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Standing up for mindfulness, respect and conscious language: Maike Freese-Spott, representative on the church council of the Thomaskirche, and Pastor Christian Stalter.
The Protestant Thomaskirche Grünwald was one of the first congregations to have its protection concept against abuse ready in July 2023.
© susanne schröder/epd
The Protestant Thomas Church in Grünwald was one of the first communities to have its protection concept against abuse ready in July 2023.
But what has changed in the church community as a result of working with this topic?
Grünwald
– Christian Stalter can clearly remember the day after the ForuM study was announced.
It was a Thursday at the end of January when the researchers reported to the public how great the extent of sexual violence had been in the Evangelical Church in Germany over the past decades.
“And the next day our confiscats were supposed to set off for a weekend retreat,” remembers the pastor of St. Thomas Church
First Protestant community in Bavaria with a finished protection concept
Stalter is still relieved that he was able to present the community's completed “Protection Concept for the Prevention of Sexual Violence” to the confidant parents who were hastily summoned.
“That was a big relief,” he says – for the parents, but also for the priest himself. Because the 30-page folder is more than just printed paper.
It is a kind of nucleus for a cultural change in community work - from the language used in the church council to the encounters in the senior group to the way people are treated in confirmation work.
The Thomaskirche, together with the Redeemer Church in Augsburg, is the first Protestant congregation in Bavaria with a finished protection concept.
In autumn 2020, the state synod passed the law on “prevention, intervention, help and processing with regard to sexual violence”.
It stipulates that all 1,536 municipalities must submit an individual protection concept by January 1, 2026.
According to the Protestant Office for Active Against Abuse, “well over a hundred congregations” are currently nearing completion.
It's not just about sexual violence
The Grünwalders were already ready in July 2023: mission statement, code of conduct, training, complaint management, prevention officers, confidants, everything is described in detail so that the “worst case” ideally never occurs.
Lukas Kalczinsky is part of the tandem of shop stewards.
The 22-year-old biology student is involved in confirmation work.
For him, it's not just about the prevention of specific sexual violence, but also about the border violations along the way.
“Unfortunately, most girls have already had experience with cyberbullying by the age of 14,” he says.
Implementing the protection concept includes “creating awareness of how to use social media and how to interact with each other at the beginning of every free time.”
Because attacks not only come from outside, but also happen within the groups.
Kalczinsky pays attention to when situations could become unpleasant for individuals.
Old confinement games that involve close physical contact have been thrown out of the repertoire.
And very important: Everyone is allowed to speak up, everyone can decide whether he or she leaves the situation or the group - and everyone respects this decision.
Promoting the topic is Miriam von Rombs' job.
The 56-year-old is a volunteer prevention officer for the Thomasgemeinde and has no plans to rest on the protection concept.
“It’s a basic building block, now we have to develop it further,” says the hotel business economist.
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That's why an evening for volunteers is planned for Wednesday, February 21st.
The concept should be presented there and feedback obtained.
The detailed paper will be distilled into a “small manifesto” for the youth leaders.
There is a five-part training program for last year's confirmation candidates who would like to accompany them on leisure activities.
One module is called: Maintaining boundaries.
And Miriam von Rombs wants to establish a complaint management system for Konfis and her parents.
“We want to encourage everyone: everyone can stand up for their own limits,” she says.
Rules for considerate language
“It has to become second nature that you can say 'no',” emphasizes Maike Freese-Spott, representative on the church council of St. Thomas Church.
For them, an important preparatory work for the protection concept was the commitment to certain rules of discussion that the church council had set in the Corona year 2020.
Christian Stalter lists what it's about: don't spread prejudices or clichés, use first-person messages, concrete examples instead of generalities, criticism without great emotion.
“Fair, considerate language that doesn’t offend is important to us,” emphasizes the pastor – whether in senior citizens’ circles, on the church council or in discussions after an evening of lectures.
The effort is worth it, says student Lukas Kalcinzsky: If everyone tried to use fair and respectful language, dealing with each other would be “more relaxed and safe”.
This also radiates into other areas of life such as school.
Pastor Christian Stalter is concerned with the right direction: “People trust us.
We have a duty to live up to this trust.” The protection concept is a great help on the way there.
Susanne Schröder/epd