Women's cooperatives move into the community center in Bessungen
The Evangelical Andreas Parish in Darmstadt-Bessungen has found a long-term solution for its community center on Paul-Wagner-Straße. In the future, the building will be used by various women's organizations, including the Women's Center, the Women's Cultural Center, the Women's Association, and the BAFF Women's Cooperative. At the same time, the community center will remain an important venue for worship services, church events, and community gatherings.
According to those responsible, the property is to be transferred to the City of Darmstadt under a leasehold agreement. The city will then make the building available to women's cooperatives for their use. Final implementation is still subject to the necessary resolutions.
Community center remains a meeting place for Bessungen
For the St. Andrew's parish, the agreement means that the church hall can continue to be used for church services, devotions, and community events. Numerous clubs, groups, and initiatives will also continue to be able to use rooms in the building.
These include, among others, the Bessungen Carnival Association, the Viva Vittoria initiative, the Ethiopian community, the instrumental association, and events from the cultural and ecumenical fields.
"The Andreas parish remains a home and offers a meeting place for the social area of Bessungen," the officials emphasize.
The background is the reform process of the EKHN (Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau)
This development is related to the "EKHN 2030" reform process of the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau. As part of this process, church buildings are being reassessed. Buildings that will no longer be financed by church tax revenue in the future will require new usage and financing concepts.
The community center of the St. Andrew's parish is one of these buildings. Through cooperation with women's organizations, the site is to be preserved in the long term and continue to be used for the common good.
Significance for new residential areas
The St. Andrew's parish also sees its role in relation to the neighboring Lincoln-Siedlung and Ludwigshöhe districts. For years, the parish has been committed to fostering community spirit, promoting neighborhood development, and integrating new residents there.
Preserving the community center ensures that an important place for social, cultural and religious activities will remain in southern Darmstadt.
New use planned from autumn
The women's cooperatives are to gradually take over the premises of the community center. Further renovations are planned for the fall, particularly in the kitchen area.
According to those involved, the collaboration has already been ongoing in practice for several months. The shared use of the premises is currently being coordinated and will be contractually regulated in the future.
Merger to form the Hope Community from 2027
At the same time, the Andreas parish will become part of the new City-South neighborhood area. From January 2027, the Andreas, Paulus, Petrus, Matthäus and City Church parishes will be merged to form the new "Hope Parish".
Those in charge see the cooperation between the church, the city, and women's organizations as a model for the future. The goal is to preserve church spaces while simultaneously enabling new social and cultural opportunities in the neighborhood.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM)
