Pastor Otterbach: A farewell full of humor and gratitude in the community

Pastor Otterbach: A farewell full of humor and gratitude in the community

On Sunday, June 22, 2025, numerous believers gathered in the Niedereggenen Evangelical Church to bid farewell to Pastor Ralf Otterbach's retirement. After 34 years of service, including 15 years in the Evangelical Church of Exgeneral and Feldberg, the outgoing pastor gave a farewell sermon that will be remembered.

In a humorous comedy routine, Otterbach compared buying butter cake to a boring sermon - a clever move that made those in attendance smile. Finally he explained that the church can sometimes be like rhubarb cake and sometimes like butter cake, but God is always butter cake and often even Black Forest cake. In an emotional moment, he emphasized that God accompanies people with his blessing on all paths of life and calls for reconciliation, hope and joy. “Taste and see how kind the Lord is,” was one of the most memorable messages he gave to believers.

A farewell with gratitude and hope

In his laudatory speech, Dean Schmid-Hornisch praised Otterbach's achievements and quoted him as saying: "When something new begins, you should clear the way for it." This philosophy fits well with the phase of life that Ralf and Berit Otterbach are now entering as they move to Witten in the Ruhr area to live with one of their daughters. The parish is now looking for a successor, but Pastor Bettina von Kienle is already available to fill the vacancy.

After the service there was a champagne reception where those gathered had the opportunity to personally say goodbye to Pastor Otterbach and express their thanks. In a moving speech, the outgoing pastor expressed his gratitude for the time, the landscape and the people of the community who shaped him.

The meaning of community

The farewell service is a central part of the life of a congregation. According to church tradition, celebrations of this type are not only an opportunity to honor the deceased or departing pastor, but also provide comfort to those who mourn as the community comes together to share this special moment. As can be found on the Protestant church's website, community plays an important role in such celebrations - it is a source of encouragement and hope for all in attendance.

The Exgeneral and Feldberg parish says goodbye to a valued pastor who has significantly enriched the faith and community over decades. Their paths will now separate, but the memories of Ralf Otterbach will remain, and his message of faith and community will continue to be carried through the church.

For more information and a deeper insight into the farewell service, visit the articles on publishing house-jaumann.de as well as ekbh.de.