Pastor Susanne Büstrin da Costa: A farewell with many milestones!

Pastor Susanne Büstrin da Costa: A farewell with many milestones!

There is a lot of movement in the Evangelical Church: Pastor Susanne Büstrin da Costa, almost 63 years old, has decided to retire. Over a long period of time, she dedicated herself to her mission, valued the diversity and breadth of her profession and accompanied many generations. She wanted to be a pastor since she was 17, which was a challenging decision for women in the 1970s. At that time there were hardly any female role models in her profession, but her strong faith, shaped by her family, did not let her down. She studied theology in Kiel and even decided to do a vicariate abroad in Brazil, which opened her horizons even further SHZ reported.

In her career, the pastor has held various positions, including as a school pastor in Bad Oldesloe and in several communities, including in Eckernförde and Pellworm. She was the first woman to work in this profession in two of her areas of office. Despite the challenges she encountered, Susanne Büstrin da Costa never gave up. She was intensively involved in grassroots work, such as confirmation classes for young people with disabilities, and set new standards, such as 2,000 baptisms in the Baltic Sea, which were not very common at that time.

A rocky road to equality

In Germany, around 26.4 million Christians belong to the Evangelical Church. Women and men can exercise the pastoral profession on an equal basis here. However, equality in the parish office was not advanced until 1974 through a resolution in Westphalia. An important step was taken there that opened up legal equality for women in office. Three years ago, the regional church celebrated the 40th anniversary of this equality and looked back on important developments, according to the Evangelical newspaper.

The current situation of women pastors and women in other church positions has improved as a result of decades of effort. In 2019, the first female senior clergyman, Annette Kurschus, was selected for Westphalia. However, despite the progress, there are still challenges in many areas. The proportion of women in the governing bodies is very low, while the proportion of women in the synod is around 40 percent. Therefore, the promotion of equality remains a central concern of the Evangelical Church, as well as the EKD knows to report.

A new phase of life

A new phase of life is now beginning for Susanne Büstrin da Costa. After a long and fulfilling career, she decided to give space to other areas of her life. However, she does not yet have any concrete plans for her time in retirement. There will certainly be a period of discovery for her in which she can rediscover herself and her possibilities. Her sudden departure from her comfort zone will be an exciting challenge that she will approach with the same passion that has characterized her throughout her professional life.

The influence that women like Susanne Büstrin da Costa have on the Evangelical Church is significant. The history of women's ordination is a continuous process of change and equality. Active support and engagement remains necessary to meet the challenges that lie ahead and ensure that the voice of every woman in the Church is heard.