Synodal election shock: Pastor Schübel remains without majority!

Synodal election shock: Pastor Schübel remains without majority!

In an exciting turning point for the Protestant churches in South Thuringia, the synods are faced with an important decision. The Franconian Confederation recently criticized the choice of the only candidate for the position of the superintendent, Pastor Reiner Schübel. This missed the necessary two-thirds majority last Saturday. As

The MPs who come from the Hildburghausen-Eisfeld, Sonneberg, Meiningen and Henneberger Land church circles have a special division of the path to overcome. In the not too distant future, the church circles, as already decided, should merge on January 1, 2026 and thus form a new church unit.

Fusion of the church circles

Already on June 8, 2024, a special synod in the Volkshaus of Meiningen took place. The aim was to coordinate the application for the merger of four church circles. The synodals decided with an “excessive majority” for what the course for the future defined. The newly founded church district will bear the name "ev. Kirchenkreis Südthüringen", according to the information from Kirchenkreis Meiningen . This extends from Kaltenlengsfeld in the Rhön to Neuhaus-Schierschnitz and from Zella-Mehlis to Heldburg-number city.

The seat of the superintendur will be in Meiningen, and representatives in Sonneberg and Hildburghausen are planned. This merging goes hand in hand with the hope that long -term framework conditions for church work in the region will be created.

challenges and concerns

The merger is not just a reason to be happy. The members of the municipalities have loud concerns and fears about upcoming changes. S explosions for the merger have been taking place since 2022, and the first course was set in early 2024. "We have favored a very large solution in South Thuringia," said those responsible, who are concerned about the future of the churches and membership development, as forecasts show that a merger of only two church circles in 2025 would also bring challenges. According to ekm , structural changes must be carried out in the case of 25 full-time employees in order to react to the falling membership.

Overall, the planned large church district comprises 169 parishes with more than 50,000 members. Even if a new unit arises, the question of identity remains. The Franconian Confederation would like a similar self -confidence in the naming for the new church circle, as the synodals showed in the election as a superintendent. The discussions are initiated and the next steps are eagerly awaited.