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Hanover (dpa) - The church parliament of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has elected the 25-year-old philosophy student Anna-Nicole Heinrich as the new president.
Heinrich was elected on Saturday at the digitally organized spring meeting of the Synod to succeed the FDP politician Irmgard Schwaetzer (79), who had held the top position since November 2013. "As President of the EKD Synod, I stand for a hopeful, integrating and pragmatic church that is constantly rediscovering itself," said Heinrich. Despite austerity measures, remodeling and dismantling in the church, confidence and a new beginning in faith are necessary.
The EKD council chairman, the Munich bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, assessed Heinrich's election as "a very strong sign".
"There will be a surge of support," he said.
Heinrich, who studies in Regensburg, won the election with a clear majority against the judge and Green politician Nadine Bernshausen (41) from Marburg.
In the election, digitally organized from the EKD headquarters in Hanover, 75 synodals voted for Heinrich and 39 for Bernshausen.
There were eleven abstentions and one invalid vote.
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Heinrich is the youngest President in the history of the EKD Synod. She was elected to the EKD Synod by the Bavarian regional church, to which she previously belonged as a youth delegate. After completing his studies in philosophy, Heinrich has been studying the master's programs in Digital Humanities and Image of Man and Values since 2019. She works as a research assistant at the university and is the deputy chairwoman of the Protestant Youth in Germany.
Among the well-wishers was the chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Bishop Georg Bätzing.
"I am impressed that you are taking on such an important responsibility in the Protestant Church at such a young age," said Bätzing.
"I think that's a good sign, as it will give many young people the courage and incentive to get involved in the church."
He was also looking forward to ecumenical cooperation, emphasized the bishop.
The praeses is the chairperson of the church parliament, the synod.
This is one of the governing bodies of the EKD, which acts as the umbrella organization of the 20 regional churches with a total of 21.1 million Protestant Christians and around 13,500 parishes.
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EKD boss Bedford-Strohm promoted a spirit of change in a digitally transmitted speech in front of the church parliament.
"But we shouldn't mourn the old days, but rather set off for a fresh, agile, confident church."
He also addressed problems facing the church in dealing with sexual abuse.
In spite of all sincere efforts, he experiences persistent distrust of the Church, including the Protestant one, whether she is really serious.
As long as that is the case, the church must also take up external offers to come to terms with it.
The state, represented by the Independent Commissioner for Child Sexual Abuse, plays an important role in this.
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Conference of the Synod of the EKD