also served as the Equality and Non-Discrimination Rapporteur for the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), bringing the issue of online sexual abuse of women and children into the public political sphere.