While the established Protestant churches are shrinking both in terms of their membership and the number of employees, the diaconal institutions and enterprises are growing. This process is particularly dynamic in eastern Germany. Here, the number of employees in the diaconal sector is three to five times greater than that of the established churches. The article unfolds that this is an ecclesiological challenge and that the meaning of this process will determine the future shape of Protestantism in East Germany and the possibilities for communicating the Gospel. Possibly, this will lead to a distinct ecclesiastical social gestalt in which church structures are based on diaconia.

Enthalten in:
Evangelische Theologie; 2022/2 Zweimonatsschrift (2022)

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Serie / Reihe: Evangelische Theologie

Personen: Haspel, Michael

Schlagwörter: Ostdeutschland Ekklesiologie Evangelische Kirche Kirchenmitgliedschaft