Meet Nora Steen, the trailblazing 46-year-old who recently became the first female bishop in the Schleswig and Holstein parish. This historic moment unfolded in St. Peter's Cathedral, Schleswig, where Steen was inaugurated during a festive service on a Sunday. Notably, the Protestant denomination in Schleswig-Holstein, a part of the transnational Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany since 2012, has never been led by a woman before. With a substantial Christian community of over 868,500, Schleswig and Holstein is the largest parish under the Northern Church's umbrella.
Hailing from Leipzig, Berlin, and Göttingen, Nora Steen studied Protestant theology after graduating from high school and completing a social year in South India. Following stints in Hamelin, Geneva, Hildesheim, and Lisbon, she most recently served as the director of a study college in Breklum, North Friesland district. Known for her morning devotions on NDR and ARD's "Wort zum Sonntag," Steen is also a mother of three and has a knack for encouraging and strengthening others.
Regional Bishop Kristina Kühnbaum-Schmidt praised Steen's theological expertise and broad horizon, hinting at her eagerness to experiment and delight in empowering others. She expressed confidence for the path ahead, stating, "In short: with confidence in faith." Kühnbaum-Schmidt also welcomed Steen as a valuable 'episcopal sparring partner' in the digital realm and on social media.
With this inauguration, Nora Steen makes history in the Schleswig-Holstein parish, marking the first time a woman heads this significant transnational Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany's parish. Despite the absence of specific data on women serving as bishops in this precise context, the wider Anglican Communion has celebrated female bishops like Barbara Harris and Libby Lane since 1988 and 2015, respectively.
In summary, Nora Steen's historic appointment as the first female bishop in the Schleswig and Holstein parish signifies a shift in the transnational Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany, and her leadership brings renewed energy and inspiration to the Christian community.
