Manfred Sult

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Manfred Sult (born March 27, 1934 in Metgethen ; † April 17, 2016 in Berlin ) was a German Baptist pastor and a leading clergyman of the former Federation of Evangelical Free Churches in the GDR . After the reunification he was one of the federal directors of the reunited Federation of Evangelical Free Churches in Germany.

Life

Manfred Sult spent his childhood in Metgethen, west of Königsberg (today: Possjolok imeni Alexandra Kosmodemjanskowo ), his youth in Bitterfeld in Saxony-Anhalt . The local Baptist church recommended him in 1954 to study theology. In the winter semester of 1955, Sult was enrolled at the Evangelical Free Church Preachers' Seminar in Hamburg-Horn . After his theological exam in 1959, he went back to the GDR and completed a three-year probationary period in the Baptist community in Berlin, Cantianstrasse. In 1962, Sult received his recognition as pastor of the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches and in the same year switched to the pastoral service of the Zeesen community.

The political separation of Germany gradually led to a division of the previously common association of municipalities. In 1959 the Evangelical Free Churches in the GDR founded their own theological training center, the Buckow Theological Seminary . After the Wall was built in 1961, the Eastern parishes formed an autonomous partial synod, which was chaired by a so-called Federal Council . Through this body, Manfred Sult was appointed Protestant Free Church youth pastor in the GDR in 1965.

In 1969 the association of municipalities was completely divided. The Federation of Evangelical Free Churches in the GDR , which included Baptist , Brethren and Elim congregations, elected Herbert Morét as its first president. Morét held this position for twelve years. His successor in office was Manfred Sult in 1981. After the reunification of the two municipal federations in 1991, Sult worked alongside Eckhard Schaefer as federal director until he retired in 1997 .

In an obituary, the two leading pastors of the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches, Michael Noss (President) and Christoph Stiba (General Secretary), emphasized that Manfred Sult played a “decisive” role in ensuring that “East and West grow together”. His contribution to this was "of inestimable value".

Manfred Sult was married and the father of four sons.

Publications (selection)

  • Reformation principles: Christian and citizen today . In: The honor of Martin Luther, a manifestation in the spirit of peace, humanity and international understanding: Meeting of the working group of Christian circles at the National Council of the National Front of the GDR on October 4, 1982 in Halle (working material). P. 51 ff.
  • Experienced in the GDR. Reports from the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches (Ed. Ulrich Materne, Günter Balders in collaboration with Reinhard Assmann, Bernhard Kühl and Manfred Sult). Wuppertal and Kassel 1995. ISBN 3-7893-7220-X . - The following articles in this book are from Sult:
    • We face the past , p. 14
    • The smell of inevitable fulfillment of duty , p. 110 ff.
    • My experience of working in the working groups “Christian circles” of the National Front of the GDR , p. 117
    • Broadcast service [in the GDR] , p. 341 ff.

literature

  • Klaus Rösler: Manfred Sult passed away. A pastor through and through . In: Die Gemeinde 09/2016 (May 1, 2016). P. 32

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The data and facts in this section are based on Klaus Rösler, unless otherwise noted: Manfred Sult died. A pastor through and through . In: Die Gemeinde 09/2016 (May 1, 2016). P. 32
  2. ↑ Festschrift for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the seminary of the Protestant Free Churches (Baptists) in Germany . Hamburg-Horn 1955. p. 98 (Ed.)
  3. ↑ Since 1997 the Hamburg-Horner Seminar has its seat in Wustermark-Elstal. The official name is today the Elstal Theological University .
  4. ↑ Günter Balders (Ed. In connection with the Dotentenkollegium): Festschrift. 100 years of the theological seminary. 1880-1980 . Wuppertal and Kassel 1980. ISBN 3-7893-7874-7 . 209; Manfred Sult had matriculation number 808.
  5. ^ Baptisten.de: Obituary for Manfred Sult (PDF) ; accessed on May 3, 2016
personal data
SURNAME Sult, Manfred
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Baptist pastor, President of the Federation of Evangelical Free Churches in the GDR
DATE OF BIRTH March 27, 1934
PLACE OF BIRTH Metgethen
DATE OF DEATH 17th April 2016
Place of death Berlin