A dash of thought - May 2021

Bishop Heinrich Bolleter on his birthday

The Central Conference warmly congratulates you, dear Bishop Heinrich, on your 80^th birthday, which you will celebrate on May 13. Sixty years ago (!) you entered the service of the Methodist Church as a young intern and candidate for pastoral ministry. You witnessed the union creating the United Methodist Church (UMC) and soon became a member of the General Council on Ministry, newly established on a worldwide level. In Switzerland, in addition to your parish ministry, you addressed a broad readership with your contributions as a committed editor of the church magazine “Kirche und Welt” for many years.

32 years ago, in March 1989, you were elected bishop at the Central Conference in Baden. No one suspected at that time that in the summer the barbed wire on the Hungarian-Austrian border would be opened with a passage and in November the wall in Berlin would fall. In the midst of the greatest transformation in society in Europe since World War II, you took up your post. With your calm, people-oriented nature, you led the little ship of the Central Conference into new realms. You saw yourself as part of the people of God journeying towards the horizon of the Kingdom of God.

It was a strenuous and exhausting ministry, as we all became aware when you retired 15 years ago. We were all the more pleased that you, together with Martha, were granted calmer years in retirement.
Dear Bishop Heinrich, we wish you God's blessing on your 80^th birthday and may God's Shalom protect and accompany you and Martha on your further journey through life!

Bishop Patrick Streiff