Ljubljana - The government decided on Thursday to establish a government council to address open issues with the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Slovenia. The new body will be in charge of identifying, recording and examining the open issues between the state and what is the largest Protestant church in Slovenia.

The council will be led by State Secretary at the prime minister's office Bojan Pograjc, the government said after its session.

It will propose solutions and make efforts to enhance the open and lasting dialogue between the government and the Evangelical and Lutheran Church.

The council will feature representatives of the Tax Administration, Culture Ministry, and Evangelical and Lutheran Church, the release said.

With around 18,000 believers, the Evangelical and Lutheran Church is the largest Protestant denomination and the 4th largest religious community in the country.

It is a member of the Lutheran World Federation. The majority of its believers, who are led by Bishop Leon Novak, are in the region of Prekmurje, north-east.