Inspiring young people and moving ecumenism into focus: This is how Freising's dean Christian Weigl wants to make the church fit for the future.
Freising
- He likes going to the Oktoberfest, has a cat and appreciates Frank Sinatra's music - at least when he doesn't have an open ear for his community.
During the talk at the Epiphany Center in Lerchenfeld, Dean Christian Weigl answered questions from Klaus Peter Potthast.
His empathic credo for the work in the church community clearly emerged: listening, respecting the individual - but also having the courage to make changes.
(By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)
Potthast, a member of the board of directors of the Lutheran Church in Freising, wanted to “tease out” a lot from the dean during the conversation, although Weigl has already been active in Freising for two years.
However, around 15 interested people came to get to know the “new” dean better.
So it was more personal in the first block of questions: Beatles or Rolling Stones?
More like the Stones, said Weigl, but actually more Frank Sinatra.
What the 54-year-old still likes: the sea, his lederhosen, FC Bayern Munich and America.
New York, said Weigl, is simply the place he longs for: "This is my city!"
Not a fan of "Jesus slippers"
On the other hand, he appreciates “Jesuslatschen” less, but early risers like to wear cowboy boots at work. When asked whether a church service absolutely has to be traditionally designed, Weigl was unconventional: "Either the Holy Spirit is there - or not." With a traditional church service, stressed Weigl, the youth could no longer be lured "out from behind the stove". In general, church services are often "niche events" per se due to the few guests. In order to bring the young people back into the churches, they would first have to be interviewed and then changes should be sought. For Weigl fundamental: Every church needs credible people in order to be able to make a difference.
Regardless of this, the Protestant Church will also give up: “In 20 years”, Weigl continued, “we will certainly have lost social significance.” The dean believes that the church will become smaller, but not necessarily worse.
One reason is the strong individualization of society.
It just didn't exist in the past.
In his opinion, the church as a mass phenomenon will no longer exist.
That is also why he wanted to get together ecumenically with the Catholics early enough.
"We have to stick together and throw some dogmas overboard," said Weigl.
The best example of a rapprochement: The cardinal and regional bishop are "close friends".
"We can manage to live well together"
Weigl is enthusiastic about Freising itself and its tasks, and the relationship with the “Catholic side” is excellent. For example, an ecumenical celebration is planned for Christmas. This is also a sign that “something is happening”, because years ago something like this would not have been possible. His vision for the dean's district in Freising: "I want to get to know people and do some things differently."
He finds courage for change above all in faith in the Jesus who stands up for the weak.
Weigl is concerned with what Jesus would have done during the corona pandemic.
His answer: Jesus would certainly have held a service for the infected while we were still busy with various things.
And so that mission for Freising, which Weigl describes for himself, is not very surprising: "We can manage to live well together, as different as we are - with listening, without elbows!" He would like, said the dean, " that we can all look each other in the eye ”.
Richard Lorenz