Community officer

Municipal officer / community speaker is a pastoral profession in the Catholic Roman Church in Germany. To practice, an academic degree in religious education / practical theology or a church-recognized final examination and pastoral training is required.

history

After the Second Vatican Council, the profession of parish clerk replaced the pastoral care assistant that had previously been practiced almost exclusively by women. These have existed in German-speaking countries since the beginning of the 20th century. The first steps towards a career go back to the commitment of Wilhelm Wiesen and Margarete Ruckmich in the 1920s. In 1928 the "Community Assistant School" was founded by the German Caritas Association in Freiburg. Since the 1970s there has been access to the profession via the technical college diploma in religious education. During this time, the term community officer was also created. The job profile of the parish clerk is related to that of the pastoral clerk, the fields of activity are often similar, but a university degree in theology is required for pastoral clerks.

Due to the strongly changing religious landscape in Germany, the profession is subject to many changes. The previously usual activity in only one parish gives way to work in so-called parish associations , pastoral care units or parish associations as well as so-called category pastoral care (e.g. in hospitals, in the military, etc.). In addition to immediate pastoral and religious education activities, the accompaniment and qualification of volunteers as well as conceptual work is increasingly required today. Almost all dioceses today emphasize the great importance of the profession for their pastoral work.

education

Course in pastoral theology in the bachelor's degree in practical theology at the Catholic University of Applied Sciences in Mainz (lecturer Peter Kohlgraf )

In order to be able to exercise this profession, a degree in religious education at a university of applied sciences (with a diploma (FH) or Bachelor of Arts degree in religious education or practical theology ) or at a church college / university of applied sciences is required; some dioceses also accept a correspondence theological course. The second training phase takes place in the employing diocese. The (arch) dioceses in Germany maintain their own training directors who also (co-) decide on admission, professional preparation and the hiring of interested parties. The courses at the universities of applied sciences are characterized by relatively small group sizes of students.

The course usually lasts 6 semesters and includes theological, human-scientific and spiritual content. This is followed by two to three years of practical training in the dioceses; the trainees are called community assistants . The total of about six years of training ends with the second service examination in the respective diocese. It includes a pastoral and a school (religious instruction) exam, as well as a written thesis. Nevertheless, after the first bachelor's degree, another degree can be completed. The Catholic University of Applied Sciences Mainz offers z. B. from the winter semester 2018/19, a double bachelor's degree in cooperation with the social work department . A bachelor's degree in social work with state recognition as a social worker can be acquired in a total of 10 semesters. But the bachelor's degree also allows a subsequent master’s degree, e.g. B. at the University of Bamberg in the master's degree “Religion and Education” or at the University of Münster with the master's degree “Christianity in Culture and Society”; as well as a master’s degree in theology can be added. However, if you are aiming for further studies and still want to become a parish officer later, this must be clarified with the training management of the respective diocese.

Training locations in Germany are Benediktbeuern , Eichstätt , Mainz , Paderborn and, since the winter semester 2018/19, Freiburg . In Paderborn it is part of the training that the students live together in the Pauluskolleg for a year . In Mainz, too, it is compulsory for students from the dioceses of Limburg , Mainz and Speyer to live together in the Dr Maria Reinartz House (college) for one year.

job profile

The German (ore) dioceses have clearly defined the job description of the parish clerk. His main focus is on the three basic ministries of the Church:

Annunciation

• in the catechesis of the sacraments (e.g. preparation for first communion, confirmation and marriage)
• in teaching at elementary, secondary and secondary schools in the subject cath. religion
• accompanying Catholic associations and clubs (e.g. KAB, kfd, Kolping)
• in adult education
• in accompanying and recruiting new volunteer workers
• in one-on-one discussions and home visits

liturgy

• in preparing and leading church services (e.g. word services, devotions)
• in the accompaniment of liturgy groups
• in the training and accompaniment of employees for the organization of services

Diakonia

• in Catholic youth work (e.g. youth groups, youth associations, acolytes, open youth work)
• in senior work
• in individual help, visiting services and visits to the sick
• in the accompaniment of helper groups and self-help groups

Koinonia

• in the participation in the team of full-time pastors
• in membership in the parish council and other bodies
• in inviting and bringing people together in the communities

In the last ten to twenty years - due to the shortage of priests, but also because of the decline in voluntary work - the job description has expanded. Added are:

• Service as a church contact person on site (e.g. office service in a parish office)
• Representing the pastor in representative and administrative tasks
• Funeral service management
• Field service (e.g. at word celebrations and children's catechesis)
• Public relations (e.g. homepage, parish letter)
• Company pastoral care in companies and institutions on site
• Teaching at secondary schools in the subject cath. religion

In addition, community officers also represent the communities and their groups and committees at the higher levels: e. B. at conferences of the (arch) diocese on questions of youth pastoral care, at pastoral conferences of the dean's office and the conferences of the individual church professional associations.

Withdrawal of the missio canonica and termination (protection)

A key decision by the BAG with its judgment of April 10, 2014 (2 AZR 812/12) was issued in the case of an amendment termination by a community officer after the church commission was withdrawn - due to violation of her residence obligation.

literature

• HM Weikmann, W. Wertgen (eds.), Community officers. Profile of a professional pastoral organization, Regensburg 2011, ISBN 978-3-7917-2390-7
• Correspondence course theology, Catholic Academy Würzburg
• Information page on the profession of community officer from the conference of mentors and training directors of the German dioceses
• Federal association of community officers, religion teachers
• Religious education at the Catholic University of North Rhine-Westphalia
• Specialized academy for the training of community officers - Margarete Ruckmich Haus, Freiburg
• Practical theology at the Catholic University of Mainz
• Faculty for Religious Education / Church Educational Work at the Catholic University of Eichstätt
• Profession of community clerk in the Archdiocese of Cologne

swell

1. ↑ https://www.katholische-kirche-fritzlar.de/fritzlar/pdf/domgemeinde/Rahmenstatut_Gemeindereferenten-01.09.2011.pdf
2. ^ The German Bishops (eds.), Framework statutes and regulations for parish officers, Bonn 1987 and 2011
3. ↑ BAG - 2 AZR 812/12 . bag- Judgment.com. Retrieved April 19, 2019.