Studentenmission in Deutschland

Studentenmission in Deutschland (SMD) is a German interdenominational network of Christians active in schools, universities and academic professions. It was founded on 26 October 1949, when representatives of ten Christian student groups met in an evangelical youth home near Wiesbaden and established the "Studentenmission in Deutschland". Today it operates under the fuller name SMD - Netzwerk von Christen in Schule, Hochschule und Beruf (SMD - Network of Christians in School, University and Profession). It is a registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein) and one of the so-called free works within the sphere of the Evangelical Church in Germany. The organization is structured into three main working areas: Schüler-SMD (school work), Hochschul-SMD (university work) and Akademiker-SMD (academic professionals). According to its own and Wikipedia descriptions, it maintains contact with roughly 250 to over 600 school Bible circles, is represented by university groups in more than 70 to 90 cities, and offers around 50 specialist groups and networks for academics. It is a member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), linking it to student organizations in 160 countries, and as a Fachverband of Diakonie Deutschland it is part of the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung of the EKD, old-confessional churches and free churches. It is recognized as a provider of free youth welfare. SMD finances itself through donations and works across denominational lines. Its full-time and volunteer staff come from Protestant regional and free churches, Protestant fellowships and also the Catholic Church. The central office is in Marburg, where the threads of SMD's work come together at the Philippshaus. The organization is led by a General Secretary; since 2023 this is the Protestant pastor Volker Roggenkamp. The chair has been held by judge Susanne Terborg since 1 April 2018, the first woman to head SMD. SMD organizes national Bible-reading campaigns, conferences such as the Herbstkonferenz (HeKo), and a range of summer and regional events for pupils, students and professionals.

The Studentenmission in Deutschland (SMD) was founded on 26 October 1949, when representatives of ten Christian student groups gathered in an evangelical youth home near Wiesbaden and established the "Studentenmission in Deutschland". These student Bible and prayer groups had emerged independently at many universities after the Second World War. Their aim was to share a purposeful and hopeful orientation in life through the Christian faith with others, at a time of general despondency among students. The founding initiative is associated with Ernst Schrupp. The leadership body was interdenominational, with staff coming from various Protestant free and regional churches as well as the Catholic Church, and members of the CVJM and EC youth associations were also represented. The SMD emerged from the environment of the Gemeinschaftsbewegung (fellowship movement). Before the Second World War there had been the Deutsche Christliche Studentenvereinigung, which had to dissolve after being banned by the National Socialists in 1938. In the 1950s the work expanded rapidly. Joint staff meetings were held in spring and autumn, and from 1951 the autumn meeting was expanded with a more strongly profiled programme, giving birth to the "HeKo" (Herbstkonferenz), which has been part of SMD practically from the beginning. In 1952 the first full-time staff could be employed: Fritz Laubach went into travel service, while the young vicar Martin Philipp took over leadership of the Marburg central office. Behind this ambitious name there had been, since 1949, a student room with a typewriter, maps and a few files. In 1952 the Marburg city mission provided several rooms, later an entire floor. To this day the threads of SMD come together in the central office, now with 18 staff in the Marburger Philippshaus. The predominantly young leaders recognized the need for accompaniment by older, spiritually qualified advisers, so in 1952 the Bruderrat (today: Rat) and the board of SMD were created. New groups formed at almost all universities and technical colleges; by 1957 there were already more than twenty. Some staff deliberately changed their place of study in order to found or support SMD groups. Around 1960 SMD groups were present at almost all German university locations. In 1963 a special working group for world mission was founded (today: SMD-Weltweit). In 1964 a clarifying conversation took place between representatives of SMD and the Evangelische Studierendengemeinde, resulting in a convergence declaration, the Gemeinsamen Empfehlungen, which agreed mutual recognition and the independence of each work. Since 1975 there have been regular annual meetings with the other Christian university groups (Campus für Christus, Navigatoren, Deutscher Christlicher Techniker-Bund). In the early years SMD also had some contacts with students in East Germany. After the founding of the DDR, however, an independent missionary work there was hardly conceivable. In 1957 two SMD staff members were imprisoned for "Christian-camouflaged espionage activity". As a result, SMD had no official contacts and no joint retreats. At the same time, "Rüstzeiten" for students arose within the Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaften of the DDR. These meetings, to which invitations went out across the country, had a strong missionary impact. The "Studentendienst" established itself as a small independent branch of the Gnadauer Verband, the association of Landeskirchliche Gemeinschaften. In 1975 Hartmut Zopf was released as the first full-time staff member for this work. Soon afterwards new contacts with the West German SMD developed. On 1 April 1990 the Studentenmission (SM) in the DDR was founded. In December 1990, two months after reunification, SM and the "West-SMD" merged into an all-German SMD. Since 1990 the organization has continued to develop. In 1999 the Institut für Glaube und Wissenschaft was founded, addressing boundary questions between various fields of knowledge and the Christian faith through lectures, conferences and publications. In 2001 the SMD-Stiftung was established, with the purpose of "promoting Christian school work, Christian student work and Christian academic work at home and abroad"; additional endowments are intended to support the long-term security of SMD's work. At longer intervals SMD organizes Germany-wide Bible-reading projects. In the early 2000s the Gospel of Mark was promoted with the campaign "Identity". In 2015 SMD invited people to read the Gospel of Luke with the campaign "uncover". A similar campaign for the Gospel of Mark was planned for 2019. On 1 April 2018 the physicist Paul-Gerhard Reinhard left the office of chair in the regular rotation; since then judge Susanne Terborg has been the first woman at the head of SMD. Since 2023 the Protestant pastor Volker Roggenkamp has served as General Secretary.

• 2023

  Volker Roggenkamp becomes General Secretary.

• 2018

  On 1 April, Susanne Terborg becomes the first woman to chair SMD, succeeding Paul-Gerhard Reinhard.

• 2015

  Nationwide Bible-reading campaign "uncover" for the Gospel of Luke.

• 2001

  SMD-Stiftung founded to promote and secure the work long-term.

• 1999

  Institut für Glaube und Wissenschaft founded.

• 1990

  Studentenmission (SM) in the DDR founded on 1 April; in December, SM and the West-SMD merge into an all-German SMD.

• 1975

  Hartmut Zopf becomes the first full-time staff member for student work in the DDR. Regular annual meetings with other Christian university groups begin.

• 1964

  Convergence declaration (Gemeinsame Empfehlungen) agreed with the Evangelische Studierendengemeinde.

• 1963

  A special working group for world mission is founded (today: SMD-Weltweit).

• 1957

  More than twenty SMD groups exist at universities and technical colleges. Two SMD staff members imprisoned in the DDR for alleged espionage.

• 1952

  First full-time staff employed: Fritz Laubach (travel service) and Martin Philipp (Marburg central office). Bruderrat (today: Rat) and board created.

• 1951

  The autumn staff meeting is expanded with a more strongly profiled programme, giving birth to the HeKo (Herbstkonferenz).

• 1949

  Founded on 26 October in an evangelical youth home near Wiesbaden by representatives of ten Christian student groups.

Interdenominational Christian network for school, university and professional life; a free work within the Evangelical Church sphere, recognized provider of free youth welfare, member of IFES and Diakonie Deutschland.

• Schüler-SMD

  School work maintaining contact with school Bible circles across Germany and organizing around 20 retreats annually.

• Hochschul-SMD

  University work with SMD groups in 90 cities (83 recognized groups and 7 friend groups), organizing public lecture series, retreats and discussion circles.

• Akademiker-SMD

  Work with academic professionals, offering around 50 specialist groups and networks.

• Hochschul-SMD International

  Work with international students, offering friendship and support and building bridges between German and international students.

• Institut für Glaube und Wissenschaft

  Institute founded in 1999 addressing boundary questions between fields of knowledge and the Christian faith.

• SMD-Stiftung

  Foundation founded in 2001 to promote Christian school, student and academic work at home and abroad.

• Identity
• uncover
• Markus-Evangelium campaign (planned 2019)

1. 1Startseite: SMD - Christen in Schule, Hochschule und Berufsmd.org
2. 2Überblick: SMD - Christen in Schule, Hochschule und Berufsmd.org
3. 3Die 50er Jahre: SMD - Christen in Schule, Hochschule und Berufsmd.org
4. 4Ostdeutschland: SMD - Christen in Schule, Hochschule und Berufsmd.org
5. 5Studentenmission in Deutschlandwikidata.org
6. 6Studentenmission in Deutschlandde.wikipedia.org