Hilke Rebenstorf – författare

Hans Oswald This book, too, is the result of an adventure. It began in 1995 when the author of this foreword began his work at Potsdam University with a longitudinal study of the political socialization of young people, in which he sought to predict the behavior of fIrst-time voters from his new home Brandenburg, one of the new German states, in the Bundestag election of 1998. To this end, the study was to begin with students of grade 10 of the Gymnasium (college­ prep-track school), continue with two more waves of data collection in grade 11 and 12, and end with a fourth and fInal wave after election day in grade 13. The plan for the investigation stipulated questioning all parallel classes at representatively selected schools, in order to comprise as many friends as possible, thus making it possible to make their mutual socialization influence accessible to analysis. Additionally, both parents of each pupil were to be questioned, in order to set their influence in relation to that of the friends. It was fortunate that Karin Weiss, with whom I had already worked to­ gether for several years on research projects at Berlin''s Free University, re­ ceived a professorship at the University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam, providing the opportunity for renewed cooperation.

Jährlich strömen Hundertausende in die Kathedralen, Dome und Münster von Nürnberg, Berlin, Dresden, Basel und anderen Städten. Dieser boomende Citykirchentourismus wirft unzählige Fragen auf, die in der empirisch angelegten Studie "Citykirchen und Tourismus" aufgenommen und deren Ergebnisse in diesem Buch veröffentlicht werden. Die hier vorgestellte Studie zeichnet auf Basis einer systematisch-vergleichenden Kombination von statistischer Fragebogenerhebung an zwölf Citykirchen sowie der exemplarischen qualitativen Vertiefung am Berliner Dom und am Großmünster in Zürich ein differenziertes Bild der aktuellen Besucherschaft von Citykirchen in Deutschland und der Schweiz.[City Churches and Tourism. Socio-theological Studies between Berlin and Zurich]Every year hundreds of thousands visit the cathedrals of Nuremberg, Berlin, Dresden, Basel and other cities. This booming city tourism raises many questions which are covered by this empirically based study on "City Churches and Tourism" whose results are presented in this publication. The present study provides a differentiated picture of the current visitors of the city churches in Germany and Switzerland on the basis of a systematic-comparative combination of statistical questionnaires at twelve city churches and an exemplary qualitative survey at the Berlin Cathedral and at the Grossmunster Zurich.

Wo ist der Ort der Kirche in einer zunehmend entkirchlichten Gesellschaft? Worin liegen ihre Aufgaben? Soll sie sich auf sich selbst und ihre Mitglieder beschränken oder sich dem Sozialraum öffnen? In sechs Fallstudien wird diesen Fragen konkret nachgegangen. Kirchengemeindliche Akteure wie auch andere zivilgesellschaftlich aktive Menschen wurden zu ihren Beziehungen, Kooperationen und gegenseitigen Wahrnehmungen befragt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine überraschende Offenheit sowohl der Kirchengemeinden gegenüber ihrer Umwelt als auch der Vereine, Initiativen, Gruppen, Kommunalpolitik u.a. gegenüber der Kirchengemeinde – überraschend, weil Kirche oftmals als altmodisch, unmodern etikettiert wird. Sie nimmt aber offensichtlich je nach konkreten Bedingungen vor Ort zentrale Funktionen für das Gemeinwesen wahr.[Unexpectedly Open – Parishes in Civil Society]Where is the place of church in an increasingly unchurched society? What are its tasks? Should it deal mainly with itself and its members or open up to the surrounding social area? In six case studies these questions are dealt with in detail. Congregational actors as well as other people who are actively involved in civil society were asked about their relationships, cooperations and mutual perceptions. The results show a surprising openness of the parishes towards their environment as well as of the associations, initiatives, groups, local politicians and other actors towards the parishes – surprising, because church is often labeled as old-fashioned, out-dated. However, parishes obviously fulfill central functions for the community, according to the specific conditions on site.

Wo ist der Ort der Kirche in einer zunehmend entkirchlichten Gesellschaft? Worin liegen ihre Aufgaben? Soll sie sich auf sich selbst und ihre Mitglieder beschränken oder sich dem Sozialraum öffnen? In sechs Fallstudien wird diesen Fragen konkret nachgegangen. Kirchengemeindliche Akteure wie auch andere zivilgesellschaftlich aktive Menschen wurden zu ihren Beziehungen, Kooperationen und gegenseitigen Wahrnehmungen befragt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine überraschende Offenheit sowohl der Kirchengemeinden gegenüber ihrer Umwelt als auch der Vereine, Initiativen, Gruppen, Kommunalpolitik u.a. gegenüber der Kirchengemeinde – überraschend, weil Kirche oftmals als altmodisch, unmodern etikettiert wird. Sie nimmt aber offensichtlich je nach konkreten Bedingungen vor Ort zentrale Funktionen für das Gemeinwesen wahr.[Unexpectedly Open – Parishes in Civil Society]Where is the place of church in an increasingly unchurched society? What are its tasks? Should it deal mainly with itself and its members or open up to the surrounding social area? In six case studies these questions are dealt with in detail. Congregational actors as well as other people who are actively involved in civil society were asked about their relationships, cooperations and mutual perceptions. The results show a surprising openness of the parishes towards their environment as well as of the associations, initiatives, groups, local politicians and other actors towards the parishes – surprising, because church is often labeled as old-fashioned, out-dated. However, parishes obviously fulfill central functions for the community, according to the specific conditions on site.

Hans Oswald This book, too, is the result of an adventure. It began in 1995 when the author of this foreword began his work at Potsdam University with a longitudinal study of the political socialization of young people, in which he sought to predict the behavior of fIrst-time voters from his new home Brandenburg, one of the new German states, in the Bundestag election of 1998. To this end, the study was to begin with students of grade 10 of the Gymnasium (college­ prep-track school), continue with two more waves of data collection in grade 11 and 12, and end with a fourth and fInal wave after election day in grade 13. The plan for the investigation stipulated questioning all parallel classes at representatively selected schools, in order to comprise as many friends as possible, thus making it possible to make their mutual socialization influence accessible to analysis. Additionally, both parents of each pupil were to be questioned, in order to set their influence in relation to that of the friends. It was fortunate that Karin Weiss, with whom I had already worked to­ gether for several years on research projects at Berlin's Free University, re­ ceived a professorship at the University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam, providing the opportunity for renewed cooperation.