churches

Superintendent curator Christiaan van den Berge was also confirmed in office

Salzburg (OTS) – Olivier Dantine was re-elected as superintendent of the Protestant Diocese of Salzburg-Tyrol with an overwhelming majority at the superintendent meeting on Friday, March 15th. At the end of the first twelve-year term of office, Dantine stood for election again by the delegates of the Protestant parishes who met in the Church of the Resurrection in Salzburg. Dantine received 46 out of 56 votes and is now starting his second term as Superintendent of the Evangelical Church in Salzburg and Tyrol.

“What’s important to me: to see and hear what’s going on in the communities; “When difficult situations arise in the communities, to be there and to support as best as possible,” said the superintendent before his election. Dantine sees himself as a “communicator between the regional church level and the community level” for whom “looking at the whole thing is just as important” as paying attention to what different communities and institutions need. He wants to continue to give the Evangelical Church in Salzburg and Tyrol “a face: friendly and appreciative, but also clear on the matter and in its commitment to preserving human dignity, as well as open to dialogue”.

Dantine, who was first elected superintendent in November 2011 and succeeded Luise Müller in this position, sees the Evangelical Church facing “significant” challenges in the coming years given its financial and human resources. He doesn’t want to focus “just on what we have to say goodbye to”. Rather, this is about a “development process that takes into account the different strengths of the communities, but at the same time sees the orientation towards the region as an opportunity”. The superintendent is convinced that new things can then emerge.

When thinking about the future, one thing should not be forgotten, the re-elected superintendent emphasized: the goal of the church is not self-preservation, but service in the world. “In all considerations for the future, this goal must not be lost sight of: What do the people who are entrusted to us need, what does the social space in which every community is embedded need, what does society need?”

Superintendent van den Berge: Volunteering is an expression of Christian faith

Van den Berge, the previous superintendent curator and thus the highest secular representative of the Protestant diocese of Salzburg/Tyrol, was unanimously confirmed in his leadership position at the superintendial assembly. “I am standing for this voluntary position because working in the church sector is a very important part of my life and at the same time an expression of my Christian faith,” van den Berge told the delegates. As superintendent curator, his aim is to “represent our diocese to the outside world and face the challenges that lie ahead”. The interaction of all generations in community life and fruitful cooperation between the different communities are particularly important to him.

To the office of superintendent

The superintendent’s duties include the spiritual leadership of the diocese. He is responsible for overseeing church regulations and scriptural proclamation. Episcopal rights include ordination and visitation. The position corresponds to that of the diocesan bishop in the Roman Catholic Church. The Protestant diocese of Salzburg-Tyrol has around 23,000 members in 16 parishes.

Questions & Contact:

epdÖ
Dr. Thomas Dasek
0699 18877 047
epd@evang.at

2024-03-15 19:55:51
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