معرفی
Prof. Dr. Gerald Kretzschmar has held the W3-Chair of Practical Theology I (specialising in homiletics, liturgics and church theory) at the University of Tübingen since 2015. Since 2021 he also serves as Dean of Studies of the Protestant Theological Faculty. Prior to his professorship he was a visiting scholar and lecturer at Tübingen, Mainz and Bonn, and served as parish pastor in Waldfischbach-Burgalben (2005-2015).
Education
- 1999 – Doctorate (Dr. theol.), University of Munich: empirical-practical-theological study on distanced church affiliation
- 1996 – First Theological Examination, Protestant Church of the Palatinate
- 1990–1996 – Studies of Protestant Theology
- 1996–1998 – Doctoral scholarship, German National Academic Foundation
Research Focus
Prof. Kretzschmar’s work integrates empirical social-science methods with systematic-theological reflection on the contemporary Protestant Church. Major strands include:
- Digital transformation of worship and congregational life
- Sociology of church membership and disaffiliation
- Financing and governance of religious organisations
- Liturgical language and ritual theory
- Political worship and public theology
- Paediatric and hospital chaplaincy
His current research projects on Church Finances, Casual Agencies & Pop-up Rites, Political Worship, Mediatised Preaching and Digitalisation of the Church sit at the intersection of theology, sociology and organisational studies.
Publication Landscape
Across more than two decades, Kretzschmar has authored foundational monographs on mediatised church attachment (2007) and distanced religiosity (2001), alongside edited volumes on liturgical language, church history, and digital church culture. Recent articles (2018-2024) cluster around three themes: empirical studies on youth religiosity and church (re-)entry, critical historical analyses of Practical Theology under National Socialism, and interdisciplinary inquiries into church finances and governance.
Scientific & Ecclesiastical Service
- Member, Board of the Liturgical Conference of the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) (since 2024)
- Co-leader, EKD Committees on Political Worship and Casual Agencies (since 2023/24)
- Member, Scientific Advisory Board of the Palatinate Church Transformation Process (since 2023)
- Member, Curatorium of the Württemberg Seminary (since 2018)
- Examiner, First Theological Exam Commission, Protestant Church of the Palatinate (since 2012)
- Member, Scientific Advisory Council for the 5th EKD Church Membership Study (since 2011)
Research Teams & Networks
He heads an interdisciplinary team at Tübingen’s Chair of Practical Theology I that combines empirical fieldwork with theological reflection. Collaboration partners include sociologists, economists, linguists and digital-media scholars. Institutional ties extend to the German Sociological Association (Section Sociology of Religion) and the Scientific Society for Theology.
