Among the numerous religious and ideological groups and communities existing in our time stands the Christian Community with its own unique Christian community life. This community is based on the celebration of the renewed form of the Eucharist or Mass that is the Act of Consecration of Man. It is founded on a new Christian Creed in which the truths of the Christian faith are expressed in a form that is appropriate to our time. It is through the communal and individual deeds of the community members that the sacraments and Creed of the Christian Community are experienced. These practices are also based on a new understanding of the Gospels and Prayer. The Christian Community can thus be understood as a sacramental community. The seven sacraments include Baptism, Confirmation, Sacramental Consultation, Marriage, Priest Ordination and the Last Anointing and are all connected with the central sacrament of the Act of Consecration of Man. The essential tasks that form the essence of community life include the children´s church service and age appropriate religious instruction, the fostering of an in-depth and broad understanding of the New Testament, consultation and pastoral work for those in need, the preparation and performing of the sacraments, funerals, and intercessions.

The priests in the Christian Community perform a wide range of tasks. Ordination prepares individuals to take up the tasks of the priest’s vocation:
– Celebrate the sacraments and rituals
– Teach, while respecting the freedom of thought
– Provide soul care

It is the aim of the Seminary to help foster the spiritual, social, and speech skills necessary for these tasks.

The course at the Priest Seminar is equivalent to a university Bachelor Degree with regards structure and requirements. It usually begins on the last Sunday of September. The first year consists of foundation studies followed by a year of advanced studies. Both study years are divided into three semesters of 10 weeks each. The third year of training involves a practicum year in a community. This is followed by a preparation course for the priest ordination.

QUALIFICATION | Priest Ordination, registration as a priest in the Christian Community.

DURATION | 1 Year Foundation Studies. |1 Year Advanced Studies.

PREREQUISITES | High school matriculation or a corresponding school qualification together with an interview

Foundation Studies

In addition to the theological-religious subjects (Gospels. Credo. Old Testament, Sacraments), other relevant subjects include the philosophy studies (Scholastics, German Idealism, epistemological theories and other Anthroposophical themes), as well as scientific content (theory of colors, Botany, Geology etc.). The Eurythmy, Sculpturing, and Bothmer Gymnastics lessons help foster a healthy relation between the student and his or her physical body that in turn can lead to a healthy relation to the world. The Greek Lessons gives the student the possibility of understanding the New Testament in its original language.

Advanced Studies

Following the general priest training elements introduced in the foundation studies, the advanced studies place an emphasis on the skills necessary for the future priestly activities. In addition to a deepening of the content of the foundation studies, other subjects include Religion Pedagogy, conversational skills, the anthroposophical understanding of the human being, and composing sermons. The weekly gospel studies also become increasingly the responsibility of the students.

Practicum Year

The third year is a practicum year in which each student works in a community where he or she can put into practice the skills acquired in the seminar. In addition to the changes that have occurred inwardly for each student during the studies, this is a chance for the student to gauge the degree to which he or she can be effective in a social context.

Preparation Course for Priest Ordination

In a course of approximately 4 months, the candidates are prepared for the priest ordination. Three weeks after ordination, the priest then begins his or her work in a community. The acceptance to the preparation course is decided upon by the circle of seven, a group of priests responsible for the worldwide administration of the Christian Community.

The Christian Community Priest Seminary in Stuttgart has been in existence since 1933. Together with the Ruhr region, Stuttgart is one of the main industrial centers in Germany, exporting industrial products worldwide. In addition, this region has always been of significance for German spiritual life, and in modern times for Anthroposophy. The polarity between the spiritual and economic life is characteristic of the work atmosphere of this region.

There are usually between 30 to 40 students from all over the world studying over the three different years of study at the priest seminary. The third year of study which is a practicum year takes place outside the seminary. In addition, preparation for the priest ordination takes place over a half a year period. Altogether, the study duration is around 3 and a half years. There are, however, also individual exceptions to this study time frame.

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