Katharina Opalka

Katharina Opalka is a theologian at the Protestant Theological Faculty of the University of Bonn, holding a 50% professorship for Systematic Theology/Dogmatics and Ethics since April 2024 in a shared position with Prof. Folkart Wittekind. She specializes in spirituality (particularly Taizé practices), narrativity, performance theories, empirical systematic theology, Christology, existential theology (Paul Tillich), and 19th-century theology (Albrecht Ritschl). Her habilitation project "The Ambiguity of Candlelight" explores spirituality through the cross narrative in Tillich's sermons and Taizé, with venia legendi scheduled for May 14, 2025. She previously served as a pastor in substitute service (2023-2024) and received the Annemarie-Schimmel Fellowship (2022-2023).

• University of Bonn (Dr. theol., 2020)
• Evangelical Theology studies at Marburg and Göttingen (2005-2011)
• 2. Theologisches Examen (2014)
• Theological training at Predigerseminar Loccum

Her research focuses on theology's functional capacity in interdisciplinary discourse, examining how theological concepts like humility, patience, and prayer operate within collective contexts while preserving divine transcendence. Key works explore Albrecht Ritschl's theology through narrative and performative frameworks, analyze Taizé spirituality's atmospheric effects, and investigate resilience through Christological narratives. Her publications span theological ethics, biblical hermeneutics, and contemporary spiritual practices.

Recent publications include monographs on humility's performance in Ritschl's theology (2021), analyses of Taizé's spiritual music (2023), explorations of resilience in grief processes (2023), and critiques of divine omnipotence (2017). She engages with Paul Tillich's existential theology, Ricoeur's hermeneutics, and interdisciplinary approaches to theological concepts.

• Annemarie-Schimmel-Fellowship (2022-2023)
• Member of Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft für Theologie (since 2025)
• Advisory board member of Haus der Stille der EKiR (since 2021)
• Active in Luther-Gesellschaft (since 2015), European Society for Philosophy of Religion (2014-2018), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Religionsphilosophie (since 2013)

Opalka contributes to theological education through courses on dogmatics, systematic theology, and pneumatology at Bonn and Cologne Universities. She co-leads seminars with Prof. Cornelia Richter and Prof. Folkart Wittekind, including doctoral colloquia and interdisciplinary modules with sociology departments. Her teaching certificate includes 240 academic units in pedagogical innovation and academic advising.