The History of the Institute
The Professorship for Practical Theology, for a time the only one in the country, was created in 1955, one year after the opening of the Universität Hamburg Faculty of Theology. Prof. Dr. Hans-Rudolf Müller-Schwefe represented the faculty until 1975. He had previously been with the Evangelische Akademie. His focus was homiletics. His approach to ministry was to include topics from literature (from Rilke to Böll and Grass) and culture (science and technology) and to enrich sermons with rhetorical elements (picture analysis, stories, radio homiletics). He was, as were his successors, the University pastor and in charge of the University worship service at St. Katharinen, Universität Hamburg’s affiliated church. He was succeeded by Prof. Dr. Peter Cornehl (1976–2000). In addition to homiletics, the area of liturgics (the study of worship services in the modern world) was introduced as a further focus of practical theological work. Peter Cornehl placed great importance on his work with the German Evangelical Church Assembly (Liturgische Nacht and Forum Abendmahl), the development of a theory for church activities, and the intensive participation of the Department of Practical Theology in academic reforms. The increased numbers of students during his tenure made it possible to create 2 new professorships. The psychoanalyst and theologian Prof. Dr. Wulf-Volker Lindner (1975–2002) expanded the area of pastoral care, while Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Grünberg (1978–2003) focused on the area of religious education. This development allowed for a stronger differentiation and specialization, for example, through the establishment of the Arbeitsstelle Kirche und Stadt (today Kirche und Gemeinwesen), the compilation of the Lexikon der Hamburger Religionsgemeinschaften, the incorporation of modern art and music into the academic curriculum, and participation in the Evangelical Church in Germany’s church membership surveys. The expansion of the faculty and staff could not be maintained. Since 2001, the Department of Practical Theology has one professorship and one junior professorship. Prof. Dr. Hans-Martin Gutmann’s (2001–2017) particular interest is in the broad field of popular culture (film, literature, music). He developed a special form of theater, the videodrama. Dr. Inge Kirsner (2006–2009) and Privatdozent Dr. Ilona Nord (2010–2014) have held the junior professorship.
At the present time, the professorship is held by Prof. Dr. Kristin Merle; the junior professorship, by Jun-Prof. Dr. Sonja Keller.