EKD Chair Kirsten Fehrs Reflects on Challenges of Leadership

The newly elected leader of the Evangelical Church in Germany plans to step down after her three-year term, citing the heavy responsibilities of the role.

• Kirsten Fehrs, elected as EKD Chair in November 2024, intends to serve only a single three-year term before stepping down.
• Fehrs highlighted the significant responsibility and emotional burden of representing the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD).
• Her predecessor, Annette Kurschus, resigned in 2023 following allegations that she had prior knowledge of sexual misconduct by a church employee.
• Fehrs acknowledged the complexities of addressing issues like sexual abuse within the church, emphasizing the risks and criticisms faced by those who tackle such topics.
• She described the role as challenging, requiring resilience in the face of public anger and the need to uphold institutional integrity.

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