Susanne Herms is a career changer, a native of the Northern Lights, but has long been rooted in the Würmtal: The open-minded pastor has been the new pastor in the Christ Church in Gauting since this month.
Gauting - "I want to become a pastor, that was my very first career dream," says Susanne Herms during a conversation in the afternoon sun in front of the Evangelical parish hall.
In a detour via teaching, the Hamburg-born woman's wish has now come true: the married mother of three from Graefelfing has been a pastor at the Christ Church in Gauting since March 1 and is responsible for youth work.
At the Sunday service on March 14th from 3 p.m., Dean Dr.
Markus Ambrosy officially introduce the new pastor into her office.
"At the beginning of March, Susanne Herms will be working in our parish," said Pastor Klaus Firnschild-Steuer, delighted about the new pastor.
Because since the departure of Pastor Ulrike Dittmar almost three years ago, “the Dean's office and we have not been able to fill the half vacant position for our youth work,” the Gauting minister regrets.
Pastor Susanne Herms: Youth work is important to her
Youth work has always been important to her, says Susanne Herms.
“Even during my teaching degree with the subjects English and Protestant religion, youth work at Hamburg's inner city church St. Petri was more important to me,” confesses the pastor with a happy smile.
After completing her studies, Susanne Herms moved to Munich with her husband in 2001.
The three now grown-up children grew up in the Würmtal.
Her husband, Professor Dr.
Jochen Herms, is a neuropathologist and researches Alzheimer's and Parkinson's at the LMU Munich, says the theologian.
Since 2003 she has been teaching at the Wilhelm-Hausenstein-Gymnasium in Munich and at the Feodor-Lynen-Gymnasium in Planegg, she continues.
But the dream of a career as “pastor” remained.
As a career changer, she opted for the so-called parish administrator training at the regional church.
"I had a lot of fun doing the predicant training", confesses the now 58-year-old.
After a year of study at the theological university in Neuendettelsau, the Würmtaler completed her vicariate at the Lukaskirche in Lehel in Munich.
New contact person for Protestant youth
In the team with the Gautingen pastor Klaus Steuer and his colleague, Pastor Andrea Borger, she is the new contact person for the Protestant youth.
She is also responsible for senior citizens including the Marienstift retirement home.
She is really looking forward to personal conversations with Gautingers of all generations, but also to the way to work.
Because the passionate cyclist with a love for the mountains will cycle from her home in Gräfelfing through the Würmtal.
“It is lucky to live here,” says Susanne Herms.
She walks regularly with her husband, including to the sermon chair.
And that goes wonderfully with Dean Ambrosy's saying about her career “from the chair (teacher's desk) to the pulpit,” jokes the new pastor from Gauting.
But she will not be officially ordained until Sunday, March 14th.
Text: Christine Cless-Wesle
