Ladies and Gentlemen,
To mark the publication of the anthology “Assistance for All“, the Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association and the Humanist Academy of Germany invite you to an evening event that will highlight a significant gap in the Bundeswehr. The volume, published by Alibri Verlag, brings together well-founded contributions from science, practice and politics and raises a question that is as topical as it is urgent.
How can pastoral care in the Bundeswehr do justice to all soldiers – including those with a secular-humanist worldview?
The Bundeswehr is changing, as is society. More and more soldiers are shaping their lives independently of religion and are orienting themselves towards secular values – but so far without a corresponding pastoral care service. Particularly in existential stress situations, there is a need for people who can provide respectful support and share the conviction that meaning and morality can be found within our world. This is precisely where humanistic military chaplaincy comes in: It offers support on the basis of self-determination, reason and human solidarity – and sees itself as a contemporary, necessary addition to existing services.
Support for all: Humanist military chaplaincy in the Bundeswehr
Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7 to 9 p.m.
House of HUMANISM, Potsdamer Str. 157, 10783 Berlin
Course of the evening:
19:00 Welcome and official presentation of the book
19:20 Short presentation by Colonel (retired) Dr. Thorsten Weber
View of the Federal Ministry of Defence on the further development of military chaplaincy
19:45 Panel discussion
Moderation: Jürgen Angelow (editor and historian)
Panel:
- Erwin Kamp (former head of the Humanist Military Chaplaincy in the Netherlands)
- Robert Pittorf (former team soldier in the German Armed Forces)
- Sven Thale (Federal Representative of the Humanist Association of Germany for Humanist Pastoral Care in Institutions)
20:20 Transition to the open exchange with snacks and drinks
The evening will be hosted by Franziska Schneider, Federal Managing Director of the Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association.
The topic of military chaplaincy is currently receiving increased public attention. One of the reasons for this is a recently published study commissioned by the Protestant military chaplaincy, see also MDR aktuell from February 1. The Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association with its offer of humanist military chaplaincy was also taken up in the reporting, see DLF in an interview with Sven Thale on January 30.
If you have not already done so, we kindly ask you to confirm your participation by February 16 at hvd@humanismus.de.
Press inquiries on the topic can be sent to us in advance: presse@humanismus.de.
We appreciate your interest and your participation.
Yours sincerely,
Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands – Bundesverband
