Women in the Evangelical Church in Bavaria Still Denied Ordination

In Bavaria, a state with particularly strong Catholic and conservative traditions, the Evangelical Lutheran Church remains a bastion of resistance to full gender equality in access to clerical office. The fundamental problem is the so-called conscience clause, introduced in 1975 as a compromise solution. This law, which historically opened the path to ordination for women in this church, simultaneously contained a transitional provision. It gave those parishes whose theological convictions did not accept the ordination of women the right to refuse to employ a female pastor. More than half a century after its introduction, this clause is still active and used by about 300 of the 1500 Evangelical parishes in Bavaria. In practice, this means that a woman, even after completing theological studies and receiving ordination, has no chance of assuming the position of parish priest in these communities. Her career can only develop in auxiliary structures, as a deaconess, curate, or in pastoral work outside the parish, but not as its independent head. This situation, described by some observers as institutional discrimination, was sharply criticized during her visit to Munich by former church councilor and Bishop Margot Käßmann. „„Es ist ein Skandal, dass es in Bayern noch immer Gemeinden gibt, die einer Frau die Übernahme einer Pfarrstelle verweigern können. Das ist eine Ungerechtigkeit, die schnellstens behoben werden muss”” — Former church councilor and Bishop Margot Käßmann. Käßmann, who served as church councilor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover from 1999 to 2010 and is one of the most recognizable figures in German Protestantism, pointed out the paradox of the Bavarian situation. She emphasized that while formally the ordination of women has been possible there for decades, actual legal barriers make Bavaria an exception on the map of Germany. In other states, where Evangelical churches have admitted women to office, similar transitional clauses were abolished or expired long ago. The ordination of women in Protestant churches worldwide has a varied history. The first ordinations of women as pastors took place in some communities as early as the 19th century, for example in the United States. In Germany, the breakthrough came after World War II, but this process was spread over time and varied in individual states and church organizations. The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) as a federation of autonomous regional churches does not impose a uniform line on this matter, leaving the decision to individual states.Currently, about 500 female clergy serve in Bavaria, constituting a significant part of the clergy. However, for many of them, the glass ceiling is clearly visible. Conservative, often rural parishes, especially in regions such as Franconia or Swabia, still exercise their right to object. The traditionalist side's argumentation is based mainly on the interpretation of Scripture, particularly the letters of St. Paul, and on adherence to centuries-old church practice. Proponents of change, including many young theologians, raise issues of equality, shortage of vocations, and the need for the Church to adapt to modern society. However, prospects for abolishing the clause in the near future are slim. Such a decision would require the consent of the Synod of the Bavarian Church, where conservative forces still have strong representation. The discussion is therefore often limited to the question of whether transitional provisions, introduced half a century ago, should not finally expire. This debate reflects a broader tension in German Protestantism between liberal and traditionalist tendencies, which in Bavaria, due to its specific cultural and religious context, take on a particularly sharp form.