Geistliches Rüstzentrum Krelingen

The Geistliches Rüstzentrum Krelingen (GRZ Krelingen) is a free evangelical work within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, operating on the theological basis of the Evangelical Alliance with a biblicist orientation. It is located in the village of Krelingen, part of Walsrode in the Heidekreis district of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is described as the largest evangelical institution in northern Germany, with an annual budget of approximately five million euros. Founded in 1965 by Pastor Heinrich Kemner, the GRZ began on a former farm as a Christian leisure center for young people. Over the decades it has grown into a 17-hectare campus with numerous work areas, including a church, guest houses, a hotel, a youth house, a multi-purpose hall, a study center, a rehabilitation and participation center, and a vocational training facility. The organizational sponsor is the non-profit association GRZ Krelingen e. V. The current director and chairman of the board is Pastor Ralf Richter, who took office on 1 October 2019. The GRZ Krelingen belongs to Category II works of the Evangelical Alliance, defined as independent diaconal, evangelistic, missionary, and pastoral works that operate supra-regionally and are committed in their statutes to cooperation with the Evangelical Alliance. It holds the Evangelical Alliance's donation audit certificate and is a member of the Diakonisches Werk Hannover. The work encompasses several areas: the Krelinger Studienzentrum (founded November 1972), a state-recognized supplementary school preparing students for university studies in Protestant theology and other fields; the Krelinger Teilhabezentrum (until 31 December 2022 called Reha-Zentrum), offering social and vocational participation measures for people with mental illness and possibly addiction backgrounds; the Überbetriebliche Ausbildungsstätte (ÜBA, founded 1992), providing vocational preparation and training in carpentry, gardening, housekeeping, and office work; and the Krelinger Freizeit- und Tagungszentrum, a leisure and conference center with guest houses, youth houses, a hotel, and the Heinrich-Kemner-Halle multi-purpose hall. The center also publishes the quarterly Krelinger Briefe newsletter and hosts annual events such as the Krelinger Tag, Frauen- und Männertag, and Bauerntag, as well as the BAM youth festival for 13- to 18-year-olds, started in 1992. The GRZ is known beyond German borders as a conference venue. Its core mission is living, learning, and working in Christian community and passing on and strengthening the Christian faith.

The history of the Geistliches Rüstzentrum Krelingen begins with Pastor Heinrich Kemner (born 19 June 1903 in Bünde-Dünne, Westphalia), who started his pastoral service in Ahlden/Aller in 1939. In 1946 the first "Ahldener Jugendtag" (Ahlden Youth Day) was held, and in 1952 the Ahldener Bruderschaft (Ahlden Brotherhood) was founded. From 1957, leisure activities took place in the Ahlden youth home. In 1965, a small farmhouse was purchased in the municipality of Krelingen (near Walsrode), marking the beginning of the work at its present location. The first guest houses were built in Krelingen in 1968/69. In October 1969, Pastor Kemner began his retirement, though he remained active. In 1971/72 the "Glaubenshof" was bought and converted for drug therapy. The Krelingen study work began in 1972, and in 1973 the Ahlden Youth Day moved to Krelingen. The first student house was inaugurated in 1977. On 18 May 1980 the church was inaugurated. In 1981 the "Waldhaus" (reintegration phase) was inaugurated, followed by the second student house in 1983, the "Teichhaus" (psychiatric rehabilitation) in 1984, and the bookstore in 1985, when the "Hof Birkengrund" (second phase of psychiatric rehabilitation) was also purchased. The third guest house was inaugurated in 1987, and the "Glaubenshalle" was built and inaugurated in 1989. In 1992 the Überbetriebliche Ausbildungsstätte (ÜBA) was established, and the first Krelinger youth festival "BAM" was held. On 13 June 1993, the founder and leader Pastor Heinrich Kemner passed away. On 21 June 1993, Pastor Wilfried Reuter was elected as his successor, and on 5 July 1993, Margarete Kemner passed away. On 1 January 1994, Pastor Wilfried Reuter took office as leader of the Geistliches Rüstzentrum. In 1997, the 50th Ahlden Youth Day was celebrated, a multi-purpose house for study work (Heinrich-Kemner-Haus) was completed and inaugurated, construction began on the new youth house, and the 25th anniversary of the Krelingen rehabilitation work was marked. On 15 March 1998, the 25th anniversary of the Krelingen study work was celebrated, and at Easter 1998 the new youth house was inaugurated. In the following years, the work continued to develop. The Krelinger Teilhabezentrum was known as the Reha-Zentrum until 31 December 2022. The Krelinger Studienzentrum, founded in November 1972, is legally a state-recognized supplementary school. Its study directors have included Pastor Sven Findeisen (1972–1979), Pastor Joachim Cochlovius (1979–1996), Pastor Erhard Berneburg (1998–2007), Pastor Manfred Dreytza (2008–2017 and interim 2021/2022), Pastor Thomas Jeromin (2017–2021), and Pastor Karsten Vehrs (since September 2022). On 1 October 2019, Pastor Ralf Richter became the current director and chairman of the board. The GRZ Krelingen continues to operate as a non-profit association and remains the largest evangelical institution in northern Germany.

• 2019

  Pastor Ralf Richter becomes director and chairman of the board on 1 October.

• 1998

  25th anniversary of the Krelingen study work on 15 March; inauguration of the new youth house at Easter.

• 1997

  50th Ahlden Youth Day; completion of the Heinrich-Kemner-Haus; construction begins on the new youth house; 25th anniversary of rehabilitation work.

• 1994

  Pastor Wilfried Reuter takes office as leader on 1 January.

• 1993

  Death of founder Pastor Heinrich Kemner on 13 June; election of Pastor Wilfried Reuter as successor on 21 June.

• 1992

  Establishment of the Überbetriebliche Ausbildungsstätte (ÜBA); first Krelinger youth festival "BAM".

• 1989

  Construction and inauguration of the "Glaubenshalle".

• 1987

  Inauguration of the third guest house.

• 1985

  Inauguration of the bookstore; purchase of "Hof Birkengrund".

• 1984

  Inauguration of the "Teichhaus" (psychiatric rehabilitation).

• 1983

  Inauguration of the second student house.

• 1981

  Inauguration of the "Waldhaus" (reintegration phase).

• 1980

  Inauguration of the church on 18 May.

• 1977

  Inauguration of the first student house.

• 1973

  The Ahlden Youth Day moves to Krelingen.

• 1972

  Beginning of the Krelingen study work; founding of the Krelinger Studienzentrum in November.

• 1971

  Purchase and conversion of the "Glaubenshof" for drug therapy (1971/72).

• 1969

  Pastor Kemner begins his retirement in October.

• 1968

  Construction of the first guest houses in Krelingen (1968/69).

• 1965

  Purchase of a small farmhouse in Krelingen; founding of the work by Pastor Heinrich Kemner.

• 1957

  Leisure activities begin in the Ahlden youth home.

• 1952

  Founding of the Ahldener Bruderschaft (Ahlden Brotherhood).

• 1946

  First "Ahldener Jugendtag" (Ahlden Youth Day) held.

• 1939

  Pastor Heinrich Kemner begins pastoral service in Ahlden/Aller.

A supra-regional evangelical Christian center for community life, theological education, rehabilitation, and conferences, rooted in the Evangelical Alliance tradition.

• Krelinger Studienzentrum

  State-recognized supplementary school for pre-university theological studies, founded November 1972.

• Krelinger Teilhabezentrum

  Center for social and vocational participation for people with mental illness and possibly addiction backgrounds; known as Reha-Zentrum until 31 December 2022.

• Überbetriebliche Ausbildungsstätte (ÜBA)

  Founded 1992; offers vocational preparation and training in carpentry, gardening, housekeeping, and office work.

• Krelinger Freizeit- und Tagungszentrum

  Leisure and conference center with guest houses, youth houses, hotel, and the Heinrich-Kemner-Halle multi-purpose hall.

• Krelinger Briefe

  Free quarterly newsletter with information about events and spiritual/theological impulses.

1. 1Startseite - GRZ Krelingengrz-krelingen.de
2. 2Geschichte - GRZ Krelingengrz-krelingen.de
3. 3Geistliches Rüstzentrumwikidata.org
4. 4GRZ Krelingende.wikipedia.org