Michael Klessmann

Michael Klessmann (* 10. September 1943 in Jöllenbeck ) is a German practical theology , pastoral psychology , instructional supervisor and emeritus professors .

Klessmann is a professor emeritus for practical theology (with a research focus on “pastoral care and pastoral psychology”) in Wuppertal . His older brother is the historian Christoph Kleßmann .

Life

Michael Klessmann graduated from primary school and high school in Schwerte / Ruhr in 1963 and then studied theology from 1963 to 1969 in Bethel , Heidelberg and Tübingen . He passed his first theological exam in 1969 at the Evangelical Church of Westphalia . This was followed by a parish vicariate in Bünde and Bielefeld in 1969 and 1972 . During this time he also gave religion and philosophy lessons at the Carl Severing School, Bielefeld. From 1969 to 1971 he completed a study abroad with a focus on clinical pastoral training (CPE) and pastoral psychology in Richmond, Virginia , USA.

In 1972 Klessmann passed the second theological exam at the Evangelical Church of Westphalia. He then worked from 1972 to 1974 as a pastoral psychologist at the Evangelical Education and Life Advice Center in Bielefeld. During this time he was entrusted with setting up a telephone counseling in Bielefeld. From 1974 to 1978 Klessman worked as a research assistant at the chair for practical theology with a focus on pastoral care (as an employee of Dietrich Stollberg ) at the Bethel Church University. During this time he was ordained in 1974 . In 1978 he received his doctorate. theol. at the Department of Protestant Theology at the Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster .

From 1978 to 1998 he worked as a research assistant at the Bethel Church University, at the same time as a supervisor for clinical pastoral training (KSA) at the pastoral care institute at the Bethel Church University, as managing director of this institute and as a hospital chaplain at the psychiatric clinic of the von Bodelschwingh institutions Bethel . In 1980 Klessmann was recognized as a supervisor for clinical pastoral training (KSA) by the German Society for Pastoral Psychology (DGfP). Training in Gestalt therapy at the Institute for Integrative Gestalt Therapy (IGW) in Würzburg followed from 1978 to 1981, which he continued in 1981 and 1982 with a study of Gestalt pedagogy at the University of California in Santa Barbara , USA.

1984-1987 Klessmann held various teaching positions at the Faculty of Protestant Theology of the University of Marburg true to pastoral and homiletic topics from 1990 to 1995. regular lecturer for ethics in health sciences at the student health sciences at the University of Bielefeld . From 1989 to 1996 he was chairman of the Clinical Pastoral Training Section in the German Society for Pastoral Psychology (DGfP). In 1991 he spent six months researching at the School of Theology at Claremont, in Claremont, California . In 1993 he completed his habilitation in practical theology at the Bethel Church University. From 1996 to 1999 Klessmann was the first chairman of the German Society for Pastoral Psychology (DGfP). In 1998 he was appointed professor for practical theology at the Wuppertal Church University . In 2000 Michael Klessmann was recognized as a teaching supervisor in the DGfP. He has lived in Ansbach since his retirement as professor in 2008 .

Fonts (selection)

Monographs

• Ambivalence and belief. Why in the present day the certainty of faith has to change to ambivalence in faith. Stuttgart 2018, ISBN 978-3-17-034455-6 .
• The rectory. Introduction to basic questions of pastoral theology. Neukirchen 2012, ISBN 978-3788725877 .
• Pastoral care. Accompaniment, encounter, interpretation of life on the horizon of Christian faith. A textbook. Neukirchen 2008, ISBN 978-3-7887-2293-7 .
• Pastoral psychology. A textbook. Neukirchen 2004. 3rd edition 2006, ISBN 3-7887-2050-6 .
• Anger and aggression in the church. Göttingen 1992, ISBN 3-525-62329-1 .
• Changing parish images. A profession in upheaval. Neukirchen 2001, ISBN 3-7887-1871-4 .
• Fear and coping with fear as an object of practical theological reflection. (= Interactions. Number 30). Waltrop 1998, ISBN 3-933688-04-3 .
• Identity and belief. On the relationship between psychological structure and belief. Dissertation. University of Münster 1978. Munich, Mainz 1980, ISBN 3-459-01304-4 and ISBN 3-7867-0825-8

Editorships

• with Kerstin Lammer : The cross with the job. Supervision in church and diakonia. Neukirchen 2007, ISBN 978-3-7887-2219-7 .
• Hospital Chaplaincy Manual. 3rd, revised and expanded edition. Göttingen 2008, ISBN 978-3-525-62403-6 .
• with Elisabeth Hölscher (ed.), Klaus Winkler (author), Grundmuster der Seele. Pastoral Psychological Perspectives (= Work on Pastoral Theology (ATP), Volume 41), Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2003, ISBN 3-525-62376-3 .
• with Jochen Motte: Recognize violence - overcome violence. Contribution to a symposium of the Church University of Wuppertal and the United Evangelical Mission. Wuppertal 2002, ISBN 3-932735-76-5 .
• with Irmhild Liebau: Corporeality is the end of God's works. Body - body - practical theology. Festschrift for Dietrich Stollberg. Göttingen 1997, ISBN 3-525-60397-5 .
• with Kurt Lückel: Interim balance sheet : Pastoral psychological challenges. In the field of tension between theology and human sciences. Klaus Winkler on his 60th birthday. Bielefeld 1994, ISBN 3-7858-0359-1 .
• with Klaus Winkler : varieties of pastoral care. Contributions from the pastoral care institute at the Bethel Church University. Bethel 1991.

items

• German Society for Pastoral Psychology : The Years of Origin and Foundation (until 1980). A chronicle. In: Transformations . Pastoral psychological workshop reports. 12th year, issue 17, January 2012, pp. 2–179.
• Pastoral supervision? The importance of theological field competence for supervision in the area of ​​the church. In: Paths to People . 56th year, 2004, pp. 377-390.
• From movement to club. On the history of the emergence and founding of the German Society for Pastoral Psychology. In: Paths to People. 64th volume, issue 2, 2012, pp. 208–221.

Web links

• Literature by and about Michael Klessmann in the catalog of the German National Library
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