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Farewell to Volker Jung: A church president in the face of crises
Volker Jung says goodbye after 16 years as church president of the EKHN. A look at his eventful tenure and challenges.
Farewell to Volker Jung: A church president in the face of crises
The outgoing church president of the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN), Volker Jung, looks back on an eventful time in office. Since his election in 2008, which he took office on January 1, 2009, Jung has shaped the church in turbulent times. After 16 years at the helm, his second term ends on December 31, 2024. Numerous farewell events have been on the agenda in recent weeks, but the last few days have been marred by a scandal. An “anti-colonial Christmas market” in Darmstadt exposed anti-Israel symbols, leading to an immediate ban on the priest in question and prompting the church leadership to file criminal charges of sedition, a rare turn of events in Jung’s tenure Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported.
Crises and successes in 16 years
Jung, born in Schlitz in 1960, dealt with numerous challenges during his time in office. From the financial crisis to the Fukushima natural disaster to the corona pandemic - each of these crises represented a test for the church. The corona pandemic in particular proved to be the greatest challenge. Christmas services had to be held outdoors. Jung defends the decision to forgo in-person church services in order to protect human lives. “I still think it’s right,” he explained looking back. The church has not been vocal enough in its handling of the pandemic, which he sees as a shortcoming, but the priority has always been to protect parishioners.
The development in the EKHN's attitude towards sexual diversity and same-sex marriages was also particularly significant. Under Jung's leadership, the church adopted a confession of guilt toward queer people to acknowledge decades of suffering. This statement was only part of his commitment within the church, which is still facing a decline in membership of over 400,000. Many critics accuse the church of losing relevance, while Jung emphasizes that the changes are necessary to keep faith alive in a changing society.
The official handover of office to his successor Christiane Tietz will finally take place on January 26, 2025. As he says goodbye, Jung feels melancholy, but also relief to finally make room for new ideas.