05.06.2001
Communicating Hope is Church’s Main Mission, Says New Bishop in Germany
Abromeit Succeeds Berger at Evangelical Church of PomeraniaZÜSSOW, Germany / GENEVA, 5 June 2001 - The church’s main mission is “to communicate hope, faith and love in society,” says Rev. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Abromeit, the new bishop of the Evangelical Church of Pomerania in northeastern Germany.
According to Abromeit, elected bishop of the Pomeranian church on May 19, it is important that the church goes out in society with convincing mission programs in order to get people involved with the faith in “new, open and fresh ways.”
Electing a new leader for the Pomerania church included two regular ballots and a runoff between Superintendent Curt Stauss, 52, from Nordhausen in southern Harz, and Abromeit, 46, from Schwerte in Westphalia. Abromeit received 33 of the 60 votes of the synod members present. A third opposing candidate was Rev. Ulrich Tetzlaff, 42, from Heringsdorf on Usedom.
Abromeit, a pastor in the Church of Westphalia in western Germany succeeds Bishop Eduard Berger who, after ten years’ service, accepted a new position in the Church of Saxony starting next January. The new Pomerania bishop will serve a 12-year term beginning September 2001.
“I am grateful to have received this call from the Pomeranian Synod to serve as their bishop,” Abromeit said at a press conference following his election. He admitted to being surprised, as a West German, when he was asked to run for the office in 2000. “But I am happy that in electing me, the Evangelical Church of Pomerania has taken a decision to move forward.”
Abromeit also sees his election as a sign “that the church of Jesus Christ in Germany is growing together.” His immediate wish is acceptance by the Pomerania church staff. But at the same time he is convinced he “will be received with open arms here.” He and his wife are “very curious to know what the future will bring,” he said.
Abromeit studied theology at the universities of Wuppertal and Heidelberg, and served as vicar in a Jerusalem congregation. From 1983 to 1994 he worked as an assistant professor at the University of Münster, and since 1994 he has been teaching continuing education for pastors at the Pastors’ Seminary in Schwerte, Westphalia.
Abromeit and his wife have five children ranging in age from six to 23 years.
The Evangelical Church of Pomerania joined the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in 1956. With 138,000 members it is one of the smallest of the 24 Protestant churches in Germany.
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