Hamburg / Lübeck (dpa / lno) – The bishop in the Hamburg and Lübeck district of the north church, Kirsten Fehrs, was confirmed in office on Saturday. The 59-year-old was re-elected with the votes of 141 of the 145 participating regional synodals. She was the only candidate. The Northern Church announced that Fehrs intends to hold the office until she retires in eight years. The regular term of office is ten years.
The theologian, who was born in Wesselburen (Dithmarschen), took over the office in November 2011, 16 months after the resignation of her predecessor Maria Jepsen. The church districts Lübeck-Lauenburg, Hamburg-Ost and Hamburg-West / Südholstein belong to the district of the bishop.
According to a church spokeswoman, important concerns for the bishop are the dialogue between the religions and the dialogue with business and trade unions. Fehrs is chairwoman of the Hamburg Interreligious Forum, in which the Council of Islamic Communities (Shura) and the Jewish community are also involved. She is also committed to helping socially disadvantaged people, especially refugees and victims of violence.
“Kirsten Fehrs has earned a lot of recognition for her social commitment to strengthening democratic culture and in interreligious dialogue as well as her work for refugees and seafarers,” said the President of the Regional Synod, Ulrike Hillmann. Fehrs herself said before her re-election in the Hamburg Michel: “Strengthening or restoring the space of trust in the church – that is my top priority and objective 1.”
The Schleswig-Holstein Prime Minister Daniel Günther congratulated Fehrs. “She is a bishop with a heart and stands in the Hamburg and Lübeck district for a cosmopolitan and tolerant church that stands up for the weaker in society and takes on the great social challenges of our time,” said the CDU politician.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210605-99-876333 / 2
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