Dr. Joachim Kummer becomes a new dean in Aalen - a fresh wind for the church!

Dr. Joachim Kummer becomes a new dean in Aalen - a fresh wind for the church!

Giengen an der Brenz, Deutschland - dr. Joachim Kummer will be new dean of the Evangelical Church District Aalen, such as schwaebische-post.de He takes over the office of Ralf Drescher, who has retired. The exact date for the start of the new position is still pending. Kummer is currently acting as the managing pastor in Giengen an der Brenz and looks back on more than 13 years of experience in this role.

Kummer, born in Stuttgart and grew up in a rectory in Hohenlohe, studied theology in Tübingen and Erlangen. After his military service, he worked as a vicar in Langenburg and gained six years of professional experience in Nagold. In addition to his pastoral activity, Kummer also works in the administration and has the personnel responsibility for five kindergartens.

commitment and visions

The new Dean wants to create contemporary framework conditions for the work of the church. In a context in which the church districts Aalen and Schwäbisch Gmünd are facing a merger, Kummer emphasizes the importance of the presence of the church, despite all the challenges, such as the decline in membership.

In addition, Kummer is active as chairman of the ecumenical diaconal and nursing association, which runs a table shop and an everyday senior citizens' aid. His commitments also extend to the theological training, in which he has been an assessor in the 1st theological exam for over 20 years and has been a corrector in the 2nd theological exam for about 15 years. He is married and has seven children; His wife is a pastor at the Pauluskirche in Heidenheim.

future developments in the dean's office

With the upcoming merger of the church districts Aalen and Schwäbisch Gmünd, the Evangelical Church plans to redesign the future of the region. According to Taeferrot-evangelisch.de , the dean's office Schwäbisch Gmünd will no longer be occupied after retirement from Deanin Ursula Richter. Instead, responsibility is transferred to the Deanery Aalen, and a common district synod is founded in the new Deanery Ostalbkreis. The reform project provides for strengthening the local cooperation, while the previous parishes in the entire church community of Schwäbischer Wald continue to remain independent.

In the course of these reforms, important personnel changes will be introduced: From January 1, 2025, new pastors will enter the regional association, including Pastor Martin Gerlach, who will be responsible for Abtsgmünd, Neuler and Leinroden. The goal is to use the resources more effectively and to promote close cooperation between the communities.

Wider reform efforts

The developments in the dean's office Ostalbkreis are part of more extensive reforms within the Evangelical Church in Bavaria, such as Landeskirche.bayern-evangelisch.de Fixed. The structural reforms aim to reduce the number of dean's districts in order to create sustainable units that should last at least 10 to 15 years. These strategic measures are essential to meet the requirements of today and to make the Church fit for the future as an institution.

dr. Joachim Kummer is at the beginning of a new chapter, both for his own career and for the Aalen church district, which is in a phase of change.