.. / Diakonie und Schwesternschaft / English Summary

The Evangelische Diakonieverein ("The Evangelical Diaconal Association") was founded in Wuppertal-Elberfeld on April 11, 1894, by an evangelical theologian from Herborn called Friedrich Zimmer (1855-1919). What he first called "the Association for the securing of Diaconal Services" got its current name in 1900. The purpose of this Christian and socially oriented Association was to support protestant women who wanted to study to be nurses and to provide for their education and training. Professor Zimmer's initiative in founding the organisation was in response to the changing needs of his time. At the end of the 19th century women were looking for possibilities to work independently in professions. The protestant Church urgently needed people, especially women, who were willing, ready and able, to take responsibility for the various social challenges of the time. There had been positive experiences of deaconesses working in health care institutions. Because the medical sciences were developing rapidly, large city hospitals needed more staff who were competent and well educated. Friedrich Zimmer wanted to establish a new and comprehensive form of Christian education for women. Professor Zimmer's motto for his work to promote this new movement was "We want to serve the Lord in meeting the needs of our time." The first role of the Association was the education of young women. Wuppertal City Hospital (Elberfeld) became the first Nursing School and was headed by Sister-Matron Anna Margarete van Delden. She took responsibility for the hospital's Nursing School and organised it as a "Diaconal Nursing Academy" (Diakonieseminar), a name that is still used for the Nursing Schools of the Sisterhood today because the most important motive for these activities came from the Christian convictions of the founders. But professionalism was also an important part of the concept. The schedule and requirements of the Nurse Training School developed by Matron van Delden became of central significance for the subsequent legislation in this field. Furthermore it was Anna Margarete van Delden who convinced Friedrich Zimmer that he would need a supportive community and that this should be a Sisterhood which could help to carry out his plans. Consequently, the "Sisterhood of the Evangelical Diaconal Association" was founded on October 6, 1895. Its founder members, who called themselves "Diakonieschwestern" (Deacon Sisters), were the women who had joined the Diaconal Nursing Academy in 1894 in order to study for nursing. The membership of this Sisterhood has always differed from the system of the communities of deaconesses. Deacon Sisters have their own salary and retirement pension. There is a wide variety in the form of their commitment to the community. The Sisters start from a position of each having a different professional education. They experience support and encouragement for their different ways of life. They are free to choose the form of their community life, whether it be unmarried or with families. But all of them share in the commitment to a Christian and deacon-oriented community where they can be consecrated after they have passed the necessary process of preparation. Whereas many things have changed since the foundation of the Sisterhood, the motto stays the same: "Diaconal service for women and through women." Right from the start the Sisterhood was accepted by the large city hospitals and grew rapidly. The sisters were not only engaged in nursing and in the caring professions but also in various realms of education and social services. The Association had a growing need for central administration and co-ordination. It was soon able to build a new centre in Berlin for administrative, teaching and meeting purposes that also served as a "home base" ( "Heimathaus" ) and meeting point for all sisters throughout their professional life. In 1898 the central administration moved from Herborn to Berlin-Zehlendorf. By 1916 there was enough contact with other similar Sisterhoods for these communities to found the "Zehlendorf Conference" in order to combine their strengths. The history of the 20th century formed the backdrop for further development of the Sisterhood. Sisters went into the service of sick, wounded and needy people through two world wars. They worked in various fields of public health care, social services and, of course, in many city, rural and church hospitals. They were engaged in the problems of their time and could not avoid being affected by the major historical events. After World War II there were different developments in the Western and Eastern parts of Germany. The sisters worked in institutions in both parts of Germany, in the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany. But even after the construction of the Berlin Wall and the different political systems had separated the country they all continued to care for and support the community; there were frequent meetings, visits and exchanges between East and West. The common aim, the Christian background and the contact between groups and individuals, was never lost. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and now at the beginning of a new millennium, the Association and its Sisterhood has taken on a new direction. There is now a political vision for everyone to come together, not just between East and West but within a wider, European community. As a Christian organisation, the Sisterhood feels a special responsibility towards this growing European community. The Sisterhood has now developed its role of working for the advancement of the nursing profession, by fostering high standards of nursing practice, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing and by adhering to a diaconal commitment, especially in the various fields of training and education. There are two statements that illustrate the Sisterhood's basic convictions today: The Sisterhood is an evangelical community of women who understand that their lives and professions are committed to service through Jesus Christ. This takes place through working for the sick and the needy in the community and through the education and training of young people. In order to meet this task the Sisterhood provides for training and further education. Each sister finds support for her personality and for the development of her individual talents and abilities within this setting. These principles led to the foundation of the "Diakonieschule" (Diaconal Nursing Academy) in 1948. There is now a growth in the role of education, which consists not only of the initial professional training, but has to accompany the entire career and professional life. Therefore the Evangelical Diaconal Association transformed the former Nursing School in Berlin Zehlendorf into a modern Educational Centre ( Diakonisches Bildungszentrum ) where sisters and other nurses attend to further their education in nursing, health care and medical subjects as well as management, law, teaching, and ethics. The "Heimathaus" in Berlin is still the place to meet and unite, a central place for the Sisterhood. There are 1,200 active sisters - 450 of them trainees - working in various fields from small parish-based care institutions to 14 city and church hospitals. As well as the events at the Educational Centre, the sisters come together in order to share in their community activities. The annual "Sister's Day", a big, merry feast, also serves as a forum for engaged discussions and democratic decisions concerning Sisterhood matters and includes a service of worship in the local parish church at which new sisters joining the community are consecrated. Although the Sisterhood itself continues to exist as a community of evangelical women, the sisters are pleased that today's Evangelical Diaconal Association is also open to other members, for men as well as for members of non-evangelical Christian Churches. The Sisterhood is linked to other Sisterhoods and communities in Germany through the "Diakonisches Werk der Evangelischen Kirche in Deutschland" ( www.diakonie.de ). In alternate years, the Heimathaus in Berlin hosts the Conference of the Zehlendorfer Verband. The Sisterhood participates in the world-wide community of diaconal commitment through its membership of the DIAKONIA ( www.diakonia-world.org ) foundation.