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The Protestant parish of Hünfeld is breaking new ground: a pastoral team of three with a non-theologian is supposed to secure the future of the community.
Hünfeld – The Protestant parish of Hünfeld opened a new chapter in the collegiate church on Sunday (March 28th). Pastor Kirsten Schulte and preacher Gabriele Weidig were officially introduced into their ministry in a celebratory service. Together with Pastor Stefan Remmert, they will form a pastoral team of three in the future – a novelty for the Fulda church district.
Deputy Dean Marvin Lange made the introduction, thus ending the vacancy that had existed since the retirement of Pastor Jürgen Gossler in autumn 2024. In his speech, Lange made it clear that the church district was consciously taking new paths with this constellation. In particular, the appointment of Gabriele Weidig as a non-theologian to full-time pastoral ministry is a step into unknown territory.
Hünfeld Church dares to try something new with an unconventional team of three
In view of the declining number of pastors, the regional church is increasingly relying on regional teams from various professional groups. “The priesthood of all baptized people is one of the main findings of the Reformation,” emphasized Lange, referring to Weidig’s well-founded predicant training, which entitles her to carry out baptisms, weddings, funerals and to preach.
The community is no stranger to both women. Kirsten Schulte worked as a parish priest in Hünfeld from 2003 to 2007 and is now returning to her former place of work. She takes on half a pastor's position, while she continues to work with the other half as a nursing home pastor in the Fulda church district. Gabriele Weidig was also previously associated with the congregation as a predicant and cooperation room assistant – but what is new is her full-time work in pastoral service.
Marvin Lange compared the future collaboration in the team to an orchestra in which it is important to play harmony but also to endure dissonance. Schulte and Weidig demonstrated how this interaction can work directly in the service with a lively dialogue sermon. The focus was on people's inner struggles – feelings such as envy, self-interest and argumentativeness, which were no strangers to the apostle Paul. Their common plea: to give priority to life-serving feelings such as forbearance and willingness to forgive and to put Christ at the center.
The city of Hünfeld also welcomed the new team. The designated first city councilor Wolfram Becker (CDU) brought the community's greetings and assured the pastoral team that they would always have an open ear in the town hall. Pastor Karl Josef Gruber joined in with the best wishes from the Hünfelder Land cooperation area and described the new appointment as a blessing for the region.
Following the service, numerous community members took the opportunity to have a personal exchange with Pastor Schulte and Predicant Weidig at a reception in the neighboring parish hall.
New paths are being taken not only in Hünfeld: also at the level of In the Evangelical Church District of Fulda, the district synod recently set key personnel decisions and brought new plans into focus.
