Animal -based pastoral care: Alpacas and Lamas as a heart opener in Schiffweiler

Animal -based pastoral care: Alpacas and Lamas as a heart opener in Schiffweiler

lamas and alpacas as pastoral companion in the Evangelical Community

The Protestant pastor Wiltrud Bauer has found an unusual method in pastoral care: she regularly sets alpacas or lamas as a four -legged helper when visiting the hospice, in old people's homes or for disabled children. The animals are not only a door opener, but above all heart openers, as the theologian from Saarland Schiffweiler reports.

soul balm by animal -assisted pastoral care

The encounter with the alpacas and lamas often leads to moving moments when people forget their illness and suddenly find new energy. Bauer emphasizes that she is about giving people beautiful moments and strengthening their feeling of happiness. In a hospice, she was able to see how a woman fell asleep after contact with the animals in peace.

The animal -assisted pastoral care has already found many followers. In addition to Bauer, other pastors, such as Ulrike Schaich in Baden-Württemberg and Peter Otten in Cologne, also practice similar methods. The exchange with each other is of great importance for them to further develop their work and achieve more people.

animal support in the summer church

The focus is also on animals in the summer church of the “Hoffnungskirchengemeinde”. Under the motto “Kamel, Esel & Co”, several pastors deal with various animal species in their sermons. Animal companions are also welcome at the services, such as dogs and even alpacas with Pastor Bauer.

The community, which includes around 11,000 Protestants, experiences the special connection between humans and animals as enriching experience. Working with the animals is viewed as a valuable part of pastoral activity and finds more and more acceptance in the church.

- Nag