What to expect in Coventry and London:
•⁠ ⁠first-hand insights into international reconciliation and peace work
•⁠ ⁠Encounters with people who are actively shaping remembrance and reconciliation
•⁠ ⁠Discussions on cultures of remembrance, theologies and ecumenical and interfaith education
•⁠ ⁠Interdisciplinary learning at historically significant sites
•⁠ ⁠New perspectives for schools, religious education and educational work
•⁠ ⁠Inquiry-based learning in an international and interdisciplinary setting

Why this excursion is worthwhile:
This excursion offers you a rare opportunity to combine theory, history and real-world practice – and to gain insights that you can apply directly to your studies and future career.

Key details at a glance:
- 10–16 February 2027 Coventry, England
- 15 students
- Estimated personal contribution: approx. €300*

We are working hard to secure funding opportunities to keep the personal contribution as low as possible. This is expected to cover travel to the destination, meals whilst there and visa costs. Accommodation, breakfast, local transport and programme costs will be organised.

Further information will follow shortly – secure your chance now to take part in a field trip seminar at an extraordinary learning destination.

Field trip seminar to Coventry and London: Reconciliation & Remembrance in Practice

Understanding reconciliation where it is lived out in practice; experiencing remembrance where history and stories have left their mark. But:
•⁠ ⁠How does reconciliation actually come about after experiences of violence, destruction and guilt?
•⁠ ⁠How can a culture of remembrance be brought to life – and what does this mean for religious education, peace education and (school) educational contexts?

In February 2027, you will have the opportunity to explore these questions not only in theory, but first-hand at a historic learning site in England: As part of the interdisciplinary field trip seminar ‘Reconciliation & Remembrance in Practice: The Community of the Cross of Nails as an interdisciplinary learning site’, we will be travelling to Coventry. There, we will learn about the history and present-day work of the [ITALICS] Community of the Cross of Nails – an international ecumenical community that emerged from the destruction of Coventry Cathedral during the Second World War and which continues to stand for reconciliation, peace and international understanding to this day.
We also expect to spend two days in London, where we will visit organisations and partners from the Community of the Cross of Nails’ network. In this way, the international dimension of the Community of the Cross of Nails can be experienced not only at its place of origin in Coventry, but also at other specific locations where reconciliation work is actively practised.
Whilst there, we will explore theological, religious education, church history and educational perspectives on active reconciliation work and cultures of remembrance. A particular focus is on the question of how remembrance, peace and reconciliation processes can be put into practice in school and church educational settings – including, amongst other things, the [ITALICS] International Cross of Nails Schools.

Rudolf Bultmann - his time, his legacy Symposium to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976)
University of Oldenburg,

16-18 September 2026 in the BIS Hall of the University of Oldenburg

You can find more information here: www.uol.de/bultmann2026

A guided tour of the ‘Bible Garden’ and a talk entitled ‘Plants in Jewish religion and culture – their traditional roles and characteristics’ on 29 June 2026 from 6 pm as part of the Leo Trepp Educational Centre

You are cordially invited to a guided tour of the “Bible Garden” (at 6 pm) and to the lecture “Plants in Jewish Religion and Culture – Their Traditional Role and Characteristics” (at 7 pm) by Rabbi Levi Israel Ufferfilge (Jewish Community of Oldenburg) and Dr Klaus Bernhard von Hagen (Curator of the Botanical Garden, University of Oldenburg) at the Botanical Garden in Oldenburg as part of the Leo Trepp Educational Centre of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg in co-operation with the Intercultural Jewish Studies programme at the University of Oldenburg!

Please register by 28 June at , providing your name and address. Participants are asked to bring their ID with them.

Further information on the lecture programme of the Leo Trepp Educational Centre, with this year’s theme ‘Judaism: Civilisation without Borders’, can be found here.

Lecture "Zionism and the founding of the Israeli state" on 28 May 2026 at 7 pm as part of the Leo Trepp Teaching House

We cordially invite you to the lecture "Zionism and the founding of the Israeli state" by Prof. Dr Johannes Becke (Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies) in the community centre of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg (Leo-Trepp-Str. 15, 26121 Oldenburg) aspart of the Leo-Trepp-Lehrhaus of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg in co-operation with the Intercultural Jewish Studies of the University of Oldenburg!

Please register by 27 May at with your name and address. Participants should bring their ID with them.

Further information on the lecture programme of the Leo-Trepp-Lehrhaus with the annual theme "Judaism: Civilisation without Borders" can be found here.

You are cordially invited to the lecture "Between Torah and Derech Erez: Religious Normativity and Cultural Productivity in the Jewish Tradition" by Rabbi Netanel Olhoeft (Jewish Community of Oldenburg) in the community centre of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg (Leo-Trepp-Str. 15, 26121 Oldenburg) aspart of the Leo-Trepp-Lehrhaus of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg in co-operation with the Intercultural Jewish Studies of the University of Oldenburg!

Please register by 16 April 2026 at with your name and address. Participants should bring their ID with them.

Further information on the lecture programme of the Leo-Trepp-Lehrhaus with the annual theme "Judaism: Civilisation without Borders" can be found here can be found here.

25-27/02/2016 in Münster: Conference on anti-Semitism-critical perspectives on educational media

Prof. Dr. Dr. Joachim Willems and Ariane Dihle from the Department of Religious Education are organising a conference on "Images of Jesus and Christ in educational media - a critical view of anti-Semitism" together with various cooperation partners.

Further information and registration options can be found at: https://www.eaberlin.de/seminars/data/2026/02/es-begab-sich-aber-zu-der-zeit

A-level lecture to help with exam preparation on 9 March 2026 in Oldenburg

The Institute of Theology and Religious Education at the University of Oldenburg, in collaboration with the centres for religious education in Oldenburg and East Frisia, invites pupils to a lecture followed by workshops on various topics covered in the 2026 central Abitur. Professor Dr Dr Joachim Willems will give a lecture on the topic ‘What is theological ethics? Systematisation using the example of artificial intelligence’. Entire sixth-form classes, as well as individual interested pupils, are warmly invited to get a taste of university life and gain an insight into the diversity of theology studies at the University of Oldenburg.

Further information on registration and the workshop topics can be found in the flyer.

Digging in Israel - summer school

Prof. Dr Benedikt Hensel is once again offering a three-week excavation excursion to Hazor in summer 2026 and an accompanying study trip to Israel (2-23 August 2026). The teaching excavation will be led by him together with Dr Igor Kreimerman (Hebrew University of Jerusalem). Previous archaeological knowledge is not required. Participation is open to interested students from all disciplines. After consultation, participation is also possible for others interested in Hazor beyond the University of Oldenburg.

Information event:

• Thu, 29.01.2026

• 19:00 hrs

• Villa Geistreich (Damm 41A) - Research Centre for Digital Classical Studies

• With online access.

"What everyone should know about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict"

The Karl Wilhelm Heyse Society cordially invites you to an extraordinary lecture with an outstanding expert on the Holy Land:

Prof Dr Dr Dr h. c. Dieter Vieweger (Jerusalem)

"Dispute over the Holy Land - What everyone should know about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict"

In the tangle of loudly expressed opinions, the speaker, who has lived and worked in the Middle East for three decades, looks with concern at both sides of the conflict.

• Old Grammar School Oldenburg (theatre wall 11)

• Tuesday, 27 January 2026

• 7:00 pm

• Admission free (donation requested)

Chair of the Karl Wilhelm Heyse Society

Prof. Dr Benedikt Hensel - Professorship for Old Testament and Biblical Archaeology

On 7 and 8 November 2025, the interdisciplinary conference "Church Regiment and Christian Freedom" took place in the Lutherkirche Leer, in which a student group from the University of Oldenburg, led by Sandra Langhop and Gijs Altena, also took part.

Rila Wladarsch reports the following from the students' perspective.

Lecture: "No place on the rainbow - anti-Semitism in queer contexts yesterday and today" on 12 January 2026 at 7.30 pm as part of the Leo Trepp Teaching House

You are cordially invited to the lecture "Kein Platz auf dem Regenbogen - Antisemitismus in queeren Kontexten gestern und heute" by Rabbi Levi Israel Ufferfilge (Jewish Community of Oldenburg) in the community centre of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg (Leo-Trepp-Str. 15, 26121 Oldenburg) aspart of the Leo-Trepp-Lehrhaus of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg in co-operation with the Intercultural Jewish Studies of the University of Oldenburg!

Please register by 11 January at with your name and address. Participants should bring their ID with them.

Further information on the lecture programme of the Leo-Trepp-Lehrhaus with the annual theme "Antisemitism-critical orientations" can be found

can be foundhere.

Workshop reports on the projects "Good News. Stories of Jesus told fairly for children" and "Image disturbances" on 8 December 2025 at 7.30 pm in the Leo Trepp Teaching House

A warm invitation to the workshop reports on the end of projects

"Good news. Stories of Jesus told fairly for children" (Arine Dihle, M.Ed. (University of Oldenburg) & Prof. Dr Nina Kölsch-Bunzen (Esslingen University of Applied Sciences)) and the project "Image Disturbances" (Prof. Dr Katharina von Kellenbach (University of Paderborn)) in the BIS Hall of the University Library as part of the Leo Trepp Teaching House of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg in co-operation with the Intercultural Jewish Studies of the University of Oldenburg!

Further information on the lecture programme of the Leo Trepp Teaching House with the annual topic "Anti-Semitism-critical orientations" can be found

can be foundhere.

Dr Ary Fernandez will be visiting our Institute from 8-10 December 2025:

About the person: Ary Fernandez, Director of the Seminario de Matanza (study seminary in Cuba https://setcuba.org/).

Fernandez was ordained by the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Cuba in 2000. He holds a doctorate in Theology (Emmanuel College, Toronto) and Philosophical Sciences (University of Havana); he also studied Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (ISPJAE). He is also a member of the board of the Latin American Association of Theological Educational Institutions (ALIET) and serves as a pastor in the Central Presbyterian Church of Matanzas. During his short stay, Ary Fernandez will report on the reality of Cuba as part of the lectures Introduction to Intercultural Theology and Awakenings in Ecumenism.

Guests are very welcome!

Dates:

9.12. 14-16 Location: A01 0-007

10.12. 10-12 am Location: A06 0-001

If you have any questions or are interested in meeting Mr Fernandez, please contact Ulrike Sallandt at .

Prof Dr Dr Joachim Willems was once again nominated by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) as a deputy member of the Foundation Council of the "Foundation Flight, Expulsion, Reconciliation" and was re-elected by the Bundestag with votes from all parties except the AfD. See https://www.bundestag.de /dokumente/textarchiv/2025/kw38-de-wahlen-1109848 and https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/21/016/2101654.pdf

Defending Democracy. A transatlantic master class

On 16 September 2025, a Master Class with David P. Gushee took place at Villa GeistReich. He is Professor of Theological Ethics at the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta.

Together we discussed the development of Christian nationalism in the USA and explored the question of which theological traditions need to be strengthened today in order to defend and expand democratic culture.

The event took place in co-operation with the Oldenburg Baptist and Methodist congregations. On 15 September 2025, a public lecture by David P. Gushee on the topic of the Master Class took place in the Methodist Friedenskirche.

Our Institute has maintained contacts with the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Atlanta for several years, which go back to initiatives by Andrea Strübind, Carina Branković, Ulrike Link-Wieczorek and Dominik Gautier.

The Master Class was organised by Carlotta Israel, Sandra Langhop and Dominik Gautier.

"We, Sandra Langhop and Carlotta Israel, cordially invite you to the workshop "Church History Didactics in Times of the CRU", an interactive workshop with students and teachers at the University of Oldenburg on 21 and 28 November 2025!

From 2 p.m. to around 6.30 p.m. each day, we will work together on the challenges facing church history didactics in the new Protestant-Catholic religious education concept, formerly known as "CRU" and now abbreviated to "RC". We will be focussing specifically on Reformation history and working on the cross-cutting topics of anti-Semitism criticism, racism criticism and gender. We look forward to welcoming excellent speakers to Oldenburg.

If you have any questions or are interested, please contact / by 18 November, if not possible via StudIP."

18.11.2025 at 14.15h in the BIS hall: KIBUM lecture by Prof. Dr Dr Joachim Willems on body, soul and death

Prof Dr Dr Joachim Willems, Professor of Religious Education at the Institute, will be giving a lecture on the topic "What dies?" on the occasion of the 51st Oldenburg Children's and Young Adult Book Fair (KIBUM), which is being held under the title 'Body & Soul'. Body, soul and death in children's literature and religious education". Further information can be found at

Further information can be found here:

Lecture "Between multidirectional memory and postcolonialism. The German culture of remembrance put to the test" on 17 November 2025 at 7.30 pm at the Leo Trepp Lehrhaus

You are cordially invited to the lecture "Between multidirectional memory and postcolonialism. The German culture of remembrance put to the test" by Prof. Dr Peter Klein (Touro University Berlin) in the community centre of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg (Leo-Trepp-Str. 15, 26121 Oldenburg) aspart of the Leo-Trepp-Lehrhaus of the Jewish Community of Oldenburg in co-operation with the Intercultural Jewish Studies of the University of Oldenburg!

Please register by 16 November at with your name and address. Participants should bring their ID with them.

Further information on the lecture programme of the Leo-Trepp-Lehrhaus with the annual theme "Antisemitism-critical orientations" can be found

can be foundhere.

"For centuries, people of different religions and denominations have lived close together in the Ems-Dollart region.

The building of the Luther Church in Leer 350 years ago is an example of confessional pluralisation in East Frisia. This conference takes the anniversary of the Luther Church as an opportunity to make the signature of this plurality, the openness to cross-border denominational identities, accessible to the academic and wider public. On 7 and 8 November 2025, the conference "Church Regiment and Christian Freedom - 350 Years of Religious Plurality in the Ems- Dollart Region" will therefore take place in the Lutherhaus (Leer). The lectures will trace the denominational cross-border developments."

Further information can be found here:

My name is Alexander Noak, and I am delighted to have recently joined the Institute of Theology and Religious Education. I have been a research assistant in the subject of New Testament Studies with Prof Dr Torsten Jantsch since 1 November 2025.

I studied History and Theology at the University of Bielefeld, Ancient Cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean at the University of Münster and Biblical Studies at King's College London. My research interests lie in particular in the relationship between early Christianity and its environment, in the interactions between the New Testament texts and Greco-Roman culture, and in the tensions and conflicts within the first Christian communities. I have been teaching courses in the subject of New Testament Studies since this winter semester. I am doing my doctorate on a subject in the New Testament under Prof Dr Torsten Jantsch.

I am looking forward to a varied exchange with my new colleagues and students.

From 19-21 September 2025, this year's symposium of the Society for Free Church Theology and Journalism (GFTP) will take place in Hamburg-Altona to commemorate 500 years of Anabaptism. Exciting lectures, discussions and encounters await you under the theme "Decision-making Christianity - the heritage and potential of Anabaptist and other free churches for the future of the church".

All further information can be found in the attached flyer.

Lecture & Masterclass with Prof. Dr David P: Gusheein Oldenburg-Defending Democracy?!-transatlantic perspectives on Christianity & politics

Monday, 15.09.2025, Lecture by Prof. Dr David P. Gushee (Mercer University, Atlanta USA) "Defending Democracy from its Christian Enemies" 19:30, Methodist Peace Church (Ofenerstr. 1, 26121 Oldenburg)

Tuesday, 16.09.2025, Masterclass with Prof. Dr David P. Gushee Villa Geistreich (Am Damm 41, 26132 Oldenburg)

Please register for the masterclass by 10.09.2025 to:

Oldenburg Professor of Old Testament takes up office in Jerusalem on 1 January 2027!

Benedikt Hensel has been appointed as the new Director of the German Protestant Institute for Ancient Studies of the Holy Land (DEI) in Jerusalem. Hensel has been University Professor of Old Testament Studies at the University of Oldenburg since 2022. He will take up his new post at the beginning of 2027, taking over the management and administration of the Institute in Jerusalem. The Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) confirmed a corresponding decision by the DEI Administrative Board at its most recent meeting. EKD press release