Diakonie & Gemeine

By Pastor Jen Collins, Assistant to the Bishop

I stepped through a new doorway and into my new home for the week. This home was not close –– it took over 4,400 miles, including 10 hours of flying, 1.5 hours of riding on trains, and a bit of walking to arrive at the doorstep of our Global Companions in Leipzig, Germany.

Bishop Jen Nagel, Rev. Dr. Adam White, Rev. Erik Haaland*, Rev. Amber Ingalsbe*, Lora Dundek*, Allen Dundek, and I were hosted by Superintendent Sebastian Feydt of the Leipzig District of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony, Germany, this week. It was such a joy to meet many amazing leaders (Frank Schmidt, Ute Weise, and Deputy Superintendent Rev. Christiane Dohrn) and laity.

Danke Schön — Thank you very much! We can’t express this enough — the hospitality in welcoming a stranger was gracious.

Pause now, center yourself. Breathe in the Word of God.

“Look around you: Everything you see is God’s – the heavens above and beyond, the Earth, and everything on it. But it was your ancestors who God fell in love with; God picked their children – that’s you – out of all the other peoples. So that’s where we are right now. Cut back the callouses from your heart and stop being so willfully hardheaded. God is the God of all gods…God does not play favorites, takes no bribes, makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, and takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing. You must treat foreigners with the same loving care – remember, you were once foreigners. Reverently, respect God, your God, serve God, and hold God close to your heart.” (Deuteronomy 10:14-20, Message Translation)

______

Diakonie refers to all aspects of service to the people. Gemeinde refers to community. These two German words, diakonie and gemeinde, should be so familiar to us. They held my focus during our time with our Global Companions in Leipzig.

As a foreigner in Germany, I immediately found a sense of community. From the first evening to the last, our Christian siblings have shown me what it means to love God and love people.

They offered so much kindness, even through garbled attempts with the German language,
They opened their homes (English-speaking or not),
They nourished us with food (yum!), faith (prayer without ceasing, songs, scripture), and connection (we talked A LOT!).

This trip was a steady, comforting reminder: we are NOT ALONE, and we are the body of Christ. When one part suffers, we all suffer. When one part thrives, we all thrive. We discovered that we hold similar heavy hearts as we strive to make a difference. German faith communities and Minneapolis communities, we are all seeking ways to keep the callouses from forming and prevent willful hardheadedness. In Germany, our little partnership community held space to speak honestly about immigration, asylum, gun violence, caring for the unhoused and differently abled, the effects of war, and the rise of authoritarianism. This work is messy and challenging, but it is truly remarkable to embody gemeinde. It is healing and necessary.

We conversed with pastors, lay leaders, and directors of community organizations about the Lutheran Church’s role in society. Diakonie didn’t just refer to aspects of service to people as a concept, as an idea — it also refers to LOVE in ACTION. Diakonie is also the name of the organization in Germany that is similar to Lutheran Social Services of MN. We, the Minneapolis Area Synod, are a part of supporting their work through our Leipzig partnership. Diakonie, the organization, manages the welfare work under the umbrella of the Protestant Church. Based on Christian values, they offer support to people. Diakonie wants to shape Germany so that a dignified life is possible for everyone. They also actively participate in political processes.

Look around you, we are NOT ALONE in this work. Even from 4,400 miles away, we are Church Together! May the photos included share more of the story experienced this week in Leipzig, Germany. May we, in the Minneapolis Area Synod, continue to pray for our Global Companions. May we wonder about ways our communities can create pathways for everyone to thrive. May we hold close and practice this reminder: “God makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing. You must treat foreigners with the same loving care – remember, you were once foreigners. Reverently, respect God, your God, serve God, and hold God close to your heart.”

Celebrate how diakonie and gemeine show up in your congregations. This week, list ways your community (gemeine) can positively impact the people you encounter (diakonie).