In the viewpoint of the present EKD Council Chairwoman, Kirsten Fehrs, sexual misconduct and church abuse should be dealt with based on external standards. Fehrs expressed this belief to the Tagesspiegel newspaper, asserting, "It's crucial that there's a state law regarding handling abuse cases, granting all affected parties a legal right to address their situations, regardless of whether the incidents occurred in churches, sports, schools, or families." This law, she argued, would establish consistent guidelines for everyone (1).
The EKD Council Chairwoman position shifted following the resignation of Annette Kurschus. The resignation was prompted by allegations from years prior claiming that Kurschus was aware of suspected sexual assault against a former church employee in the Siegen church district (2). Kurschus denied the allegations but opted to step down to avoid causing further distress to victims of sexual violence (3).
A lack of promptness in dealing with abuse allegations has been a recurring criticism leveled at Protestants. Results of the first external study on this matter covering all regional churches are due by the end of January 2024. Fehrs acknowledged that "painful findings" would likely emerge regarding the church's historical handling of sexual violence cases within the diaconia and the church (4).
Sources: 1. 2. 3.
Additional Insights:
Church abuse cases are a significant issue worldwide, including in Germany. Both the Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church in Germany have faced scrutiny for their handling of abuse allegations.
- Catholic Church in Germany:
- The Münster Diocese introduced a clergy disciplinary code with sanctions for clergy misconduct, effective March 1, 2025 (1).
- The German Catholic Church is involved in the "Synodal Path," a reform process addressing sexual abuse and other issues, despite criticism and controversy (2).
- In 2018, a German Catholic Bishops' Conference report exposed widespread sexual abuse within the church, triggering calls for greater transparency and accountability (3).
- Evangelical Church in Germany:
- Annette Kurschus' controversy is not directly associated with a specific proposed law but related to addressing abuse within the Evangelical Church (3).
- Proposed Laws and Reforms:
- The German Bishops’ Conference advocates for the establishment of ecclesiastical administrative courts, an effort yet to be approved by the Vatican (1).
- The introduction of an arbitration council in the Münster Diocese is a significant step towards handling administrative decisions, providing a mechanism for laypeople and clergy to contest these decisions (1).
