The new pastor of the Segensgemeinde (Blessing Parish) will be installed in her office on September 20th in Darmstadt
The Evangelical Blessing Parish in Darmstadt has gained a new member: Pastor Dr. Anne Gilly has begun her ministry, focusing on the Woogsviertel district. The 37-year-old will be ordained in a service at St. Martin's Church, Heinheimer Straße 41, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 3 p.m.
The ordination will be performed by Provost Stephan Arras. Deputy Dean Sven Sabary will welcome the new pastor at the service for the Protestant Deanery of Darmstadt.
From Frankfurt to Darmstadt
Gilly moved to Darmstadt with her family. She grew up near the Swabian Alps in a non-religious family. As a teenager, she came into contact with the Christian faith and was baptized as a Protestant.
After graduating from high school and completing a volunteer service in Copenhagen, she studied theology in Berlin, Melbourne, Munich, and Frankfurt. Gilly worked for six years at Goethe University Frankfurt, where she earned her doctorate with a dissertation on worship services in a metropolitan context. She also completed her vicarage in Frankfurt.
According to her own statement, she is particularly interested in "the diversity of people and lifestyles" in her new role in Darmstadt and in the question of how the church can develop further in the face of social changes.
Making church services understandable even for those who are distant from the church
Gilly sees a key focus of her work in making biblical texts understandable. "I see myself, to some extent, as a translator," she says, describing her role. In her view, church services should also be accessible to people who don't regularly attend church.
Gilly states that she is Lutheran in her upbringing but also influenced by liberal theology. Among other things, she explores the relationship between human fallibility and human dignity.
The church as a space for social dialogue
The new pastor sees another task of the church in social exchange. In light of political polarization, she believes there should be spaces where people with different positions can talk to each other.
“I see the church very much as a space for dialogue,” says Gilly. This is not about endorsing every position, but about wanting to understand people and the motivations behind their views.
The 37-year-old has also settled into a private life in Darmstadt. Her interests include arthouse cinema, crossword puzzles, and DIY projects. She also attends matches of the Eintracht Frankfurt women's team.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM)
