Friedrich Dibelius German evangelical theologian Date of Birth: 15.05.1880 Country: Germany

Content:

1. Early Life and Education
2. - Elected head of the Lutheran Church in Prussia in 1925
3. - Resisted state control over religious and preaching activities
4. Trial and Acquittal
5. Criticism of External Influences
6. Death and Legacy

Friedrich Karl Otto Dibelius: A German Theologian and Resistance Leader

Early Life and Education

- Born on May 15, 1880, in Berlin, Germany
- Pursued theological studies in Berlin and Göttingen
Pastoral Ministry and Church Leadership
- Ordained as a Lutheran pastor in Berlin in 1915

- Became a member of the Coordinating Council of Protestant Churches in 1921

- Elected head of the Lutheran Church in Prussia in 1925

Resistance to Nazism

- Opposed Nazi policies of Gleichschaltung (coordination) of all aspects of German society

- Resisted state control over religious and preaching activities

- Sent an open letter to Dr. Hans Kerrl, Nazi Commissioner for Religious Affairs, condemning Nazi ideology and its interference in church matters

Trial and Acquittal

- Arrested and charged with treason for his open letter
- Acquitted by a special military tribunal in 1937
- His acquittal caused significant concern among Nazi officials
Post-War Ministry

- Appointed Bishop of Berlin after the fall of the Third Reich, serving until 1956

- Chairperson of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany from 1949 to 1961

- One of five presidents of the World Council of Churches from 1954 to 1961, the first German to hold this position

Criticism of External Influences

- Advocated for the independence of the Protestant Church from both Nazi and communist influences

- Opposed the appointment of a communist bishop in Brandenburg in 1960

Death and Legacy

- Died in Berlin on January 31, 1967

- Remembered as a courageous theologian and defender of religious freedom

Religious figure

Marie Laveau	James Challis	Alexander IV
Miloslav Vlk	Joseph Augustine Di Noi	Claudio Chelly