Church crisis or community strength? Zehnder speaks plainly!

Church crisis or community strength? Zehnder speaks plainly!

The Catholic and Protestant churches in Germany are facing a steady decline in membership numbers. This is a topic that also concerns Michael Fleckener, the acting dean of the Hersfeld-Rotenburg church district and parish priest in Neuenstein. In an interview that took place in the 71 meter high “Look 360° Panorama” observation tower in Bad Hersfeld, he commented on the challenges and opportunities of the church landscape. Despite his fear of heights, he enjoys the view of the city and remains optimistic that the church should not be viewed as a discontinued model. “The community is of central importance,” emphasizes Zehnder and emphasizes that the church has more members than FC Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, which underlines its relevance and support.

Membership development in the major denominations is an urgent topic that will also be discussed at the upcoming autumn meeting of the district synod on October 26th. The decline in membership numbers is also noticeable in broader social development. According to Fowid, around 46% of Germans were non-religious in 2023. In recent years, the proportion of non-religious people has steadily increased, while Christian religious communities are suffering from a decline in membership.

Changes in the church district

The autumn meeting, at which 78 participants were present, was the last meeting of this electoral period. There were reviews of the work of Michael Zehnder and President Reinhard Kerst. The discussion also revolved around the change in the statutes to reduce the number of members in the synod and to increase the contribution from the congregations to the church district to ensure a balanced budget. Furthermore, reference was made to the closing station mission at the end of the year, which will be replaced by the support of the Tafel and the non-sedentary assistance.

On November 1st, 8th, 15th and 29th, 2025, the church district is also offering a course entitled “Sources from which life flows”, which is intended to explore the meaning and perspective of life. On four Saturdays, those interested have the opportunity to engage with biblical texts and personal life issues. Registration is required and community presence will continue to be encouraged.

A look at the future

The new dean is expected to be appointed in spring 2026, with decisions made in late October. Zehnder, who is 45 years old and a native of Schwelm, originally comes from Dortmund and has built his entire professional career in the field of theology. He took on his first pastoral position in Neuenstein in 2008, and was previously district youth pastor from 2009 to 2020. He is married and has two children and also brings with him personal preferences, such as his passion for hits and the Kentucky Derby horse race.

Looking to the future of the church may be challenging, but with a clear focus on community and supporting traditions, the church could succeed in creating new connections and meeting the challenges of the present. Zehnder remains optimistic: “The church always has to do with life!”

For further information, you can find the church clock or visit the pages of the Hersfeld-Rotenburg Church District, as well as the development of the Membership Numbers in Religious Communities.