The Rt Rev. Alan Wilson writes in The Guardian about Margo Kässmann, resigned German bishop and a different model of authority:
Let’s explore shame, guilt and self-loathing, with the Germans. This unholy trinity is taking many particular forms for German Protestants as well as Catholics just now.
Three months ago Margot Kässmann, a dynamic German theologian known for her opposition to war and interest in spirituality, resigned her bishopric of Hannover along with her role as chair of the council of EKD, the German evangelical church. This followed a drink driving incident. She has been highly respected by her colleagues, and reactions included a vote of confidence by the council members. Nevertheless Kässmann felt she had lost moral authority and should take her punishment, er, like a woman.
“I committed a terrible mistake that I deeply regret; but however much I regret it and accept the – in this situation – entirely justified reproaches that are being leveled against me, not least by myself, I cannot and will not dismiss the fact that my office and my authority as presiding bishop and chairperson of the council have been damaged. I would no longer have the freedom to identify and measure ethical challenges in the future as I had in the past.”
Various less than entirely innocent parties decided to chuck a few stones anyway, including the UK’s traditionalist house magazine New Directions, which published a mean little squib crowing over her demise. This part of the church has not traditionally been as active in promoting teetotalism as, for example, our Methodist friends, but the times are a-changing.
Three months later, Kässman, now demoted, has made a triumphant return to public life at the Munich Ecumenical Kirchentag. She led a Bible study for 6,000 people which began with a 10-minute standing ovation. …
Bishop Wilson has written more on Kirchentag at his blog