Michael Schibilsky

Michael Schibilsky (born August 14, 1946 in Bielefeld ; † February 8, 2005 in Hanover ) was a Protestant theologian , university professor and journalist whose research and work were primarily based on the interface between theological research and church practice.

Life

Michael Schibilsky was born in Bielefeld in 1946 . In parallel to his theology studies at the church college in Bielefeld- Bethel and in Münster , Schibilsky completed a journalistic training in Bielefeld. He completed his theology studies with a doctorate in Münster in 1975 on the subject of new religiosity and social interaction . The work is still considered a pioneering achievement in the field of religious biography research .

From 1978 to 1987 Schibilsky was pastor of a Protestant parish in Bottrop, which was particularly affected by the economic structural change in the Ruhr area . About his work in the workers' congregation , Schibilsky presented the report Everyday World and Sunday Church - congregational work in the industrial area, which received much attention from experts .

In 1987 Schibilsky became professor for social ethics, anthropology and religious philosophy at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Rhineland-Westphalia-Lippe in Bochum. In connection with this teaching activity, his Introduction to Pastoral Care of Mourning Paths appeared in 1989 . Advice for helping professions . The book is considered a prime example of a successful textbook because Schibilsky succeeded in offering a maximum of information in easy-to-read language.

From 1993 to 1996 Schibilsky headed the Evangelical Press Association for Westphalia and Lippe and was editor-in-chief of the Protestant weekly newspaper Our Church (UK).

The student colleague of the "television pastor" Jürgen Fliege also became known to a wider audience as the speaker of the Word for Sunday in the first program of the ARD .

In 1996 Schibilsky became professor and director of the Institute for Practical Theology at the Evangelical Theological Faculty of the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich . Schibilsky's main work and research areas were diaconal studies and Christian journalism. As a university lecturer, Schibilsky consciously sought to connect with the bodies and structures of the church: the theologian was a member of the Bavarian regional synod from 1997 until his death. In 2003 Schibilsky was also elected deputy chairman of the Synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). Schibilsky also belonged to the board of directors of the von Bodelschwingh institutions in Bethel and had a seat and vote on the board of directors of the German Bible Society. Schibilsky was also a board member of the Scientific Society for Theology since 2002 .

Until his death, Schibilsky campaigned for professional church journalism. For him, the special characteristic of Protestant journalism was the combination of professionalism and journalistic freedom on the one hand and critical and loyal support of the church on the other. In his last years Schibilsky dealt with issues of media ethics and the role of spirituality in diakonia.

Michael Schibilsky, who was suffering from progressive pulmonary fibrosis , died on February 8, 2005 in Hanover as a result of his illness.

Michael Schibilsky was married to the Protestant theologian and regional church councilor of the Westphalian Church, Christel Schibilsky, and is the father of two children.

Worth knowing

1997/1998 Beate Hofmann , who was elected Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (EKKW) in 2019 , was Michael Schibilsky's research assistant .

Works (selection)

Publications in book form

Mourning paths. Advice for helping professions , Düsseldorf 1989, ISBN 3-491-72215-2 , 4th edition 1994.
Course book Diakonie . Neukirchener Verlag, Neukirchen-Vluyn 1991.
Media and mandate . Kaiser, Gütersloh 1999.
Theology and diakonia . Gütersloh publishing house, Gütersloh 2004.

Articles in collective works

What constitutes the dignity of the "old" person? How do we talk about and with old people? , in: Werner Burgheim (ed.), Qualified accompaniment of dying and mourning. Medical, legal, psycho-social and spiritual assistance . (= Forum GesundheitsMedien), Forum Merching 2001 to 2013, (loose-leaf collection in three volumes), ISBN 3-89827-374-1 , delivery December 2003, section 2.6., Pp. 1–3.

Time: When the clocks tick differently , in: ibid., Section 2.6.1., Pp. 1–3.

Money - the standard of recognition in our society , in: ibid., Section 2.6.2., Pp. 1–2.

Professionalism in nursing , in: ibid., Section 2.6.3., Pp. 1–4.

Weltanschauung and social values , in: ibid., Section 2.6.4., Pp. 1–4.

Motivation and Lifestyle , in: ibid., Section 2.6.5., Pp. 1–2.

Vision of Tomorrow , in: ibid., Section 2.6.6., Pp. 1–10.

literature

Edzard Everts (ed.): Theology as the art of living . Memorial booklet for Prof. Dr. Michael Schibilsky. In: Ways to People , Volume 58, 2006, Issue 4, pp. 294-380, ISSN 0043-2040 .
Gerald Kretschmar (author), Traugott Roser (author): preaching biographically. Michael Schibilsky as homilet and homileticist , in: Practical Theology , 41st year, 2006, pp. 194–201.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Schibilsky, Michael
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German Protestant theologian
DATE OF BIRTH	August 14, 1946
PLACE OF BIRTH	Bielefeld
DATE OF DEATH	February 8, 2005
Place of death	Hanover