Burghardt emphasized that her appointment is a signal, especially for women in many churches in the global South, but also in some parts of Europe, the theologian Burghardt told the Evangelical Press Service (epd) in Geneva. The 45-year-old will take up the post of General Secretary on Monday (November 1st) as the successor to Chilean Martin Junge. “

“Needed a lot of encouragement at first”

“The women need a little more confidence in their abilities when it comes to applying for a management position. So Burghardt.

Nevertheless, in most Protestant churches in Western and Northern Europe as well as in North America, it goes without saying that women and men apply equally for positions in the church.

Praise for the commitment of the Lutheran churches

The pastor of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church and mother of two children emphasized that Germany had become like a second homeland for her. SHE praised the commitment of the Lutheran churches in Germany for holistic missionary work, who take both preaching and diaconal work seriously.

In June, the Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) elected Burghardt, the first woman in the position of General Secretary. Burghardt prevailed against Pastor Kenneth Mtata from Zimbabwe with 28 to 20 votes. The term of office is seven years.

“The African voice is heard”

Your election is not about a victory for Europe or a defeat for Africa, said Burghardt. “The African voice continues to play an important role in the LWF and is heard.” She recalled that LWF President Panti Filibus Musa is Archbishop of the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria.

Burghardt emphasizes the need for solidarity among the 148 churches of the LWF in the Corona crisis. The strong members of the church community must help the less strong: “The sisters and brothers in need must not be forgotten.” The churches should not repeat the mistake of many states that die in a crisis only have the well-being of their people in mind.

They cited the so-called vaccination nationalism of rich countries as an example, which had stocked up with vaccines far beyond their own needs and initially left hardly any vaccines for poor countries. The churches of the LWF, founded in 1947, represented around 77 million Christians in 99 countries. The head office is in Geneva.

Jan Dirk Herbermann