Farewell to a bridge builder: Frank Wellhöner is retiring

Farewell to a bridge builder: Frank Wellhöner is retiring

On December 10, 2024the well-known Offenburg dean Frank Wellhöner said goodbye to his 21-year term in office in a celebratory service in the Evangelical City Church. The regional bishop Heike Springhart honored Wellhöner, who was considered a “bridge builder” in the region. Numerous celebrities from politics and church were present to express their best wishes for his retirement to the popular dean, who made a significant contribution to church life in Ortenau. The solemn event was accompanied musically by the trombone choir and took place on the second Sunday of Advent, which gave the event a contemplative atmosphere, like that Badische Zeitung reported.

Innovations in the Evangelical Church Community of Offenburg

At the same time, the Evangelical Church Community of Offenburg was marked by another significant change on Sunday. The pastors Eva Ahrnke and Katrin Bessler-Koch as well as Pastor Daniel Ahrnke were called to the Church of the Resurrection in a community service. You are taking over from the outgoing pastor Dirk Schmid-Hornisch and are entering into a new cooperation between the seven parishes. The measure is part of the adjustments to changing church life and is intended to ensure that the church community is maintained even with fewer staff. In this context, Dean Frank Wellhöner read out the vocational documents, emphasizing that spiritual growth comes from divine hand, which was quoted in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. The ceremonial introduction and the words of the new pastors sparked encouragement and expectations in the community BO.de reported.

The Ahrnke couple have three years of experience in the Johannes Brenz community, while Katrin Bessler-Koch previously worked in the Achern parish. Her appointment opens up new perspectives for future church work in Offenburg and focuses on the ongoing solidarity within the various denominations.