25 years pastor in the evangelical community: "Geretsried has become home"

Created: 05/21/2022, 15:00

By: Susanne Weiss

From Catholic to Protestant pastor: Georg Bücheler has been looking after the Geretsried parish for 25 years.

© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss

Pastor Georg Bücheler has been working for the evangelical community in Geretsried for 25 years.

Originally, he had a completely different plan.

Geretsried – It is quite a special anniversary: ​​Georg Bücheler has been a Protestant pastor in Geretsried for 25 years.

In 1997 the native of Württemberg came from Eichstätt to the parish.

The regional church actually wants clergy to move on after about ten years.

In an interview, the 62-year-old tells why he was allowed to stay - and is very happy about it.

Mr. Bücheler, you have been a pastor in Geretsried for 25 years.

Is that cause for celebration for you?

George Buecheler:

Yes.

I didn't celebrate very big, so I only toasted with my colleagues in the office and the church council.

But of course it's a pleasure for me that things have been as successful here as they have been.

To be able to spend such a long time in a church community is unusual.

Pastor Georg Bücheler actually wanted to emigrate to Spain

After about ten years, Protestant pastors should change.

How come you didn't have to do that?

Georg Bücheler:

There were very different reasons.

When I came here, I was prepared to apply elsewhere in about ten years.

But the time kept getting longer.

Sometimes it was vacancies that I had to represent here, or one of the three children was about to graduate from high school.

Did you enjoy staying?

Georg Bücheler:

In the meantime I had already applied to leave.

My idea was to go to Spain, my wife has Spanish roots.

But it never worked out and never really pulled me away.

Fortunately, the church council wanted to continue working with me, which motivated me.

And over the years, a good relationship with the people of Geretsried has developed.

In general, the alienation between church and community is growing.

It is all the more important that people have a pastor they know.

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So it has advantages for you as a pastor to be able to look after a congregation for so long?

Georg Bücheler:

A big advantage is that you keep yourself in constant reflection.

How do I manage to still speak to people after so many years or to get them excited about something?

Geretsried: Pastor Georg Bücheler has been a pastor in the Protestant Church for 25 years

How is this currently possible?

Georg Bücheler:

For me, it's always about observing what moves people in everyday life, and then seeing how I can continue my education to deal with people's questions.

It was recently in the media that for the first time church members in Germany are in the minority.

Do you notice that in your work?

Georg Bücheler:

Of course I notice the large number of resignations.

When I started, we in Geretsried were the largest parish in the deanery with over 5,500 members.

Today we are still around 4500. Some people will certainly leave because of disappointments caused by misuse or the handling of money.

But my observation is that many people who are leaving do not say that I can no longer do anything with this institution.

It often has to do with the respective phase of life.

I know that from myself. I also resigned once.

How did that happen?

Georg Bücheler:

I grew up in a very Catholic home and spent part of my childhood and youth in a monastery school.

It was a mission school where it was clear that the children and young people would study theology.

I started with that too.

Shortly before graduating, however, I decided that I wanted to go a completely different path and left.

Pastor Georg Bücheler came back to the church via the psychiatric care

How did it go for you?

Georg Bücheler:

I ended up in psychiatric care through community service.

In my work I noticed that I can use the strong roots of my childhood there.

I first wanted to study medicine, but then I joined the Protestant church and started studying Protestant theology.

But I never wanted to work in the church, but in psychiatry as a clinic chaplain.

In the course of my studies, however, I decided to do community work in order to accompany the people in their everyday lives.

In this context, I am very grateful that I was able to do additional training in trauma work, couple and family mediation.

Being a pastor is more of a vocation than a job: that's absolutely true for you, isn't it?

Georg Bücheler:

I simply grew into my job.

Even though I didn't plan it that way, it's good that I'm where I am now.

That makes me very happy.

You got to know both churches very well.

Are they far apart?

Georg Bücheler:

For me it was never the thought that I went from the worse to the better church.

I looked for my way in the church and found it.

On a community level, we're actually very, very close.

As a Catholic pastor, however, her life would look very different today.

Georg Bücheler:

Sure.

Of course, being able to marry played a role in my decision back then.

I met my wife during college.

In this job in particular, I think it's important to have a partner to exchange ideas with.

I also know how to separate partnership and work.

I am thankful that I have family.

My three children have always been a clear reflection of my work.

During the service they listened very carefully to what I said and how it fits into my everyday life at home.

Back to the church resignations.

The number of church members in Geretsried has declined in recent years.

How's that for you?

Georg Bücheler:

That never saddened me in my work.

Rather motivated to see where we can approach people.

Not only in the church, where of course everyone is always invited.

But for me it was important from the start to go to the people.

I resist the view of some that we will shrink to health.

I want us as a church to continue to be there for all people.

"Would like to accompany people in finding an answer to their questions"

Why do we still need church these days?

Georg Bücheler:

When I'm doing confirmation work or in religion class in elementary school, I'm often asked why I believe in God, why I became a pastor or what the church brings me.

For me, faith can be a help.

We all ask ourselves the meaning of why am I here, why is my situation the way it is.

There are sure to be more offers and answers for this quest these days.

Church is one of them, it can give an answer.

They are senior pastors in the dean's office, so they accompany their colleagues to their superiors, trust pastors, if you will.

What advice do you give your colleagues?

Georg Bücheler:

For me, what also applies to people's questions of faith or mediation applies here.

I don't want to give good advice.

But I would like to support people in finding an answer to their questions.

You are now 62. Retirement is approaching.

Will you start and spend it in Geretsried?

Georg Bücheler: Once

you reach a certain age, you can no longer be promoted.

So quite clearly: I will stay here.

You really shouldn't spend your retirement in the place where you worked, so as not to get in the way of your successor.

But for me, Geretsried and the surrounding area have become home.

Here are my friends, my wife's friends and my family.

I'm going to become a regular citizen here, looking for an apartment if we can find one and stay in the area.

Suzanne Weiss

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