Stepping into the National Arena: Petra Bahr, Bishop from Hannover, Joins Federal Ministry Leadership
Hannover's Bishop to Assume Role of State Secretary - Diocese leader in Hanover moves up to State Secretary position
Gearing up for a change of scenery, Petra Bahr, the regional bishop from the lively city of Hannover, prepares to step into the limelight as State Secretary in bustling Berlin. The announcement was made by the Evangelical Church of Hanover, with Minister Karin Prien (CDU) of the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women, and Youth welcoming her aboard. Bahr, aged 59, has been presiding over the Hannover region since 2017 and has been a member of the German Ethics Council since 2020.
As substantiated by Bishop Ralf Meister in a statement, Bahr has demonstrated an exceptional ability to navigate the often complex discourse between church, politics, science, and culture, contributing significant impulses to the office of regional bishop. He highlights her "wisdom and sharp analytical perspective" as crucial to her success.
Before her ascent to the regional bishopric, Bahr's careerul trajectory included heading the politics department of the CDU-affiliated Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V. and serving as cultural commissioner within the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany. In 2002, she earned her doctorate from the University of Basel with a thesis on Immanuel Kant's "Critique of Judgment." Between 2000 and 2006, she taught philosophy of religion and ethics at the University of Frankfurt am Main.
- Hannover
- Berlin
- Petra Bahr
- Federal Ministry of Education
- CDU
- Seniors
- Women
- Youth
- Karin Prien
- Petra Bahr, who has been serving as the regional bishop in Hannover, is moving to Berlin to join the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Seniors, Women, and Youth, as announced by Minister Karin Prien (CDU).
- After a career that includes roles in philosophy of religion, ethics, politics, and culture, Bahr is preparing to transition from her post in Hannover to the national arena of policy-and-legislation.
- The senior position within the Federal Ministry of Education will be held by the 59-year-old Bahr, who has demonstrated a strong ability to navigate the nuances of church, politics, science, and culture since her days as cultural commissioner within the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany.
- Having served as a member of the German Ethics Council since 2020, Bahr is known for her wisdom and sharp analytical perspective, traits that will likely serve her well in her new role in the heart of Germany's political arena in Berlin.
