Unofficial, glaubenskultur article for subscribers.
A Signal against Loss of Interest
Day of the youth: district apostle Ehrich ordains 75 youth
Offenburg (gk). The president of the South Germany district church, district apostle Michael Ehrich, has ordained 75 ministries in one swoop during a day of the youth in the New Apostolic Church. With about 7,000 youth present in the Ortenau Hall he ordained 65 men as deacons and ten deacons as priests. This action may have been designed to counter the loss of interest for a ministry among the youth. The demonstrative "Yes-Saying" to a volunteer ministry in the church shall now change this trend. Apostle Volker Kuehnle , spokesman of the NAK South, commented to glaubenskultur: "The main thought for an ordination in this setting was, to set a positive sign among the youth for the ministry and commission." District apostle Ehrich also mentioned during the ordination that the young men had set a "strong signal". It remains to be seen if this has really set a "positive signal for ministry and commission" and if young men in the NAK South will be more easily motivated. Apostle Kuehnle acted optimistically: "The reactions show that this was successful!"
The 15th study initiated by Shell indicated that the youth are easily motivated to engage themselves "for social causes and for other people" and that it "blended naturally with their lifestyle". But the engagement is targeted at "questions which move the youth, like standing up for their interests or better opportunities how to spend their free time in a useful manner." (..) Important for the youth is the opportunity to enact their own projects and ideas. In the eyes of the majority of the youth, "participation requires that they feel personally involved."
It is still not easy for the new apostolic churches in Germany to adjust themselves, away from a long-term engagement to engagements for particular projects.
m.koch/adxdx, 2008-06-27 (German text)
See also Click! official, in German
The DOTY was a joint French-German activity near the French border.
A Signal against Loss of Interest
Day of the youth: district apostle Ehrich ordains 75 youth
Offenburg (gk). The president of the South Germany district church, district apostle Michael Ehrich, has ordained 75 ministries in one swoop during a day of the youth in the New Apostolic Church. With about 7,000 youth present in the Ortenau Hall he ordained 65 men as deacons and ten deacons as priests. This action may have been designed to counter the loss of interest for a ministry among the youth. The demonstrative "Yes-Saying" to a volunteer ministry in the church shall now change this trend. Apostle Volker Kuehnle , spokesman of the NAK South, commented to glaubenskultur: "The main thought for an ordination in this setting was, to set a positive sign among the youth for the ministry and commission." District apostle Ehrich also mentioned during the ordination that the young men had set a "strong signal". It remains to be seen if this has really set a "positive signal for ministry and commission" and if young men in the NAK South will be more easily motivated. Apostle Kuehnle acted optimistically: "The reactions show that this was successful!"
The 15th study initiated by Shell indicated that the youth are easily motivated to engage themselves "for social causes and for other people" and that it "blended naturally with their lifestyle". But the engagement is targeted at "questions which move the youth, like standing up for their interests or better opportunities how to spend their free time in a useful manner." (..) Important for the youth is the opportunity to enact their own projects and ideas. In the eyes of the majority of the youth, "participation requires that they feel personally involved."
It is still not easy for the new apostolic churches in Germany to adjust themselves, away from a long-term engagement to engagements for particular projects.
m.koch/adxdx, 2008-06-27 (German text)
See also Click! official, in German
The DOTY was a joint French-German activity near the French border.
