Hans-Jürgen Kant: A farewell and a new chapter for Halle!

Hans-Jürgen Kant: A farewell and a new chapter for Halle!

A farewell with heart: Hans-Jürgen Kant, who worked as superintendent of the Halle-Saalkreis church district for over 15 years, was relieved of his duties by regional bishop Bettina Schlauraff on November 1, 2025 during a solemn service in the Halle market church. The farewell fell on All Saints Day, a moment that brought the community together to honor the work of Kant.

In his last sermon, Kant recalled his moving experiences with the people who accompanied him. Inspired by the theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, he reflected on his time in office, which was marked by drastic social events such as the corona pandemic, the Ukraine war and the refugee crisis. “We must be visible and audible as a church” was one of Kant's central concerns, which he pursued throughout his entire time in Halle.

A life for the community

Hans-Jürgen Kant was born on August 14, 1959 in Kühlungsborn. After his theological training in Leipzig and various vicariates, he took over the leadership of the St. Johannis parish in Wernigerode in 2000. In 2009 he became superintendent in the Wernigerode church district before taking over the management in Halle in 2008, which brought with it a great deal of responsibility. The church district includes the city of Halle and parts of the northern Saale district and has around 25,800 believers in 114 parishes.

Throughout his life, Kant advocated for close cooperation between the church and the city administration. Especially during the refugee crisis in 2015, he acted as a bridge builder and took care of the integration of refugees into the community. His commitment was not only limited to pastoral tasks, but also included social work, in which he was passionately involved.

Sustainability and social responsibility

When he said goodbye, instead of personal gifts, Kant asked for donations for a trailer project for children in Silberhöhe, which is close to his heart. “In times of change, we also have to think about the youngest,” he said, underlining his deep sense of social responsibility.

Hans-Jürgen Kant is now starting a new chapter in his life, while his wife continues to work as pastor of the Marktkirche. This means she will remain connected to the community in the future. Kant is a family man, he has three grown daughters and now even a grandson, which will certainly bring him joy.

With a look back at past challenges and a look into the future, Kant said goodbye to the community. The hope for a lively, committed church that reaches and supports the people of Halle will go with him into retirement, but his influence will continue to be felt. The Halle-Saalkreis church district, now stripped of its personality, is facing new challenges and changes.

Now it will be interesting to see what happens next with the church district and who will be in charge as his successor. Hallelife reports that the election for the superintendent office has already taken place and the new leader could continue in Kant's footsteps.