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For the first time in Austria: Barbara Velik-Frank leads church development in Gurk!
Barbara Velik-Frank is appointed as the first woman Episcopal Vicar for Church Development in the Diocese of Gurk to promote the synodal process.
For the first time in Austria: Barbara Velik-Frank leads church development in Gurk!
In a historic step for the Catholic Church in Austria, Barbara Velik-Frank was appointed as the first Episcopal Vicar for Church Development and Synodality in the Diocese of Gurk on March 1st. Diocesan Bishop Josef Marketz emphasized the importance of this appointment as it not only recognizes the work Velik-Frank has already done, but also represents a strong symbol for more women in leadership positions within the Church. According to the interview with the Carinthian church newspaper “Sonntag,” Velik-Frank sees her new role as part of a comprehensive church development process that is based on the principles of synodality introduced by Pope Francis. This calls on the church to face the current challenges together.
A new path for the Diocese of Gurk
Velik-Frank, who is also the managing director of ARGE Community Consulting and Organizational Development, has been actively involved in the development of the church in Carinthia for three years. Her appointment is seen as a crucial step on the synodal path, which aims to give lay people, and especially women, more responsibility in the Church. “An adjustment to the organizational structure is inevitable in order to effectively implement our priorities and goals,” she explained. The focus is on implementing new parish leadership models and promoting lay initiatives and innovative projects, as reported by the Diocese of Gurk.
The challenges in the church development process are enormous, especially in view of the changing parish structures and the need to find new forms of cooperation. Velik-Frank emphasized that change often brings uncertainty and requires courage. The Diocesan Council of Gurk will be empowered by the new structures to find concrete solutions to today's challenges. “The goal is to promote respectful interaction and integrate the different voices within the church,” she added, according to reporting kathpress.at and vaticannews.va.