Every Sunday in the church year has a name. Last Sunday his name was Judika, loosely based on Psalm 43: “God make me right”https://www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/.”And what are you doing about it?” Karin Krapp, a Protestant pastor from Weimar and a victim of abuse, put this painful question to the members of the Bavarian Protestant state synod.
How the regional church deals with sexual abuse was a key topic at the synod conference this Tuesday. For the first time, those affected by abuse sat next to Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm on stage, along with Karin Krapp and Detlef Zander. Both are also members of the “Participation Forum on Sexualized Violence” at the level of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD).
“The topic of education and processing of sexual violence in the church and the diaconia must be the top topic for all of you,” said Detlef Zander to the synodal. “In the end, protection concepts, action plans and training courses must have an effect at the level of the parishes,” said Zander. By 2025, all parishes and church institutions should be able to present a protection concept. “Take the topic with you everywhere, don’t give it a niche,” said Karin Krapp. “Yesterday we had a big issue of church personnel policy,” she said, alluding to the bishop election, which ended without a result. “For example, this is something where I think: what role does the issue of sexualized violence play in the election of a bishop?”
So far, 211 cases of sexualized assaults and violence against children and adults are known in Bavaria
According to the Oberkirchenrat Nikolaus Blum, 211 cases of sexual assault and violence against children and adults are known in the Evangelical Church in Bavaria. Some of these cases date back to the 1950s, plus 30 cases of sexual harassment at work. But one assumes a high number of unreported cases, according to Blum. The recognition commission has received and processed a total of 65 applications since 2015. In 62 cases, benefits totaling 1.4 million euros were granted. According to Blum, the benefits per person affected are between 5,000 and 50,000 euros.
State Bishop Bedford-Strohm would like more support from the state: Because there is “great uncertainty about what is appropriate as a recognition service or what should be paid additionally in cases of hardship”. Anyone who has experienced abuse shouldn’t have to haggle, he said: “Nevertheless, we have to create comparability.” Because those affected should not be treated differently according to geographical or social crime scene. “We need uniform social standards for a fair balance. And for this we urgently need a state-appointed commission that sets the standards for society as a whole.”
In the afternoon, in a non-public session, the synodal members discussed how things should continue after the failed bishop election the day before. The election preparation committee then wanted to meet late Tuesday evening and discuss these issues.