Protestant women in Baden
The Association of Evangelical Women in Baden , located at the Evangelical Church in Baden , was founded in 1916 as the "Association of Evangelical Women's Associations for Inner Mission in Baden". He changed his name several times. Since 1916 voluntary and later full-time women have been involved in the church and society.
Foundation of the association in the First World War
"In a very happy mood about the success of the merger idea" was formed on June 12, 1916 in the presence of Grand Duchess Luise von Baden in Karlsruhe, the "Evangelical Women's Association for Inner Mission in Baden e. V. ". The representatives of around 50 diaconal-evangelical women's associations elected Marie von Marschall zu Bieberstein as their first chairwoman. With the association under a common umbrella organization, the clubs were able to cope with the new demands on the home front and in the field of war relief more efficiently. In addition, a merger enabled greater impact in society and politics. In addition to specific welfare projects such as care for ammunition workers and war invalids, a challenge was seen in the moral and moral decline of the soldiers at the front.
The fight against prostitution, alcoholism and for the protection of young people remained the central concern in the post-war years. The women, who were quite controversial, saw the appropriate instruments in education and awareness-raising work, orientation towards the gospel, but also in political intervention. In addition, there were fields of work such as professional training for welfare workers and mothers' rest. In the first decade of its existence, the association showed that it was able to react flexibly to the needs and developments of the time. Disappointments and setbacks, such as the loss of their own homes, were inevitable.
Club history
From the First World War to the present day, Protestant women have shown that they are ready to constantly review the tasks and content of their work in order to react to social changes. Educational work and diakonia always remained the basic constants, embedded in the church and based on the social mandate of the gospel. It is also a history of women's emancipation that goes back over a century.
Marie von Marschall (1916–1934)
On July 2, 1916, the "Association of Evangelical Women's Associations for Inner Mission in Baden" was founded, which was an amalgamation of over 50 Protestant women's associations; In 1923 it was entered in the register of associations. Marie Freifrau von Marschall zu Bieberstein , née von Gemmingen, was the first chairwoman until 1934 . She still carried out her work on a voluntary basis. At the end of the First World War (October 1, 1918) the Evangelical Women's Vocational School for Church and Social Work was founded. Today it is the Evangelical University of Freiburg , the state-recognized university of the Evangelical Church in Baden. The first director was Helene Freiin von Dungern, then Lina Mayer-Kulenkampff, who later became director of the state Augusta School in Berlin, was director for two years. From 1923 to 1954, Dr. Julie Schenk is in charge.
On the 2nd Advent 1916, at the request of Marie von Marschall to the Evangelical High Church Council, a nationwide women's Sunday in Baden was set up. In 1923 maternal rest began in Baden, whereupon the Sonnenhaus maternal rest house in Königsfeld was acquired in 1925 . The first full-time secretary, Amalie Bayer, had been in existence since 1927, supporting and relieving the honorary chairwoman. She remained active until 1942. After the NSDAP came to power, the name of the association was changed, the association was now called "Frauenwerk der Evangelische Landeskirche in Baden eV". In 1934 Marie von Marschall gave up her office; followed Elisabeth Schumacher .
Elisabeth Schumacher (1934–1956)
The national economist, who worked as the national leader of the women's organization, had given up her profession when she married a pastor and gradually had four children. Nevertheless, she was very committed to the women's work. It is difficult to assess to what extent the collaboration with Nazi organizations was based on conviction or necessity. She criticized the system when it came to conflict with the work in the women's organization, whose independence she definitely wanted to preserve.
On October 1, 1935, the vicar Renate Scherer came as the first regional church theologian to work with women in the women's work, the focus of her work was the maternal service, where she was the director from 1938. She later worked as a theological teacher at the Social Women's School in Freiburg. In 1938 the name of the women's work was changed again, it was now called "Women's work of the Evangelical Regional Church Baden eV" and came under the umbrella of the regional church.
Grete Gillet (1940-1956)
The theologian Grete Gillet , who in 1923 was the first woman to be accepted into the regional church service as a religious teacher, became the first full-time manager in women's work (GF 1940–1949; later first theological director 1949–1956).
In 1942 the structure of the association was dissolved and everything was taken over as “women's work” in the regional church in order to protect women's work from being attacked by the National Socialists. In 1942 the Sonnenhaus was taken over by the Inner Mission . In 1943, the Evangelical Church in Baden took over the sponsorship of the Social Women's School in order to protect it from being attacked by the National Socialists.
From 1945 onwards there were difficult conditions all over Germany, Baden was part of the French occupation zone, and the new federal state of Baden-Württemberg was newly established. Until the currency reform in 1948, the people had to fight their way through difficult years and at the same time rebuild the country.
The repatriate work began in Baden in 1954 and continued until 2007. In 1955 there was the next name change, now it was called "Women's work in the women's work of the Evangelical Church in Baden". The maternal convalescent home Baden-Baden was acquired by the regional church in 1955. In 1956 the first evangelical village helper, Lydia Wenz, began her work in Boxberg .
Gertrud Hamann (1955–1971)
As a Jew she had to flee to France, where she was sent to an internment camp in 1940, looked after children and trained as a teacher. In 1947 she returned to Germany and initially worked as a community helper until she became manager of women's work in 1955, which she then headed until 1971.
In 1959 the "Association for the Promotion of Evangelical Village Helpers in Baden" was founded, which existed for 40 years - until 1999. In 1960 the maternal convalescent house "Marie von Marschall Haus" in Hinterzarten was acquired by the regional church. And six years later (1966) the 50th anniversary could be celebrated under the motto “It is important to help women cope with their lives”.
Modern times - new actions
From 1962 to 1981 Ruth Pfisterer (pastor) was the theological director and from 1971 to 1985 Annelise Fehrholz (social worker) was the manager. 1981–2000 Eva Loos (pastor) held the office of theological director, while Doris Eck (social worker) was managing director from 1985 to 1996. Eva Adam (elementary and secondary school teacher, women's representative) took over the management of the company from 1996–1999.
The next name change took place in 1978. The women's work became “women's work of the Evangelical Church in Baden”. 1978–1994 “Frauenarbeit” took part in the protest “Don't buy fruits from South Africa” on the initiative of Evangelical Women Germany (EFD). 1978–1981 there was the ecumenical study program “The Communion of Women and Men in the Church”. In 1983, the women's peace movement in Baden, “On the way for life”, emerged from the “Petition for Life”. The motto of the 70th anniversary in 1986 was “Who we are. What we want. What we do". From 1988–1998 they took part in the ecumenical decade “Solidarity of the Churches with Women” and in 1989 the Synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany was brought to Bad Krozingen , which had the main theme “The community of women and men in the Church”. The village helper was given to the Diakonisches Werk Baden in 1990 .
In June 1996, the 80th anniversary in the Albert Schweitzer Hall was under the motto “cheering female”. In 1999 the maternal convalescence house in Baden-Baden was sold by the regional church.
Women's work in the 21st century
From 2000 to 2012 Annegret Brauch (pastor, church councilor) was the head of the office, since 2013 Anke Ruth-Klumbies (pastor, church councilor).
In 2002 the basic course Feminist Theology "Living Theology of Women" was held for the first time in Baden. In 2004 the regional church sold the "Marie von Marschall House". The women's foundation GRATIA was founded in 2006. The motto of the 90th anniversary was “And she will laugh the coming day”.
In 2007 the "Interreligious Women's Network Baden" was founded. The “Ecumenical Women's Congress” met in Stuttgart under the motto: “Act from abundance - women shape the future”.
In 2012, “Women's Work” was renamed “Evangelical Women in Baden”. In 2012/2013 there was a distance learning course in Feminist Theology. From 2012 the so-called “women's meal” was held in various locations - in 2012 in Karlsruhe-Durlach; 2013 in Heidelberg; 2014 in Freiburg (motto “Women and Power”); 2015 in Basel (motto “women crossing the border”); 2016 in Constance (motto “Women in the Council - passionate, political, holy”) and 2016 in Pforzheim (motto “City of Women”). In 2016 the first “FrauenPreacherSlam” and “FrauenSingTag” were held in Baden.
For the 100th anniversary in 2016 under the title “Beyond Me”, there was a traveling exhibition with roll-ups .
In 2017–2018, the distance learning course in theology “Feminist, Contextual, Gender Conscious” was offered again. The GRATIA women's foundation received the 1st Baden Foundation Prize in 2017.
Full-time and honorary positions
In the first years, Marie Freifrau von Marschall was a "volunteer" at the head of the Protestant women in Baden. But as early as 1927, Amalie Bayer was assigned to her as a full-time secretary. In 1940 the theologian Grete Gillet became the first full-time manager. At this time Elisabeth Schumacher (Baden) was already the honorary chairwoman. To this day, it has been proven that full-time and voluntary positions are jointly at the head of Protestant women in Baden.
Full-time managing directors and theological directors of the office
- 1927–1942: Amalie Bayer, secretary to the honorary management
- 1940–1949: Dr. Grete Gillet , theologian, manageress
- 1949–1956: Dr. Grete Gillet, theologian, theological leader
- 1949–1954: Hilde Schneider, pastor's wife, war widow, manager
- 1956–1971: Gertrud Hamann, state welfare officer, managing director
- 1962–1981: Ruth Pfisterer, pastor, theological director
- 1971–1985: Annelise Fehrholz, social worker, managing director
- 1981–2000: Eva Loos, pastor, theological director
- 1985–1996: Doris Eck, social worker, managing director
- 1996–1999: Eva Adam, elementary and secondary school teacher, women's representative, manager
- 2000–2012: Annegret Brauch, pastor, church councilor, head of the office
- Since 2013: Anke Ruth-Klumbies, pastor, church councilor, head of the office
"Evangelical women in Baden" today
program
Social engagement, educational work and lived spirituality are central areas of work for evangelical women’s work. Groups of women are supported and advised, volunteers and full-time employees are qualified and trained. Women get involved in projects and campaigns and take up current topics relevant to women in an open range of events. Women want to invite, encourage and empower other women to help shape the church and society. Women's trips offer the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas. Women network with other women's organizations locally and from an ecumenical perspective worldwide. Women observe and reflect on the diversity of women's life situations. Women make the contribution that women make in church and society visible and stand up for the realization of gender-equitable relationships. The GRATIA women's foundation also supports projects that support women's engagement around the world.
subjects
- Spirituality and everyday life for women
- PILGER.SCHÖN - pilgrims for women
- World Day of Prayer and Ecumenism
- Women's Sunday
- Gender conscious theology
- Women and health, maternal recovery
- Single parents and families
- Projects against human trafficking and forced prostitution
- On the move for life - for peace, justice and the integrity of creation
- Women and escape
- Womens meal
- Interreligious women's network
Web links
- Protestant women in Baden , accessed on November 20, 2017.
literature
- Life pictures from the Protestant church in Baden . Volume IV: Awakening / Inner Mission / Diakonia / Theologians. Edited by Gerhard Schwinge. (= Special publications of the Association for Church History in the Evangelical Church in Baden, Vol. 9) ISBN 978-3-89735-516-3
- Memories and Perspectives, Evangelical Women in Baden 1916–2016 . Evangelical Publishing House Leipzig. ISBN 978-3-374-04417-7