The police and church in exchange: an evening of appreciation in Dresden

The police and church in exchange: an evening of appreciation in Dresden

On June 17, 2025, around 100 representatives from various areas gathered in the Dresden cathedral to celebrate a special vespers at the Benno reception. Officials from the Saxon and Thuringian police, the riot police and the State Criminal Police Office, including Catholic and Evangelical police pastors, were invited. The service was musically designed by the talented Dresden Kapellknaben. Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers spoke about the important role of pastoral care in stressful professional fields in his speech at this solemn event, which offered a room for exchange and appreciation.

The farewell of long -time Catholic police pastors such as pastor Dominikus Goth, Benjamin Braun and Pastor Franz Scharfenberg formed an emotional highlight of the evening. At the same time, new pastors, including police dean Pastor Dr. Dietrich Oettler, Thomas Gömbi and Antonia Kirtzel, introduced into their tasks. This handover stands for continuous change and the renewal within the police pastoral care, which has existed parallel to the police for over 100 years and represents a supporting support for the officials.

The importance of police pastoral care

police pastoral care is more than just an accompanying service. It offers a protected environment for discussions that are independent of hierarchies and official structures of the police. As on the website of the police pastoral care , the pastors are subject to an absolute confidentiality and are confidential interlocutors for the civil servants who are often subject to the challenges of their everyday work. The tasks also include everyday accompaniment in patrol cars and in operations, up to the delivery of bad news.

At the event, Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster underlined the importance of charity in police work, especially in connection with the violent death of a police officer. It became clear how important pastoral support is especially in existential times of crisis. Ms. Prof. Dr. Katharina Klöcker supplemented the challenges with her keynote speech about the challenges in front of which security institutions are facing and brought valuable insights into the dynamics of police work.

a look into the future

The evening ended with a cozy standing reception in the house of the cathedral, followed by a cultural program of the Big Band of the St. Benno-Gymnasium. This offered a successful way for everyone present to exchange ideas and end the evening with a stimulating atmosphere. In a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Daniela Pscheida-overcen, experts like Dr. Barbara Zeitler and State Police President Jörg Kubiessa about the practical experience in the coexistence of the police and pastoral care.

The intensive discussions and the appreciative statements by the church representatives once again underlined the important role of police pastoral care. As stated in the recently published document of the German Bishops' Conference on police pastoral care, the pastoral accompaniment is increasingly regarded by the police chiefs and interior ministries. The Catholic Church thus remains a familiar partner alongside the police, regardless of denomination, religion or rank, and offers a confidential space for the topics that deal police officers in everyday life.