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Fehrs Elected to Lead German Evangelical Church Amidst Abuse Scandal

Kirsten Fehrs elected as head of Germany's Evangelical Church amid controversy over her handling of sexual abuse cases.

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German

Germany

PoliticsGermany ReformAbuseChurch

Evangelical Church In Germany (Ekd)Ekd's Specialist Agency For Sexualised ViolenceChurch And Its Diakonie

Kirsten FehrsDetlev ZanderNancy JanzAnnette KurschusTobias Bilz

What controversies surrounded Kirsten Fehrs' election?: Fehrs' election was met with controversy due to past criticisms regarding her handling of sexual abuse cases within the church. Critics have accused her of being slow and insufficiently effective in addressing the issue.
What criticisms are being made of the EKD's handling of sexual abuse allegations?: The new measures include a unified approach to handling abuse allegations across all churches, a standardized compensation system, and a new online platform for victims. However, critics want simpler procedures and an ombudsman to represent victims.
Who was elected as the new chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany?: Kirsten Fehrs, the Bishop of Hamburg, was elected as the new chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD). She received 14 votes against and 19 abstentions from the 130 synodals.
What did the EKD's study on sexual abuse reveal, and what measures are being taken in response?: The EKD commissioned a study that estimated at least 2,200 victims and more than 1,500 accused of sexual abuse since 1946. A new forum aims to implement 12 measures to prevent future abuse and standardize handling of abuse claims across the 20 regional churches.
What additional measures or recommendations did Kirsten Fehrs propose to further address sexual abuse?: Fehrs advocates for a new law to establish general principles for handling sexual abuse in institutions, arguing that consistent standards would benefit all involved and that the Church's experience could be a valuable resource for other institutions.

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