Heating costs and pastoral care: Churches in the Northeim district in winter mode

Heating costs and pastoral care: Churches in the Northeim district in winter mode

In the district of Northeim, the churches face a frosty challenge: increasing heating costs and a growing need for pastoral support! While the temperatures are falling, the churches have to find creative solutions in order to stay warm and to meet the pastoral requirements. Superintendent Jan von Lingen reports that gas prices rose by 4 percent in the first half of 2024, and that is only the tip of the iceberg since the beginning of the Ukraine war. "We deliberately heat and inform our parishioners about the situation," he explains.

The churches react differently to the cold. A temperature of 18 degrees is kept in the Höckelheim church, which is easy to heat despite its 200 seats. Pastor Dirk Grundmann emphasizes that large churches such as the Münsterkirche in Einbeck with its 25 million liters of room air can no longer be heated up. "It's not just about heating costs, but also about the climate crisis," said Pastor Daniel Konnerth. In order to mitigate the cold, some municipalities have provided heated seat cushions and blankets, and the services are sometimes held in warmer community rooms.

pastoral care in focus

But not only the cold is a problem for the churches. The need for pastoral work has increased enormously. "The number of church funerals has increased, and the demand for pastoral care in the hospital is also high," reports Jan von Lingen. Youth deacon Jan Mönnich confirms that the effects of war and inflation are noticeable on young people. "Anxiety disorders and depression are increasing and many young people are affected by the worries of adults," he says. The churches see themselves not only as places of prayer, but also as important contact points for people in crisis situations.

The challenges are diverse and the churches in the Northeim district have to adapt to offer both warmth and mental support. The cold of winter not only affects the buildings, but also the hearts of the people who are looking for consolation and support. During this time of uncertainty and fear, the role of the church as a place of confidence and cohesion is becoming increasingly important.