Diaconal Science Institute Heidelberg

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Building of the theological faculty below Heidelberg Castle with rooms of the institute.

The Diaconal Science Institute ( DWI ) is a university institute for diaconal science at the University of Heidelberg . The institute was founded in 1954 and is part of the university's theological faculty .

founding

The Diaconal Science Institute (DWI) at Heidelberg University was founded on February 18, 1954 in the presence of Edmund Schlink , then rector of the university, and Otto Dibelius , the council chairman of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). The constitution of the DWI was financially supported by the Inner Mission and the Evangelical Relief Organization as well as the EKD. When the new institute was named, the discipline term “diaconal science” was decisively shaped.

The institute was assigned to the theological faculty of Heidelberg University and integrated into the field of practical theology. Three goals were formulated for the facility:

  • To explore the social and charitable work of the Church.
  • Introduce students to diaconal activities.
  • To convey knowledge for the requirements for such activities.

In the post-war period it became clear that the leaders of diaconal institutions were often insufficiently prepared for their service. Herbert Krimm , the first director of the institute, later wrote in retrospect: “At that time there were a number of health breakdowns among the leading personalities [...] of the Diakonie. The same complaint was repeated over and over again: If only someone had introduced us to our work beforehand, we would have saved ourselves years of detours! ”It was therefore necessary to create opportunities for better training and a dialogue between theory and to open a practice that should accompany the professionalization of diakonia. Today, diaconal science is understood to mean research into the social and health work of the Protestant churches, which - including theology as a reference discipline - is interdisciplinary.

Teaching and training

The DWI provides diaconal science and theological competences for church and diakonia by taking on the classic fields of university tasks in research and teaching. For example, theology students can acquire a certificate in diaconal science as part of their studies (corresponds roughly to a semester in diaconal science and is characterized by courses on the welfare state system and the management of social organizations - which complement the theology course). In the further education course “Management, Ethics and Innovation in the Nonprofit Sector. Diaconal leadership and control ”, which is carried out in cooperation with the Protestant universities in Darmstadt, Freiburg and Ludwigsburg, employees of the Diakonie or other social organizations can prepare for management tasks. Two possibilities for a doctorate open up academic career paths: on the one hand, to obtain a doctorate in theology at the Faculty of Theology and, on the other hand, to obtain a doctorate in philosophy, awarded by the Faculty of Behavioral and Empirical Cultural Studies in Diaconal Studies, both at Heidelberg University.

Research (selection)

General

The institute conducts research projects on the fundamentals and practical developments of diakonia and works on current diaconal science topics at the intersection of church, welfare, economy and social affairs. From the beginning, not only national issues were dealt with, but close contacts with institutes in other countries were maintained. In this way, intensive diaconal research collaborations were established beyond Central Europe and into the Scandinavian region. The DWI has been involved in or coordinated EU research projects since 2006. More recently, through cooperation with church welfare organizations and corresponding university research centers in Australia, China, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan and the USA, the horizon has widened again beyond Europe. Research results are published in the form of publications and presented at congresses. The DWI is also active in an advisory function and support research of practical processes (e.g. on behalf of diaconal associations and companies). Own meetings and conferences mark continuously worked on topics such as B. “Disability - Theology - Church”, “Economization of the social”, “Ambivalences of love” or “Social innovations”.

Publications (selection)

  • In the series of publications of the Diakoniew Wissenschaftliches Institut at the University of Heidelberg - edited by Johannes Eurich and Volker Herrmann - volumes appear on fundamental questions and current developments in diakonia.
  • The DWI yearbook provides information about the work at the Diaconal Science Institute every two years.
  • Through its director, the DWI is co-editor of the Evangelical Social Lexicon (from the 9th edition) and the Diakonie Lexicon.

The DWI is currently involved in the following book series through its director as co-editor:

  • Theological impulses, Neukirchener Verlag Neukirchen-Vluyn, publisher together with Michael Beintker, Christiane Tietz, Günter Thomas and Michael Welker since 2011
  • Disability - Theology - Church, Kohlhammer Verlag Stuttgart, publisher together with Andreas Lob-Hüdepohl since 2011
  • Heidelberg Studies in Practical Theology, Lit-Verlag Münster, publisher together with Wolfgang Drechsel, Fritz Lienhard, Ingrid Schoberth and Helmut Schwier since 2011
  • Ethics and Society, Nomos Verlag Baden-Baden, publisher together with Michelle Becka, Bernhard Emunds, Gisela Kubon-Gilke, Torsten Meireis, Matthias Möhring-Hesse since 2016

The DWI is currently involved as co-editor of the following specialist journals:

  • By Johannes Eurich in the editorial team of Diaconia: Journal for the Study of Christian Social Practice, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Göttingen
  • By Thomas Renkert in the editorial team of Cursor_ Journal for explorative theology

management

The institute is headed by a director. An advisory board with representatives from diakonia and church accompanies the work of the institute.

ladder

literature

  • Volker Herrmann (Ed.): 50 Years of the Diaconal Science Institute. Results and tasks of diaconal science. DWI, Heidelberg 2005.

Web links

Remarks

  1. ↑ Johannes Degen: Diakonie, Religion and Social: Views of the church-related social economy. LIT-Verlag, Münster 2014, ISBN 978-3-643-12670-2 , p. 214 ( online ).
  2. ^ Herbert Krimm : Academic offspring for Diakonie. In: The Inner Mission. Volume 54, 1964, p. 132.
  3. ↑ Cf. Ellen Eidt, Johannes Eurich: Theoretical basic questions and current developments in diaconal science. In: Johannes Eurich, Heinz Schmidt (ed.): Diakonik. Basics - Concepts - Discourses. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2018, pp. 347–362.
  4. ^ Website of the DWI yearbook .