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Church district praise: New Provost Görlich resigns – allegations in the room!
Accusations against Jonas Görlich are delaying his appointment as the new provost in Wismar; the synod will initiate a new election procedure.
Church district praise: New Provost Görlich resigns – allegations in the room!
In Wismar there is currently great unrest within the Evangelical Lutheran Church District of Mecklenburg. Jonas Görlich, who was recently elected as the new provost, will not take up office on October 1, 2025 as planned. The reason for this are serious allegations that emerged in August and are currently being investigated by the Northern Church. Loud [Ostsee-Zeitung](https://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/lokales/nordwestmecklenburg/wismar/neuer-probst-der-kirche-in- mecklenburg-waives-official-accusations-stand-in-the-room-4JMTZV6N6ZATXJJAC4BCQGOJL4.html?outputType=valid_amp) These allegations led to Görlich's temporary exclusion from his service with immediate effect. Details of the allegations are not yet known.
The allegations revolve around possible violations of official duties that Görlich may have committed during his time as a church pastor. In connection with these allegations, he withdrew his acceptance of the election as provost in writing. It is currently unclear whether the allegations involve serious grievances, but the Northern Church is treating the issue with the utmost care. The regional church office has already initiated administrative proceedings to get to the bottom of the matter, and until the matter is clarified, the presumption of innocence continues to apply, as emphasized in Kirche-MV.
Management of the provost's office temporarily regulated
In the meantime, the Wismar provost's office is headed by provost Sabine Schümann from Parchim and provost Dirk Fey from Rostock. This is necessary because the defeated pastor Anne Hala cannot automatically move up. A new election committee is now being set up by the synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church District of Mecklenburg. Bishop Tilman Jeremias will lead this committee to organize the replacement of the position [Ostsee-Zeitung](https://www.ostsee-zeitung.de/lokales/nordwestmecklenburg/wismar/neuer-probst-der-kirche-in- mecklenburg-waives-official-accusations-stand-in-the-space-4JMTZV6N6ZATXJJAC4BCQGOJL4.html?outputType=valid_amp).
The Wismar provost has many members - around 38,713 - and includes the church regions of Wismar, Gadebusch, Grevesmühlen as well as Schwerin-Land and -Stadt. The developments surrounding the selection of a new provost not only show the challenges within the church, but also the effort to maintain trust in the church leadership through clear procedures Kirche-MV.
Background to the allegations
The pressure on church institutions is growing, especially with regard to preventing and addressing grievances. A current discourse deals with the official liability of churches in cases of sexual abuse. In connection with these issues, the legal framework and the processing of damage caused by past injustice make it clear how important it is that such proceedings are transparent and fair. The handling of these sensitive topics is closely monitored not only by the church itself, but also by society Mohr Siebeck.
Many hope that the ongoing investigations and the creation of a clear framework for the replacement of the provost position in Wismar will usher in a new chapter that will clarify questions of trust and responsibility in church circles and lead to positive change.