Conflict between religion and politics: A pastor from Saxony-Anhalt loses his pastorate because he wanted to run for the AfD. For the Protestant Church, this was a clear conflict of values.
Because he wants to run as a non-party candidate for the AfD in the local elections in Saxony-Anhalt, a pastor from the Evangelical Church in Central Germany (EKM) has been deprived of his parish area. The EKM announced on Monday that the candidacy of a pastor for the AfD, even as a non-party, is not compatible with the duty of fidelity and loyalty. “Although it is in the interest of the church that pastors also get involved politically, this does not apply to involvement in parties that take constitutionally questionable positions,” said human resources department head Michael Lehmann. With his candidacy, Pastor Martin Michaelis supported the ideas of the AfD.
Michaelis sharply criticized the church leadership. When asked, he said this was outside the law. There is no valid theological justification for the decision. These are free elections and his candidacy should not be interpreted to his disadvantage. Talks should not be refused with the AfD either. He believes that the fact that the Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the party in Saxony-Anhalt as a confirmed right-wing extremist movement is a transparent maneuver. Politically, his main concern in Quedlinburg is issues of monument protection.
Pastor Michaelis has been criticized for a long time
Michaelis appeared publicly during the corona pandemic and came under criticism. He also repeatedly appeared at anti-government demonstrations where the Corona measures were criticized. It was only in November last year that Michaelis was entrusted with the tasks in the Gatersleben parish (Salzlandkreis). In the city council election in his hometown of Quedlinburg in June of this year, Michaelis is running for city council on the AfD list.
timeline
From euro opponents to the case for the Office for the Protection of the Constitution: How the AfD has become more and more radical for years
According to its own information, the Evangelical Church wants to speak to the pastor soon. In principle, Michaelis will remain pastor of the church, explained human resources department head Lehmann. He just doesn’t have a job at the moment. However, since pastors usually have to be elected in the communities, it could be difficult to find a place where Michaelmas could again exercise a pastorate.
“AfD tramples on the Christian view of humanity”
Just a few days ago, the Bishops’ Conference of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany (VELKD) warned against the AfD. “Anyone who votes for the AfD supports a party that tramples on the Christian view of humanity, programmatically violates the commandment of charity with group-related misanthropy and poisons the spirit of the community with its inflammatory slogans,” it said in a statement.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
