With church congregations dwindling in Germany, clergy are finding creative ways to attract young people.
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00:00This Protestant pastor is not burning Bibles, rather he's energizing his congregation with
00:07a special Sunday service in Hamburg dedicated to Harry Potter.
00:12But how did he come up with this idea?
00:15We chose Harry Potter because in my view it's relatively straightforward.
00:20The connections between what people know or learn from the Harry Potter world and what
00:23I want to convey biblically can easily be intertwined.
00:29This sermon is about the spell Expecto Patronum and how it could, in a way, have come from
00:35Jesus.
00:36Harry Potter uses this spell to summon a Patronus or a magical guardian.
00:41The spell is used to protect oneself from Dementors, creatures that suck human happiness
00:47out of people and cause despair.
00:55When I don't know what to do anymore, when I'm down, when a wave crashes over me and
01:00I don't know how to handle everything, then I pray.
01:06I might say, God, I need you, God, I need your help.
01:11In essence, it's somewhat similar to casting an Expecto Patronum spell and a prayer.
01:19Pastor Goebel engages his congregation to not only contemplate but actively participate
01:24in messages of prayer.
01:31I invite you to take this in your hands and together we will pray Expecto Patronum.
01:38I'm always on the lookout for new forms for church services because I believe that many
01:42people enjoy attending services but that the occasions are missing.
01:48He's not the only one shaking up Sunday services.
01:52The St. Thomas Church in Berlin hosted a rave church service on New Year's Eve 2024 called
01:58Church Rave Genesis 25, featuring techno music, a light show and a unique atmosphere.
02:05The event combined a typical prayer service with extreme dancing, all with the blessing
02:10of Berlin's spiritual leadership.
02:16There's no separation between a church service and a rave party.
02:19We don't say one is one thing and the other is another.
02:22We believe they belong together and that's very important.
02:26Dr. Silke Radosch-Hinder and Christian Schmelzer work together to organize alternatives to
02:32standard Christian services.
02:35It is very specifically a safe space for queer people and for those who want to dance in
02:42a certain attire.
02:45And the Church of Gennesareth, also in Berlin, regularly hosts concerts and other events
02:50to attract young people, alongside traditional Christian services.
02:56Martin Luther once said, you have to really look and listen to people in order to understand
03:01them, meaning how can I convey the message of love, the message of Christ, of God, of
03:06our Christian God, to people in a way that they understand it from their own perspective.
03:15The number of people leaving both the Catholic and Protestant faith in Germany has been increasing
03:19for years.
03:20This is in large part due to the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church.
03:25In 2022, over half a million people formally left the Catholic Church in Germany.
03:30And currently, more than 40% of Germans consider themselves non-religious.
03:34We noticed that people don't really make a distinction when something was or is uncovered
03:46in the Catholic Church.
03:48People also left our church and didn't differentiate between Catholic and Protestant.
03:53I believe that services like these convey a positive image of the church for most people,
03:57and in that sense they help people experience something positive and beautiful here.
04:01But it does not and should not help to cover up or obscure the abuse cases.
04:08These must of course be clarified and we must also take responsibility.
04:16Jonas Goebbels is known for his innovative sermons.
04:19In fact, he no longer performs ordinary services.
04:23What does he hope his congregation will take away from the experience?
04:26Basically, I hope that people go home and say, damn, today was actually nice in church.
04:32Hang on, did the pastor just swear?
04:35Yes, that can happen sometimes.
04:41Meanwhile, how is his innovative approach coming across with both young and old?
04:49I really like Harry Potter, and I find it interesting that we did a Harry Potter Hogwarts
04:53theme today.
04:55I came because the topic interests me.
04:57On one hand, faith, and then the connection to Harry Potter and Hogwarts, that's interesting.
05:03This is my fifth time here.
05:07Through Harry Potter, Pastor Jonas Goebbels wants to inspire his congregation to find
05:12magic in their faith and everyday lives.