The 51,000 member United Methodist Church in Germany may be a minority church, but it’s a vital church, says Bishop Harald Rückert.
“We have to be realistic and there is no recipe. I try to emphasize that in some places we have good resources, some places we have money, some places we have good people. We have to bring them together,” Rűckert said.
The bishop said he urges the churches to try new things and if that fails, try something else. The denomination has taken that advice to heart — reaching out to a huge influx of immigrants as well as finding ways to reach the unchurched in an increasingly secular society.
“The task is how can we together have a strong Christian voice in our society.”
Read the UMNS special report about The United Methodist Church in Germany.
Tiny church vital center for community
A tiny 12-member United Methodist church is making a mark as a social
center in the community while raising money for a life-changing
education program in Ghana.
Thriving Munich church fills new building
A thriving United Methodist Church in Munich, Germany, is filling a
brand-new building with children’s programs and activities that bring
500 to 600 people to the church each week.
Vitality takes many forms in German churches
Churches in Germany are providing sanctuary, classes and programs —
outreach benefiting the churches, not just refugees and migrants.
Deaconesses reflect on lives of service
Violence and poverty threatens to drown the communities and consume families.
Sidebar story: Deaconesses, home missioners now an order
Deaconesses and home missioners are an active order of lay people called to love,
justice and service in U.S., Philippines.
Refugees find community with United Methodists
Churches in Germany are providing sanctuary, classes and programs — outreach
benefiting the churches, not just refugees and migrants.
Bremen church embraces refugees, migrants
A United Methodist church in Bremen, Germany, that welcomed refugees and migrants has found blessing and new life through the work.
Migrant churches provide piece of home
Immigrants want their own churches with familiar language and worship, but the second generation may not speak the language and likely identifies more with German society.
Sidebar story: Journey to pulpit began in peril
Read the moving story of Nguyen’s journey from the Reutlingen School of Theology
to his first church outside Frankfurt.
Video: German Churches Welcome Migrants
Nearly 500 United Methodist congregations in Germany have reached out to displaced
peoples."We were neighbors to the new neighbors, helping them to find their place here."
Video: United Methodists in Germany Welcome Refugees
A United Methodist pastor in southern Germany describes the impact that thousands
of refugees have had on his community.
Cyclists make their way along the Main River in Frankfurt, Germany. Photo by Mike DuBose, UMNS.
Mar. 05, 2018