Ilka Friedrich takes on a new role in the Protestant Deanery
The Protestant deanery of Darmstadt has a new pastor for the mission sector: Ilka Friedrich has taken up her post and wants to provide new impetus for faith and church life.
Shaping the mission in a contemporary way
Ilka Friedrich succeeds Clemens Bittlinger, who has retired. Her goal is to communicate faith in a modern way and to create new ways of accessing it.
In addition to her new role, she continues to be active in the field of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue. She considers it particularly important to make church services visible beyond traditional settings – both in the digital realm and in unusual places in everyday life.
Holy Thursday service and vigil
Ilka Friedrich will present her first public offering on Thursday, April 2, 2026, in the city church of Darmstadt.
A special evening service with a shared meal will take place starting at 8 p.m. This will be followed by a vigil with silence, prayer, and candlelight, lasting until the morning of Good Friday. The open church will offer a space for encounter, reflection, and personal concerns.
New ideas for church and society
Ilka Friedrich brings numerous ideas to her work. In addition to traditional community work, she focuses on new formats, such as social media or unusual projects in public spaces.
Planned events already include contributions to the large baptismal festival at the Woog lake and to the "Night of the Churches" in Darmstadt. The aim is to further develop the church as an open place for exchange, spirituality, and community.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM)
Featured image: Pastor Ilka Friedrich. Photo: Evangelical Deanery of Darmstadt
