Friedrich Wunderlich

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Friedrich Wunderlich (born January 23, 1896 in Plauen , † July 9, 1990 in Frankfurt am Main ) was a German Evangelical Methodist theologian , bishop and ecumenist .

Live and act

Wunderlich comes from an old Methodist family. His father Engelbert was also a preacher in this free church in Plauen. After the family moved to Berlin , Friedrich attended the Königstädtische Gymnasium , but passed his Abitur in Zwickau because his father worked as a preacher there. When he obtained his university entrance qualification , he studied philology and psychology in Leipzig , which was followed by studies in theology and philosophy . In Evanston ( Illinois , USA ), where he met the Methodist church life, he heard some semester-long courses . As a Methodist interested him the involvement of adolescents in the practice of faith, and so he wrote his dissertation on the subject of Sunday school , a specialty of this country and became a doctor of philosophy doctorate . In the following years he also attended Sunday school conventions. Because of his experience, he was called to serve as youth secretary for his church. He was also active in youth politics in the Reich Committee of Youth Associations . This was followed by a parish preaching service in Hamburg-Barmbek . There his spiritual work also got a strong missionary character to win over non-believers or people of other faith for Methodist piety.

In 1939, Wunderlich was appointed to the Methodist seminar in Frankfurt am Main to teach the New Testament there. Soon he was drafted into the Wehrmacht , but in view of his experiences at the time - he was deployed to look after the residents of Verdun during the First World War - he was now able to carry out humanitarian tasks in accordance with his understanding of faith. After returning to his seminary in 1948, he was appointed director.

Wunderlich took part in the founding meeting of the Working Group of Christian Churches (ACK). In the 1950s and 1960s he was the president of this first ecumenical working group of free churches. In 1953 he was elected bishop of the German district of the Methodist Church . He was also happy to accept requests for spiritual visits on festive occasions, such as the inauguration of the converted church of the Hamburg-Eppendorf community .

He succeeded in obtaining international status from the GDR authorities, so that as a representative of the worldwide "Methodist Church" he could represent his West German and East German communities. He was also able to lead the annual conference sessions. During his service as a delegate of the Methodist Church he took part in two plenary assemblies of the World Council of Churches : 1954 in Evanston / USA, and 1961 in New Delhi / India . As a free church representative, he was one of the signatories of the Bread for the World appeal . Also at various Protestant church conventions - e.g. B. in Leipzig and Cologne - Bishop Wunderlich gave Bible studies or lectures. He was on numerous business trips to Asia, Africa, Latin America and to the meetings of the bishops' council of his church. His work was valuable to his church after the victory of the revolution in Cuba , when it was impossible for the American representatives of the church by their state authorities to visit the island and to organize church life. In 1968, during his service, the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church united to form the United Methodist Church .

Wunderlich was a member of the Christian Peace Conference , at whose first two All-Christian Peace Assemblies in 1961 and 1964 in Prague he was involved. In 1964 he was elected as a member of their advisory committee.

In 1968 Wunderlich retired. His friends Gordon Rupp and Martin Niemöller were present at his farewell . Because of the failure of other brothers, Bishop i. R. on behalf of the Bishops' Council for almost a year the supervision of the leadership of the parishes in Denmark , Finland , Sweden and Norway .

Wunderlich was married to Maria, born in Kassel . Straube, who had studied medicine . In public she has taken a stand against war, injustice and the nuclear threat. Like her husband, she has been involved in various socio-political organizations. In the UN area , she has participated in various conferences of non-governmental organizations . She died in 1980.

After the death of his wife, Wunderlich lived secluded in his Frankfurt house until he had to go to a home for care. He died at the age of 95.

Honors

Works

  • Bridge builder of God, Frankfurt a. M.: Anker-Verl., 1963
  • Methodists linking two continents, Nashville [etc.]: Methodist Publishing House, 1960
  • God does not give up his people, Frankfurt a. M.: Anker-Verl., 1960
  • Methodism in the wide area of ​​the world, Frankfurt a. M.: Anker-Verl., 1956
  • From the childhood days of mankind, Bremen: Anker-Verlag, [1930], 2nd ed.
  • With Johannes in the allegiance of Jesus, Bremen: [Buchh. u. Verl. D. Traktathaus], 1929, 2nd ed.
  • In Egypt, Bremen: Buchh. u. Publishing house d. Tract house, [1923]
  • The Importance of Sunday School to Church Life in the United States, n.d., n.d.
  • From Bethlehem to Golgotha, Bremen: Anker-Verlag, 2nd ed.

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Wunderlich, Friedrich
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German clergyman, bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church
DATE OF BIRTH January 23, 1896
PLACE OF BIRTH Plauen
DATE OF DEATH July 9, 1990
Place of death Frankfurt am Main