Christof Theilemann Retires from Berliner Missionswerk
Christof Theilemann Reflects on a Life of Faith, Service, and Global Connection
Table of Contents
- Christof Theilemann Reflects on a Life of Faith, Service, and Global Connection
- Christof Theilemann: A Life Dedicated to Faith, Languages, and Global Mission – Q&A
- the Early Years and Linguistic Pursuits
- From East Germany to Cambridge: A Journey of faith & Scholarship
- From Diplomacy to Parish Ministry
- Leading the Berliner Missionswerk: Navigating Global Challenges
- Q10: What were some of the highlights of Theilemann’s work at the Berliner Missionswerk?
- Q11: what global challenges did Theilemann face during his tenure as director of the Missionswerk?
- Q12: How did Brexit affect the Berliner Missionswerk’s partnerships in England?
- Q13: How did the Berliner Missionswerk support its partner church in the USA during the Trump presidency?
- Q14: what is next for Christof Theilemann?
- Q15: Who will be the new director of the Berliner Missionswerk, and when will they take office?
- Summary of Theilemann’s Career Path
From his upbringing steeped in religious tradition – his father a pastor, his grandfather a superintendent – Christof Theilemann’s path seemed predetermined. However, he initially resisted following in his ancestors’ footsteps. Even when he began studying theology at the Sprachenkonvikt in Berlin, ordination wasn’t necessarily his goal. His passion lay in languages, notably English and French.
Ein Sprachstudium war für mich aber nicht möglich,
he says, da mein Abitur am evangelischen Gymnasium in der DDR nicht anerkannt wurde.
He started his career at the Zentralantiquariat in Leipzig.
Als eine Französin dort ihre Paperback-Sammlung französischer und englischer Klassiker verkauft hat, habe ich die gesamte Sammlung aufgekauft und gelesen.
From Beatles to Interpretation: A Linguistic Journey
His affinity for English grew from his love for the Beatles. he also frequently interpreted for the Bund Evangelischer Kirchen in the DDR.
Wenn ich Gäste zur innerdeutschen Grenze gebracht habe und sie selbst als DDR-Bürger nicht passieren durfte, war die Sehnsucht groß.
Pen pal relationships and contact with relatives in the Rhineland kept that longing alive. While working as an assistant to Wolf Krötke on his doctoral thesis about the Trinity, he had a unique prospect.
Die DDR hatte es der Kirche ermöglicht einmal im Jahr eine Person als Stipendiat für ein Jahr ins westliche ausland – nicht in die BRD – zu entsenden.
This allowed Theilemann to develop his dissertation in Cambridge, writing it first in English and then in German. This decision required sacrifice, as his wife remained in the DDR.
After the Wende, Markus Meckel, also a theologian and Sprachenkonvikt alumnus, appointed him to the diplomatic service in the Foreign Ministry. Meckel told Theilemann, now a lector at the Evangelische Verlagsanstalt:
In der gewendeten DDR saßen noch so viele Alt-Kader im Außenministerium, da brauchte er Leute, denen er vertrauen konnte.
The Call to parish Ministry and Global Mission
danach habe ich mir gedacht,Theologe,bleib bei deinen Leisten und bin aus familiären Gründen ins Gemeindepfarramt gegangen.
He initially planned to stay for eight to ten years, but colleagues left, and Theilemann didn’t want to abandon the congregations. From 1991 to 2010, he served as a pastor in Königs Wusterhausen. In 2011, he became Landeskirchlicher Pfarrer for Ökumene and Weltmission at the Berliner Missionswerk, responsible for Western Europe, the USA, and Asia. He became its director in 2019.
When asked about highlights of his work shortly before his departure, Theilemann mentions recent events – the Christlichen Begegnungstage in Frankfurt/Oder in June 2024 and the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Berliner Missionswerk. His enthusiasm is evident when he speaks of the guests from the Missionswerk’s partner countries who attended in Berlin in September 2024, highlighting the importance of connecting with people from around the world.
Für die meisten Menschen gehört die Globalisierung auf die eine oder andere Weise zum Alltag,
he said in an interview at the beginning of his tenure as director of the Missionswerk. Die Frage ist nicht, ob man das akzeptiert, sondern wie man damit umgeht.
This is especially true in challenging times. His tenure coincided with the Corona crisis, the war in ukraine, the conflict in the Gaza Strip, Brexit, and the Trump presidency.
Der Brexit war für unsere Partner in England ein Schock. sie hatten mit diesem Ausgang nicht gerechnet.
Despite this,the tollen bemühungen
of British partners helped overcome new bureaucratic obstacles.
similarly, regarding the USA, the United Church of Christ (UCC), the EKBO’s liberal partner church, faced challenges.
Bereits zur ersten Amtszeit des präsidenten Donald Trump haben UCC-Pfarrpersonen Morddrohungen erhalten, weil Menschen den offenen Kurs der Kirche gegenüber LGBTQ-Menschen nicht akzeptieren,
he says.
Despite this, Unsere Partnerschaften bestehen zu progressiven Kirchen und bislang ist noch keiner unserer Partner umgefallen.
The volunteer program in the USA has even been strengthened. US volunteers are currently in the EKBO,and volunteer placements in Wisconsin and Syracuse,New York,were agreed upon during the 200th-anniversary celebrations.
Wir machen weiter wie bisher. Jetzt erst recht!
In the future, however, this will be without Christof Theilemann, who will focus on his family in the coming months.
Christof Theilemann will be released from his service as director of the Berliner Missionswerk by Bishop Christian Stäblein and retired on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 3 p.m. in the französischen Friedrichstadtkirche in Berlin. His successor and new director will be Pastor Ulrich Schöntube, former director of the Gossner Mission and moast recently a parish pastor in Berlin-Frohnau, who will take office on June 1. The farewell ceremony will take place in the Französischen Friedrichstadtkirche, Gendarmenmarkt, in Berlin-Mitte. access to the church is barrier-free. registration is requested at l.hauke@bmw.ekbo.de.
Christof Theilemann: A Life Dedicated to Faith, Languages, and Global Mission – Q&A
This article explores the life and work of Christof Theilemann, a theologian wiht a passion for languages and a commitment to global mission. We delve into his journey from initial reluctance towards a religious career to his impactful leadership at the Berliner Missionswerk.
the Early Years and Linguistic Pursuits
Q1: What motivated Christof Theilemann to study theology despite his initial reservations?
While Christof Theilemann came from a family with a strong religious background – his father was a pastor, and his grandfather a superintendent – he wasn’t initially drawn to ordination. His true passion lay in languages, especially English and French. However, he was unable to pursue a formal language degree (“Sprachstudium“) because his “Abitur” (high school diploma) from an East German (“DDR“) evangelical gymnasium was not recognized. He ultimately embarked on theological studies at the sprachenkonvikt in Berlin, although ordination was not necessarily his initial goal.
Q2: How did Theilemann’s love for languages develop, notably his affinity for English?
Theilemann’s love for English blossomed from his interest with The Beatles. his passion for language and interpretation allowed him to frequently work for the Bund Evangelischer Kirchen in the DDR.
Q3: What role did the Zentralantiquariat in Leipzig play in Theilemann’s linguistic development?
Theilemann started his career at the Zentralantiquariat in Leipzig. he recounts a pivotal moment when a French woman sold her paperback collection of French and English classics. Theilemann bought the entire collection and read it, further fueling his passion for these languages.
From East Germany to Cambridge: A Journey of faith & Scholarship
Q4: What challenges did theilemann face living in East Germany (DDR) and how did he maintain connections with the West?
Life in the DDR presented its own set of challenges.Theilemann recounts the longing he felt when bringing guests to the inner-German border who, as DDR citizens, were not allowed to cross themselves. He maintained connections to the West through pen pal relationships and contact with relatives in the Rhineland.
Q5: How did Theilemann get the prospect to study in Cambridge?
While working as an assistant to Wolf Krötke on his doctoral thesis about the Trinity,Theilemann was presented with a unique opportunity.The DDR allowed the church to send one person a year to a Western country (excluding West Germany – BRD) on a scholarship.Theilemann was selected,enabling him to develop his dissertation in Cambridge.
Q6: what sacrifices did Theilemann have to make to study in Cambridge?
Studying in Cambridge required a notable sacrifice: his wife remained in the DDR while he pursued his studies abroad. He also chose to write his dissertation in English first, then translating it into German.
From Diplomacy to Parish Ministry
Q7: How did Theilemann transition into the diplomatic service after the Wende (German reunification)?
After the Wende, Markus Meckel, a fellow theologian and Sprachenkonvikt alumnus, appointed Theilemann to the diplomatic service in the Foreign Ministry. Meckel needed trustworthy individuals in the ministry, where many “Alt-Kader” (former communist officials) remained.
Q8: Why did Theilemann eventually choose to enter parish ministry?
Theilemann decided to return to his theological roots and enter parish ministry for family reasons,feeling that he shoudl “stick to his last” as a theologian (“Theologe,bleib bei deinen Leisten“).
Q9: What roles did Theilemann hold after entering parish ministry?
He served as a pastor in Königs Wusterhausen from 1991 to 2010. In 2011, he became Landeskirchlicher Pfarrer for Ökumene and Weltmission at the Berliner Missionswerk, focusing on Western Europe, the USA, and Asia.He was appointed director of the Berliner Missionswerk in 2019.
Q10: What were some of the highlights of Theilemann’s work at the Berliner Missionswerk?
Theilemann highlights the Christlichen Begegnungstage in Frankfurt/Oder in June 2024 and the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Berliner Missionswerk as significant events. He particularly emphasizes the importance of connecting with people from partner countries around the world.
Q11: what global challenges did Theilemann face during his tenure as director of the Missionswerk?
His time as director coincided with numerous global challenges, including the Corona crisis, the war in Ukraine, the Gaza conflict, Brexit, and the Trump presidency.
Q12: How did Brexit affect the Berliner Missionswerk’s partnerships in England?
Theilemann stated that Brexit was a shock for their partners in England, who had not anticipated that outcome. However, he commended the “tollen Bemühungen
” (great efforts) of British partners in overcoming new bureaucratic obstacles.
Q13: How did the Berliner Missionswerk support its partner church in the USA during the Trump presidency?
Theilemann noted that the United Church of Christ (UCC), the EKBO’s liberal partner church in the USA, faced challenges during Donald Trump’s presidency. UCC pastors even received death threats due to the church’s open stance towards LGBTQ individuals. Despite this, the partnerships remained strong and the volunteer program in the USA was even strengthened.
Q14: what is next for Christof Theilemann?
christof Theilemann will step down from his role as director of the Berliner Missionswerk.he plans to focus on his family.
Q15: Who will be the new director of the Berliner Missionswerk, and when will they take office?
Pastor Ulrich Schöntube, former director of the Gossner Mission and most recently a parish pastor in Berlin-Frohnau, will succeed Christof Theilemann as director of the Berliner Missionswerk on June 1.
Summary of Theilemann’s Career Path
| Dates | Role | Location/Association |
| :——– | :————————————————– | :—————————————————— |
| Early Life| Focused on languages (English, French) | |
| | Started at Zentralantiquariat | Leipzig |
| | studied Theology | Sprachenkonvikt in Berlin |
| | Studied at Cambridge | Cambridge |
| After Wende | Diplomatic Service | Foreign Ministry |
| 1991-2010 | Pastor | Königs Wusterhausen |
| 2011 | Landeskirchlicher Pfarrer for Ökumene und Weltmission | Berliner Missionswerk |
| 2019-2025 | Director | Berliner Missionswerk |