Evangelisches Diakoniewerk Bethanien Ducherow

The Evangelisches Diakoniewerk Bethanien Ducherow (EDBD) is a diaconal institution and church foundation based in Ducherow, in the Vorpommern region of Germany. It traces its origins to two 19th-century charitable foundations linked to the Quistorp family: the Missions- und Waisenstiftungen zu Ducherow, founded in 1866 by Pastor Wilhelm Quistorp, which later became the Bugenhagenstift, and the Diakonissen- und Krankenhaus Bethanien, founded in 1869 in Neu-Torney near Stettin with support from the businessman Johannes Quistorp. These two institutions merged in 1980 to form the present foundation, which is a legally independent church foundation under the supervision of the Landeskirchenamt of the Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Norddeutschland. The Diakoniewerk operates a residential home for people with disabilities in Ducherow, as well as care services, communal living, and age-appropriate housing for seniors. Its Bugenhagen-Werkstatt, recognized as a workshop for disabled people since 1991, runs facilities in Ducherow, Anklam, Heringsdorf, and Zirchow, producing goods including handmade beach chairs (Strandkörbe). The foundation also historically operated Haus Elim in Heringsdorf, a listed former rest home that served as a care home until 2002 and was sold in 2021. The foundation is a member of the Diakonisches Werk Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and, through it, of the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung of the Evangelical Church in Germany. It follows the tradition of the Kaiserswerther Diakonie and is a member of the Kaiserswerther Verband deutscher Diakonissen-Mutterhäuser. Governance is provided by a two-member executive board (theological and commercial) and an eleven-member Kuratorium. The Diakoniewerk remains active in providing social, nursing, and rehabilitation services in the region.

The Evangelisches Diakoniewerk Bethanien Ducherow has two roots, both connected to the Quistorp family. In 1866, Pastor Wilhelm Quistorp founded the Missions- und Waisenstiftungen zu Ducherow, which later became the Bugenhagenstift, named after Johannes Bugenhagen. This institution served as an orphanage and teachers' seminary. Quistorp's plan was to support orphaned children, train teachers, and strengthen the economic vitality of the village of Ducherow. At the same time, planning began in Neu-Torney, a suburb of Stettin, for a deaconess home. The businessman Johannes Quistorp, brother of Wilhelm, provided a 20-morgen plot of land and a main building under construction. Thus, in 1869, the Diakonissen- und Krankenhaus Bethanien was founded. The hospital grew to 220 beds, and in 1929 the sisterhood reached its peak with 460 sisters. As the front approached Stettin in April 1945 near the end of World War II, the hospital was evacuated. The surviving sisters found new tasks in Vorpommern at the Bugenhagenstift, where most of the sisters fled with a few rescued belongings from the mother house. Others went to Züssow, where a new diaconal institution emerged, and to the Johanna-Odebrecht-Stiftung in Greifswald. There, a Bethanien hospital was established in 1947, which belonged to the Diakoniewerk in Ducherow until 1988. Some sisters found a new sphere of activity at the Evangelisches Johannesstift Berlin. Ducherow became the seat of the Diakonissenanstalt Bethanien until it merged in 1980 with the Bugenhagenstift to form the Evangelisches Diakoniewerk Bethanien Ducherow. With the help of church grants from West Germany, it was possible to erect a larger modern building for people with intellectual disabilities (today the Bischof-Krummacher-Haus) and to carry out further expansions and renovations. In 1980, the legally independent foundations "Bugenhagenstift Ducherow" (1866) and "Evangelische Diakonissenanstalt Bethanien Stettin-Neutorney" (1869) merged into a single foundation named "Evangelisches Diakoniewerk Bethanien in Ducherow". This foundation, the legal successor of the two named foundations, is a legally independent church foundation under civil law. Foundation supervision is exercised by the Landeskirchenamt of the Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Norddeutschland. The Diakoniewerk follows the tradition of the Kaiserswerther Diakonie and is traditionally closely associated with the Pomeranian Genossenschaft of the Johanniterorden, although in the current version of its statutes it is no longer designated as an institution of the Johanniterorden. The foundation promotes diaconal life, faith, and service communities and maintains facilities for worship life. It maintains and uses facilities for the promotion, rehabilitation, care, and nursing of people in need of help and care of all ages. The foundation is legally independent and is assigned to the Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche in Norddeutschland. It is a member of the Diakonisches Werk Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V. and thus belongs to the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung of the Evangelical Church in Germany as a recognized umbrella association of free welfare work. Until 1983, the foundation followed the Kaiserswerther model and was led by the Oberin and the Vorsteher, who was a pastor. Today the foundation is led by an executive board consisting of the theological board member and the commercial board member, as well as an eleven-member Kuratorium. The Diakoniewerk is a member of the Kaiserswerther Verband deutscher Diakonissen-Mutterhäuser. The Diakoniewerk operates a residential home for people with disabilities in Ducherow. Also in Ducherow, care, communal living, and age-appropriate housing for seniors are offered. The Bugenhagen-Werkstatt, recognized as a workshop for disabled people since 1991, maintains facilities in Ducherow, Anklam, Heringsdorf, and Zirchow. Among the workshops' products is a handmade beach chair offered in two forms. The listed former rest home of the deaconesses, Haus Elim in Heringsdorf, which served as a retirement home from 1945 to 2002, then became a home for assisted living for people with mental illness under the sponsorship of the Diakoniewerk Ducherow. After its closure, it was sold in 2021.

• 2021

  Haus Elim in Heringsdorf is sold after closure.

• 2002

  Haus Elim in Heringsdorf ceases to serve as a retirement home.

• 1991

  Bugenhagen-Werkstatt recognized as a workshop for disabled people.

• 1983

  The office of Oberin is discontinued; leadership transitions to a board model.

• 1980

  Bugenhagenstift Ducherow (1866) and Evangelische Diakonissenanstalt Bethanien Stettin-Neutorney (1869) merge to form Evangelisches Diakoniewerk Bethanien in Ducherow.

• 1947

  A Bethanien hospital is established in Greifswald, belonging to the Diakoniewerk in Ducherow until 1988.

• 1945

  Hospital evacuated as the front approaches Stettin; surviving sisters find refuge in Vorpommern.

• 1929

  Sisterhood reaches its peak with 460 sisters; hospital has grown to 220 beds.

• 1869

  Diakonissen- und Krankenhaus Bethanien founded in Neu-Torney near Stettin with support from Johannes Quistorp.

• 1866

  Pastor Wilhelm Quistorp founds the Missions- und Waisenstiftungen zu Ducherow, later the Bugenhagenstift.

A church-affiliated diaconal foundation providing social care, disability support, and elderly services in Vorpommern, rooted in 19th-century charitable traditions.

• Wohnheim für Menschen mit Behinderung

  Residential home for people with disabilities in Ducherow.

• Bugenhagen-Werkstatt

  Recognized workshop for disabled people since 1991, with facilities in Ducherow, Anklam, Heringsdorf, and Zirchow; produces handmade beach chairs.

• Pflege, Gemeinschaftliches Wohnen und Altersgerechtes Wohnen für Senioren

  Care, communal living, and age-appropriate housing for seniors in Ducherow.

1. 1Evang. Diakoniewerk Bethanien Ducherow – Official Websiteedbd.de
2. 2Evangelisches Diakoniewerk Bethanien Ducherow – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Evangelisches Diakoniewerk Bethanien Ducherow – Wikidatawikidata.org