The State Secretary for Church Affairs (German: Staatssekretär für Kirchenfragen) was the head of the Secretariat for Church Affairs in the former German Democratic Republic. The office was responsible for the relationship of the government toward churches and religious groups. Policy was set by the ruling Socialist Unity Party (SED), but direct contact with the churches and religious groups was essentially restricted to the Secretariat in order to preserve the SED's stance as atheist and anti-religion.
The office was established in 1957 following the example of the Soviet Union and other communist countries.[1] The SED's goal was to prevent religious involvement in state affairs, particularly with regard to education and training of children and young people. The Secretary was responsible for maintaining the relationship between government and the churches and religious groups, but was kept weak with no power to set policy. Policy towards religion was set by the SED, whose leaders rarely met with religious leaders.[2] This arrangement allowed the SED to maintain its appearance as an "atheistic party against the Church". However, it also created a situation where, not having direct contact with the churches, the party was forced to rely on other's reports for what was actually going on with the churches, reports that often minimized or omitted serious criticism of the communist government "in order to avoid excited or angry decisions, or to confirm the predominant picture among the recipients of the report of harmonious societal development."[3]
In addition to maintaining relationships with the churches, the Secretary was to ensure that the laws and ordinances kept pace with the development of the socialist state.[4] The SED expected religion to die out over time and sought to restrict the churches to conducting rites and services.[5] Church representatives viewed the office as the "State Secretariat Against Church Affairs" (German: Staatssekretariat gegen kirchliche Angelegenheiten).[4]
Control and persecutionedit
A list, based on religions recognized by the post-war Soviet Military Administration was drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior. Those that were on the list were allowed to hold church services,[6] though there were waves of persecution in 1953 and 1958, including arrests of ministers and others, and show trials.[5]
Two religions were kept off the list, Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Science. Jehovah's Witnesses were denied approval based on their "rejection of secular authority". Christian Science was denied because of the religion's affiliation with the United States and a Nazi-era law related to medical practice.[7] Christian Science was later granted official recognition in November 1989, just prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall.[8]
^Toth, Helena. "Dialogue as a Strategy of Struggle: Religious Politics in East Germany, 1957–1968" (PDF). Contemporary European History. Cambridge University Press. p. 174.
^Paul Cooke, Jonathan Grix (Editors), East Germany: Continuity and Change Editions Rodopi B.V., Amsterdam - Atlanta, GA (2000), pp. 104-105. ISBN90-420-0579-3 Retrieved October 16, 2013
^Horst Dohle, quoted in: Paul Cooke, Jonathan Grix (2000), p. 105 Retrieved October 17, 2013
^ abJohannes Wallmann. Kirchengeschichte Deutschlands seit der Reformation. Tübingen (2006) p. 300. (in German)
^ abMichael Mertes, Steven Muller, Heinrich August Winckler (Editors), In Search of Germany Transaction Publishers. New Brunswick, New Jersey (1996), p. 271. ISBN1-56000-880-6 Retrieved October 16, 2013
^Gregory W. Sandford, Christian Science in East Germany: The Church that Came in from the Cold (2013), p. 22
state, secretary, church, affairs, german, staatssekretär, für, kirchenfragen, head, secretariat, church, affairs, former, german, democratic, republic, office, responsible, relationship, government, toward, churches, religious, groups, policy, ruling, sociali. The State Secretary for Church Affairs German Staatssekretar fur Kirchenfragen was the head of the Secretariat for Church Affairs in the former German Democratic Republic The office was responsible for the relationship of the government toward churches and religious groups Policy was set by the ruling Socialist Unity Party SED but direct contact with the churches and religious groups was essentially restricted to the Secretariat in order to preserve the SED s stance as atheist and anti religion Contents 1 Establishment and function 2 Control and persecution 3 State Secretaries 4 References 5 Further readingEstablishment and function editThe office was established in 1957 following the example of the Soviet Union and other communist countries 1 The SED s goal was to prevent religious involvement in state affairs particularly with regard to education and training of children and young people The Secretary was responsible for maintaining the relationship between government and the churches and religious groups but was kept weak with no power to set policy Policy towards religion was set by the SED whose leaders rarely met with religious leaders 2 This arrangement allowed the SED to maintain its appearance as an atheistic party against the Church However it also created a situation where not having direct contact with the churches the party was forced to rely on other s reports for what was actually going on with the churches reports that often minimized or omitted serious criticism of the communist government in order to avoid excited or angry decisions or to confirm the predominant picture among the recipients of the report of harmonious societal development 3 In addition to maintaining relationships with the churches the Secretary was to ensure that the laws and ordinances kept pace with the development of the socialist state 4 The SED expected religion to die out over time and sought to restrict the churches to conducting rites and services 5 Church representatives viewed the office as the State Secretariat Against Church Affairs German Staatssekretariat gegen kirchliche Angelegenheiten 4 Control and persecution editA list based on religions recognized by the post war Soviet Military Administration was drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior Those that were on the list were allowed to hold church services 6 though there were waves of persecution in 1953 and 1958 including arrests of ministers and others and show trials 5 Two religions were kept off the list Jehovah s Witnesses and Christian Science Jehovah s Witnesses were denied approval based on their rejection of secular authority Christian Science was denied because of the religion s affiliation with the United States and a Nazi era law related to medical practice 7 Christian Science was later granted official recognition in November 1989 just prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall 8 State Secretaries edit1957 1960 Werner Eggerath 1960 1979 Hans Seigewasser 1979 1988 Klaus Gysi 1988 1989 Kurt Loffler 1989 1990 Lothar de MaiziereReferences edit Toth Helena Dialogue as a Strategy of Struggle Religious Politics in East Germany 1957 1968 PDF Contemporary European History Cambridge University Press p 174 Paul Cooke Jonathan Grix Editors East Germany Continuity and Change Editions Rodopi B V Amsterdam Atlanta GA 2000 pp 104 105 ISBN 90 420 0579 3 Retrieved October 16 2013 Horst Dohle quoted in Paul Cooke Jonathan Grix 2000 p 105 Retrieved October 17 2013 a b Johannes Wallmann Kirchengeschichte Deutschlands seit der Reformation Tubingen 2006 p 300 in German a b Michael Mertes Steven Muller Heinrich August Winckler Editors In Search of Germany Transaction Publishers New Brunswick New Jersey 1996 p 271 ISBN 1 56000 880 6 Retrieved October 16 2013 Gregory W Sandford Christian Science in East Germany The Church that Came in from the Cold 2013 p 22 Gregory W Sandford 2013 pp 7 8 Gregory W Sandford 2013 p 123Further reading editDDR Handbuch Volume 2 M Z Cologne 1985 p 1299f Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title State Secretary for Church Affairs amp oldid 1148727612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
