As of: March 28, 2024, 6:46 a.m
By: Charlotte Borst
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Signal of departure: The diocese's commitment gives the support association a boost, (from left) Josef Bruckmeier, Eva Buchholz, Gertraud Karl, Kordula Rosenberger, Christoph Schotte. ©MSC
The support association for the Putzbrunn ecumenical church center wants to open the central rooms to everyone and make them future-proof. Now he has achieved his first success.
Putzbrunn – The support association for the Putzbrunn ecumenical church center wants to open the central rooms to everyone and make them future-proof. Now he has achieved his first success. The diocese is paying 85 percent of the planning costs of 105,000 euros for the roof renovation of the 300-year-old St. Stephen's Church.
This promise gives momentum to the five people who have gathered at the fountain for the tour. “We are happy and are now assuming that we will also receive 85 percent for the construction project,” Gertraud Karl from the development association immediately provides the figures: Another 600,000 euros will be required for the renovation, of which the Putzbrunners have to get 15 percent, i.e. 90 contribute 000.
Events and social engagement
Then the walk begins. Karl points to the rectory: “Ukrainian war refugees live here on three floors.” There is the kindergarten and there is the old St. Stehphanskirche, a baroque gem. Right next to it is the 30-year-old ecumenical church center with the new St. Stephan Church and the Evangelical Church of St. Martin. Then we go inside: The Asylum Helpers' Circle saves and distributes food here, altar boys and scouts meet over there, and in the parish hall there are church and private celebrations, choir rehearsals and men's yoga.
“The center is very busy,” says church caretaker Josef Bruckmeier: “But most of the uses don’t bring in any money.” In recent years, hundreds of churches across Germany have been desecrated. “You can rely less and less on external help,” says Christoph Schotte from the support association. In view of declining membership numbers due to demographic developments and weaker church ties and thus fewer financial opportunities, the support association is addressing its potential and its location. How can the church center be prevented from being shut down? How does money come in?
“Needs a special story”
St. Stephan is one of six churches in the “Four Wells Parish Association”. Pastoral staff is scarce. Since the departure of Pastor Martin Ringhof, parish vicar Stefan Berkmüller has been the temporary parish administrator. The Protestant Church of St. Martin is a branch of the Waldperlach Jubilate Church.
The diocese is responsible for 3,000 churches and chapels, and 30 million euros in church money are available for maintenance - not much. A structural group debated with those responsible for real estate from the archiepiscopal ordinariate and the Protestant deanery: Which rooms are still needed and why should the Putzbrunn church center of all places be supported? “It needs a special story,” says Schotte: “And we have it here.”
Continue to open for all citizens
Karl’s eyes light up: “We have been practicing ecumenism in Putzbrunn for 30 years. And the pastors we had here were all fans of ecumenism.” When God is spoken of credibly, it is to bring people together – instead of separating them.
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This ecumenical spirit is also reflected in the architecture: a surrounding roof encloses the Protestant and Catholic rooms, there is a central courtyard and the common bell tower. Everything is well maintained and in good condition, the location is central - but civic engagement is now needed to fill the town center with life and raise money. Karl emphasizes that the support association is independent of the churches. “Many members don’t belong to a church.” The support association is planning many events and wants to open itself up further, to denominations and non-denominational groups, to all citizens. Times are changing, but not everything is getting worse. “The more life and the more events, the greater the chance of preservation,” says Bruckmeier.
Further news from Putzbrunn and the Munich district can be found here.