Looking back – and yet looking forward
27. Jan. 2025 / Campus Living / Events
The anniversary year 2024 has come to an end and the special events celebrating 125 years of Friedensau have come to an end. This prompts us to take a brief look back at the past year and highlight some of the milestones in our history – to take a "look back at the look back", so to speak. Of course, this is only done in extracts and with a focus on the special events.
As with a spotlight, let's start with the most recent event, the lecture series: In five lectures, for which the Schools of Theology and Social Sciences were responsible, the topic of "Flourishing" was explored in an interdisciplinary manner. In addition to contributions from our own ranks, renowned guest speakers were also invited, such as Prof. Friedemann Schulz von Thun (Hamburg), Prof. Philipp Altmann (Ecuador) and Prof. Miroslav Volf (Yale).
In spring 2024, there was a scientific symposium, organized by the Institute for Adventist Studies, on the topic of "500 Years of Anabaptism" (1525–2025), which is being honored worldwide. Conscientious academic work is a good thing for a university, and high-quality education has been the concern of our forefathers since the beginnings of Friedensau.
There were a number of musical highlights in summer 2024: the hymn festival "Come and sing!", organized by the SDA Free Church, an organ concert to mark the 50th anniversary of the Schuke organ in the chapel and, in April, a concert with organ, violin and vocals and a world premiere of a composition by Christian Scheel.
Music and music education in Friedensau have been formative and exemplary for many decades. For example, the deacon course in music, later church music C (and the music preparatory course) contributed to the fact that music officers could be employed in our free church, first in the former GDR and then throughout the Federal Republic of Germany.
In spring, the university held a service together with the Adventist Church, which was broadcast live by Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR): Around 60,000 people watched on television and more than 150,000 listeners tuned in on the radio. An example of how the proclamation of the Christian message is realized in different forms in Friedensau. Founded as a "missionary and industrial school", the "task of proclaiming the eternal gospel to all peoples, languages and tongues" was stated in the founding resolution from the very beginning. This was done with such passion that after barely twelve years, 48 missionaries were able to go out to many parts of the world (Africa, Asia, South America).
People from many "peoples and languages" come to Friedensau and bring their own cultural views and traditions with them, which, as every year, is presented during the Week of Cultures. This diversity and internationality enriches us and makes us aware that, although in a different way, we are still part of this tradition of our ancestors: We train young people from many countries in theology and social sciences so that they can go "into all the world" in service to God and mankind.
But let's not stop at looking back, let's look ahead to future developments and challenges – with an obligation to our ancestors, the communities and society – and above all with trust in God (Text: Prof. Roland E. Fischer, Rector).
125 Years Friedensau
On our anniversary page, you’ll find retrospectives on individual events with exciting insights and highlights. Discover special moments and milestones from our history!
anniversary page