On Sunday, September 10th, there were a lot of beaming faces, many interfaith worshipers, and our guests from the UCC New York Conference present for the installation service for Rev. Dr. Silke Radosh-Hinder and Rev. Matthias Lohenner at the St. Thomas Church, one of the churches in the district of Berlin Stadtmitte. The service showed all its variety, vitality, and diversity. It included our New York UCC partners, Rev. Dr. Marjorie Purnine and Rev. Ryan Henderson, Associate Conference Minister, who came to congratulate the leadership team.

General Superintendent Ulrike Trautwein introduced the two pastors, presented encouraging words for the new dual leadership team, and underlined that this form of leadership is a novelty in the area of the EKBO.

Silke Radosh-Hinder and Matthias Lohenner raised questions in their sermons, which they delivered in dialogue form: Where are we heading as a church in the world, society, and city, in which many feel insecure, in which many things are being called into question? Keywords: "climate change" and "political radicalization" were also mentioned. Superintendent Lohenner called it "in-between time." The two theologians made clear how important it is to them to stand up for social justice and maintain and expand the existing political networks, with Jewish and Muslim partners, but also in the ecumenical and queer community.

The fact that they are not alone in this concern was shown by the approval of the numerous people attending the service and their multiple applause throughout. The event had a relaxed, familiar atmosphere in front of the church afterward. It was a warm welcome for the dual leadership.