The Kaiserswerther Generalkonferenz invites to Bielefeld-Bethel
Published on 24.04.2018
From June 14 through 17, 2018, the 43rd Kaiserswerther Generalkonferenz (KGK) will take place at the von Bodelschwinghschen Stiftungen in Bielefeld-Bethel. The motto is "Community – More than ever! The potential of togetherness in turbulent times".
At their meeting on April 19 and 20, 2018, in Bielefeld, the KGK Executive Committee finalized the plans for the upcoming 43rd Kaiserswerther Generalkonferenz and invites to the conference at the von Bodelschwinghschen Stiftungen in Bielefeld-Bethel from June 14 through 17, 2018. Diakonie based on the Kaiserswerth model relies on "the value of community for the substantiation of Diakonie in everyday life", says KGK Secretary General Christa Schrauf: "In a time of great changes and challenges, the conference takes up the question of possibilities and changes which Diakonie based on the Kaiserswerth model is able to provide as a contribution."
On June 14, the opening service will be held by Dr. Matti Repo, Bishop of the Tampere Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. The acting KGK President, Terttu Pohjolainen from Lahti, will open the conference. The Chairman of the von Bodelschwinghschen Stiftungen Bethel will welcome the participants. It was possible to engage two internationally renowned scientists as keynote speakers. Prof. Dr. Kjell Nordstokke from Oslo talks about "Church and health". Prof. Dr. Christina aus der Au, Zurich, will talk about the topic "The learning community: community and education – passing on values". Heather Roy, Secretary General of Eurodiaconia, and Prof. Dr. Beate Hofmann of the Bielefeld Institute for Diaconic Science and Diaconic Management will each hold a bible study session. Bethel board member Pastor Dr. Johanna Will-Armstrong is the preacher for the closing service. Best-practice examples from the member houses will take up current developments with regard to the topic of the conference. Excursions to the Sarepta Sisterhood and the Bethel Foundations and a concert at the Zionskirche will complete the program.
Abbesses and abbots, mothers superior, senior sisters, management directors as well as members of the second level of management and key personnel are invited to expand the network of the 150 year old international Kaiserswerther Diakonie even further. The 43rd General Assembly of the KGK will also take place within the course of the conference.
Other topics of the meeting of the Executive Committee were the diaconal study tour to Brazil, which is planned for next year, the state of international exchange and a discussion with the Board of the Kaiserswerther Verband, who held a meeting at the same time.
The Kaiserswerther Generalkonferenz is an association of more than 100 Deaconess Houses, diaconal communities and diaconal organizations from Europe, Nord and South America, Asia and Africa. Members of the Executive Committee of the KGK are: Deaconess Terttu Pohjolainen (FI), Mother Superior Rollaug Waaler (NO), Director Marek Londzin (PL), Sister Melinda L. Lando (North America), Chapter Provost Jürgen Stobbe (G-North), Sen. Sr. Deaconess Anke Frickmann (G-West), Sen. Sr. Roswitha Buff (G-South), Chief HR Officer / Mother Superior Dr. Gundula Grießmann (G-East), Proxy Karsten Stüber (G-East), Theol. Chairman Pastor Klaus Riesenbeck (G-West), Rector Pastor Annette Goll (F), Mother Superior Sr. Merete Pelle Poulsen (DK), Mother Superior Sr. Vilma Linda Reinar (BR), Pastor Christa Schrauf (Secretary General).
Berlin on April 24, 2018
Media contact:
Thomas Flügge, Press Spokesman
Tel.: +41 79 6401902
E-mail: presse@kaiserswerther-verband.de
Contact:
Pastor Christa Schrauf
Managing Director of the Kaiserswerther Verband and Secretary General of the Kaiserswerther Generalkonferenz
Landhausstrasse 10, 10717 Berlin, Tel. +49 30 8642 4170
E-mail: verband@kaiserswerther-verband.de