The Social Welfare Service of the Protestant Churches in Württemberg
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Diakonie‘s Guiding Principle History “People rst“ is the motto of all of It was at the beginning of the 19th century that com- fugees and dis placed persons needed assistance, the Diakonie net work in Württem- mitted Protestant Christians founded the organized those who had to ee the bombings, the children and berg . It highlights the bond that uni- Diakonie. Going by the name “Inner Mission” (Innere old people threat ened with hunger. Old peoples’ tes all of the services and instituti- Mission) they draft ed a program ght- homes and houses for families were built, young peo- ons - what is important to all of ing poverty, in material as well as in ple were provided with a place to stay, with work and them. It also provides a basis for spiritual terms. In 1823, the “Stuttgart food. Church district services distributed food, cloth- the direction in which Diakonie should Pri vate Society of Volunteers and ing, and medi cation. develop in the future. “People rst” is a guideline for Friends for the Poor” (Stuttgarter Privat- all of Dia konie in Württemberg, it is also a binding gesellschaft freiwilliger Armenfreun de) In 1970, the Re gional Network “Lan desverband” and commit ment for all. It serves as a common foundation had founded the rst res cue home for the Protes tant Aid Organizati on merged to become the for their work. girls and boys who had suffered the loss of their pa- associ ation “Diakoni sches Werk der evangelischen Kir- rents and their homestead. Soon after, care for blind che in Würt tem berg e.V.“ which is the Social Welfare The individual members of the Diakonie network and and deaf peop le, and for sick and handi capped peo- Service of the Protestant Churches in Württemberg. their services use this guiding principle and they may ple, was set up. In the towns and villages, deacones- add an additional principle according to their speci c ses were en trusted with the community care for the For social problems to be alleviated and solved more eld of work. sick. In 1914, the services in Württemberg merged effectively, the German government typically does not The Guiding Principle has ten basic theses. Each into a single asso ciation under the name “Regio nal offer social services run by the government itself but thesis is based on what the work specialization or the Network of Inner Mission” (Lan desverband der Inne- rather commissions independent, non-governmental situation at hand is for each service: ren Mission). agencies and services with these tasks. Diakonie is one of such services and thus is a partner when it l The biblical message is the mission and also encouragement for Diakonie. The period between 1933 and 1945 saw the institution comes to designing and framing the German social of Diakonie bur dening itself of grave guilt. Initially, welfare state. The German government allocates n- l The dignity of the human being is the center point of even leading men of the Church and of the Inner Mis- ancial resources for carrying out these tasks. This Diakonie. sion welcomed the “new times.” However, as time system is known in Europe as the principle of “subsidi- l The tradition of Diakonie serves as a continuous went on, resistance within the Church and Diakonie arity”. impuls for renewal. began to form against the Nazi regime. Yet, 10,000 l Diakonie is part of the Church. mentally handicapped peo ple were murdered in Würt- tem berg. They fell victim to the pro gram run by the The Symbol of Diakonie l The task of Diakonie is to actively work and strive for a just and solidary society. national socialist leaders called “Program to exter mi- nate unworthy life” (Programm zur Vernichtung unwer- l The Regional Network of Diakonie is alive only Professor Richard Boeland from the ten Le bens). because of the joint effort of all its members. Art School Berlin designed the Crown Cross as a symbol for Inner Missi on l The members of the Regional Network of Diakonie After the Second World War, so many Germans suffer- in 1925. He combined the two initials work together in a spirit of partnership. ed great hard ship. This misery prompted com mit ted I and M (Inner Mission) in an artistic l The employees, being actively involved, give Christians to start the second way. The term Crown Cross (Kronen- Diakonie a face. diaconal aid agency. In 1945, kreuz) is of later date. the “Evangelisches Hilfs- l Diakonie stands for quality. werk”(Protes tant Aid Organi- l Acting economically responsible means ful lling the zati on) was found ed. The task mission of Diakonie. was huge as 14 million re- the Protestant Churches in Württemberg in Churches Protestant the www.diakonie-wuerttemberg.de www.diakonie-wuerttemberg.de April 2010 April President of the Social Welfare Service of of Service Welfare Social the of President Württemberg cial cial of church OKR Printed by J.F. Steinkopf Druck GmbH, Stuttgart GmbH, Druck Steinkopf J.F. by Printed Dieter Kaufmann, Kaufmann, Dieter Design: Thomas Blickle Thomas Design: Translation: Claudia Schröder Schröder Claudia Translation: in in Authors: Claudia Mann, Peter Ruf, Annette Seifert Annette Ruf, Peter Mann, Claudia Authors: Yours, Yours, E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected] E-Mail: receive you as our guest. guest. our as you receive Fax: +49. (0)711. 1656.49.120 (0)711. +49. Fax: Churches vices and institutions in Württemberg are happy to to happy are Württemberg in institutions and vices Tel.: +49. (0)711.1656.120 +49. Tel.: Come and visit with us - Diakonie and her many ser- many her and Diakonie - us with visit and Come 70191 Stuttgart, Germany Stuttgart, 70191 Heilbronner Strasse 180 Strasse Heilbronner Protestant Protestant berg has its seat in Stuttgart. Stuttgart. in seat its has berg tem Welfare Service of the Protestant Churches in Würt- in Churches Protestant the of Service Welfare and Ecumenical Diakonie Ecumenical and committed to activities within Diakonie. The Social Social The Diakonie. within activities to committed Press, Communications Department, Department, Communications Press, of the the of Württemberg, another 30,000 voluntary workers are are workers voluntary 30,000 another Württemberg, Diakonisches Werk Württemberg Werk Diakonisches nie in in nie Diako within employed are 40,000 than More munities in their own diaconal work. diaconal own their in munities Service Service Also these service points offer support to church com- church to support offer points service these Also are suffering from material or psychological hardship. hardship. psychological or material from suffering are rst contact point for people in distress who who distress in people for point contact rst a as serve Welfare Welfare berg, there are diaconal district service points. They They points. service district diaconal are there berg, districts of the regional Protestant Church of Württem- of Church Protestant regional the of districts and heavily indebted people. In each of the 51 church church 51 the of each In people. indebted heavily and Social Social people, to the handicapped, unemployed, homeless, homeless, unemployed, handicapped, the to people, youth, and families, to mentally or psychologically ill ill psychologically or mentally to families, and youth, to old people and people in need of care, to children, children, to care, of need in people and people old to The The work units provide help, support and companionship companionship and support help, provide units work in Württemberg. More than 2,000 services and social social and services 2,000 than More Württemberg. in and entities that exist within the Protestant Churches Churches Protestant the within exist that entities and assocation gathering all the social service institutions institutions service social the all gathering assocation The Diakonisches Werk Württemberg is the umbrella umbrella the is Württemberg Werk Diakonisches The derives from the Greek notion of “service”. of notion Greek the from derives nie tries to alleviate such social conditions. Diakonie Diakonie conditions. social such alleviate to tries nie lives are impaired by socially unjust conditions. Diako- conditions. unjust socially by impaired are lives services help people who need support and whose whose and support need who people help services committed to offering help for many needs many for help offering to committed Diakonie Diakonie . belong together, diaconal services and institutions are are institutions and services diaconal together, belong es. Because faith in Jesus Christ and practiced charity charity practiced and Christ Jesus in faith Because es. for the social services work of the Protestant Church- Protestant the of work services social the for Württemberg, Germany. Diakonie (diaconia) stands stands (diaconia) Diakonie Germany. Württemberg, We are delighted that you are interested in Diakonie in in Diakonie in interested are you that delighted are We Dear Brothers and Sisters, Sisters, and Brothers Dear Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, and Ladies Dear Württemberg Württemberg Diakonie‘s Guiding Principle History “People rst“ is the motto of all of It was at the beginning of the 19th century that com- fugees and dis placed persons needed assistance, the Diakonie net work in Württem- mitted Protestant Christians founded the organized those who had to ee the bombings, the children and berg . It highlights the bond that uni- Diakonie. Going by the name “Inner Mission” (Innere old people threat ened with hunger. Old peoples’ tes all of the services and instituti- Mission) they draft ed a program ght- homes and houses for families were built, young peo- ons - what is important to all of ing poverty, in material as well as in ple were provided with a place to stay, with work and them. It also provides a basis for spiritual terms.