Klaus Fitschen

Prof. Dr. Klaus Fitschen, Chair of Modern and Contemporary Church History at the Theological Faculty of the University of Leipzig, specializes in church history from the Enlightenment to the present and early Christianity. His research focuses on the interdenominational development of Christianity, particularly examining the interplay between religion and societal change, and church-political dynamics.

• Director of the Institute for Church History
• Teaching overview lectures and seminars on 19th-20th century and early church history

Research Trends: His work spans church-state relations, theological innovations, Protestant pluralization, ecumenism, and gender issues in diaspora churches. Recent projects address the Protestant Church's political self-image (West Germany 1945-1961), DDR church lawyers' training, and data processing in postwar German Protestantism.

Scientific Contributions:

• Authored Liebe zwischen Männern? (2018), analyzing Protestant responses to homosexuality
• Co-editor of Ketzer, Held und Prediger (2017), recontextualizing Luther's legacy
• Published Wie die Deutschen Christen wurden (2016) on missionary history

Teaching Legacy: Offers bi-semester KG I-VI refresher courses, seminars on the Confessing Church's gender roles, diaspora Protestantism's challenges, and church history under socialism. Collaborates with the Gustav-Adolf-Work (GAW) on freikirche movements.

Institute Leadership: Directed the Institute for Church History since 2004, served as Dean of the Theological Faculty (2013-2019), and chairs equal opportunity initiatives.