Mergers and cooperative partnerships in an ecclesiastical and diaconal context are commonplace today, though frequently a topic of controversial debate. This volume presents for the first time a scholarly inventory and review of mergers and cooperative ventures in churches and church welfare work over the past few years. The focus is primarily on the significance, reasons, objectives and consequences of such mergers at the various levels of church and diaconal life. In particular, the authors scrutinise the actual implementation of selected mergers and cooperative agreements. The volume takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing together not only economic and organisational science as well as theological perspectives, but also in particular analyses and reflections on concrete practical examples of mergers and cooperative agreements.