In November 2008 Stefanie Wist came to Ottobrunn as a pastor of the Evangelical Michael Church parish.
She has become at home here with her family.
Stefanie Wist spent twelve blessed years here, now she is taking on a new challenge in the Christ Church in Munich-Neuhausen.
Ottobrunn
- In February, Pastor Stefanie Wist will take over the second pastoral position with pastoral leadership.
After Christmas the move to Neuhausen took place.
The position in Ottobrunn is still vacant.
Pastor Wist, how do you feel in this time of upheaval?
With us pastors, a change of job is planned every ten to 15 years.
I have been here for twelve years now and I am well connected to the community.
At the same time, there was also the desire for a new challenge.
The Christ Church is the largest Protestant church in Munich.
From a purely quantitative point of view, this can be seen as a challenge, right?
Yes, although the Michael parish is also large.
Teamwork and complex structures are all familiar to me.
But I also wanted to get to know the urban and inner-city environment.
I wanted to experience a new perspective on the church here.
How did you experience your time in Ottobrunn?
I came here after my apprenticeship as a pastor.
I applied because the focus areas work with children and family were advertised.
With two small children, I was predestined for it.
What was so appealing and special was that my colleagues in the parish were also new.
We were able to completely redesign the congregation - to the best of our knowledge and belief.
You had no ballast, no one who said: “No, we always did it differently.” There are always volunteers and community members who are attached to the familiar.
That is perfectly understandable.
At the same time, the change in a pastor's office is also something refreshing.
That will also be the case when I am gone and a successor comes.
I hope he or she does this in their own way too.
Redesigning in the church today mainly means slimming down, right?
In my case, the biggest change was that there was no longer a strict division of areas according to Sprengeln, but that the pastors pursued priorities and special tasks, with personal responsibility.
I experienced an openness and liveliness here.
The community helps shape many of the ideas.
For example, we have developed a variety of worship formats, tried them out, and dropped some.
The church council has always supported it.
The house service in the first lockdown was also successful.
This is a good example of this: What does a parish do in this phase.
How can we be there for people?
We wanted to make it clear that we weren't going to bury ourselves.
Only the communication channels are different.
The religious has come to the fore in the corona crisis, because it is about life and death. Have you been able to help people in need in this context?
The need is great among old people and in old people's and nursing homes.
My colleague Leonie Büchele is dealing with this.
But during this time, my aim was always to keep in touch.
I called a lot of people in the spring and spoke to the parents of the daycare centers.
The need varied: I've heard many people confidently say, “We'll get through this.” But I've also heard a lot about loneliness.
People shared their stories with me.
I am very moved.
There were also very nice letters from the children in religion class.
Also very sweet how they asked if I was okay.
How many church services have you conducted in the Ottobrunner?
Every Sunday, I can't say the number.
There were also forms of prayer in children's facilities and schools.
Baptisms, weddings too.
How badly is Ottobrunn affected by people leaving the church?
Just like everyone else.
It's a little under ten percent in ten years.
who exit.
We'll write you a letter.
But there are also re-entries a few times a year.
Even people who are still baptized in old age.
The eldest I baptized here was 70 years old.
Unfortunately, her health deteriorated afterwards.
Last fall, ten years later, I buried her.
I was already baptized in the river.
I have baptized the youngest brother of a friend of my daughter's in the Loisach sources.
We all went barefoot to the river in the shallow water, I was wearing a gown.
Which body of water would be closest for a baptism in Munich?
The Nymphenburg Canal.
But I don't know if it's that appealing.
I still have time before I start in Munich.
The sermon plan for spring is already in place.
By the way, I don't cry after a festive church service, neither in Munich nor in Ottobrunn on Sunday: Since the number of people who attend the church service is limited due to the distance regulations, it will also be possible to participate from home via Zoom.
The access data can be found on the homepage www.michaelskirche.de.
