Gmünder youth church
The Gmünder Jugendkirche was initially an ecumenical youth church . It was opened on June 24, 2005 and was initially located mainly in the Johanniskirche in Schwäbisch Gmünd . It was considered the only ecumenical youth church in the area of the Catholic diocese Rottenburg-Stuttgart . Since 2016, most of the events have taken place in the Resurrection of Christ Church . The profile of the youth church is now denominationally Roman Catholic .
Original concept
The self-set goal of the Gmünder Jugendkirche was to create a place for the young believers where the youngsters can live their faith and shape the church. The offers of the youth church were designed in keeping with this motto “design and experience”. They ranged from church services and spiritual impulses to concerts and art and cultural projects. It was an important aspect for the youth church that young people let their ideas flow in, implement and organize new formats.
The special thing about the Gmünder Jugendkirche was the ecumenism. Events were organized and offered by both Catholic and Protestant sides as well as jointly. Events organized by denominations were also always offered ecumenically. The youth church was supported by the Catholic pastoral care unit Schwäbisch Gmünd-Mitte, the Protestant youth organization Schwäbisch Gmünd and the Catholic youth department Schwäbisch Gmünd of the BDKJ .
Redesign
After a little less than ten years, the concept of the youth church Schwäbisch Gmünd was fundamentally changed. While central elements of the original conception are retained, such as the possibility that young people can actively participate in the design of the youth church and that different types of events are used, the confessional restriction is one of the most profound changes. This ecumenical orientation contributed to the uniqueness of the youth church. In addition, the youth church, supported by the Catholic youth department Schwäbisch Gmünd of the BDKJ and the pastoral care unit Schwäbisch Gmünd-Mitte, changed its place of worship .
Web links
- Website of the Gmünder Jugendkirche (accessed December 30, 2016)
- Video about youth churches from 2009 on kathisch.de (accessed December 30, 2016)
Individual evidence
- ^ Farewell service for the youth officer of the Catholic deanery in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Renate Beigert , Rems-Zeitung , online article from March 29, 2010
Coordinates: 48 ° 47 '59.6 " N , 9 ° 47' 49.2" E