After two and a half years in the Paulus community, he begins a new task as a school pastor
Pastor Thomas Beder leaves the Paulusgemeinde Darmstadt and becomes the new school pastor at the Georg Büchner School. On Sunday, July 6th, he will be in the service in the Pauluskirche by Dean Dr. Raimund Wirth officially adopted.
New task with old roots
"There are new opportunities in the change," says Thomas Beder about his change. He once attended the Georg Büchner School. Now he returns there - not as a student, but as a school pastor. He had already designed a high school diploma there last year and will in future give Evangelical religious education in grades five to twelve.
Review of the time in the Paulus community
Beder has been a pastor of the Paulus community since the beginning of 2022. Previously, he worked for the Swedish church for seven years and was a parish priest in Alsbach for 15 years. He found a large and stable church service in the Paulus community. He particularly appreciated the talks after the services - also critical feedback.
He liked to try new formats: from the participation service to bilingual liturgies to the highly liturgical German trade fair. The music was also important to him, for example at the service for the anniversary "500 years of singing book".
Openness to new things - also outside the church
Beder was committed to reducing barriers - be it due to a low -threshold discussion on the park bench or an additional sacrament table in the nave. He also campaigned for a more child -friendly Pauluskirche and the opening of the outside area.
In addition, he was chairman of the church council and actively promoted cooperation with surrounding communities in the neighborhood area. His wish: the merger for a common community until 2027.
Look ahead
Now he is looking forward to "being able to participate in the creativity and openness of young people". The new task is a welcome challenge, especially the lessons in the upper level. He could also imagine designing school services on other occasions such as the commemoration day on January 27 or Valentine's Day. The college and the religion student council warmly welcomed him.
Contribution picture: Photos (Copyright Photos: Christa Daum)
