Jochen Bohl (1950 – 2026)

Their Story

Jochen Bohl was a prominent German Lutheran theologian who led the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony as its bishop from 2004 to 2015. Born in 1950 in Lüdenscheid to a craftworking family, he pursued theological studies at several German universities before his ordination in 1977. He began his ministry as a pastor in the Dortmund region and later directed the Evangelical Youth Work at the Saar before moving to Saxony in 1995. During his tenure as bishop, Bohl became known as a theologian of vision and conviction, particularly committed to demonstrating the church's vital role in a society shaped by decades of communist dictatorship and secularization. His tenure included the memorable 2005 reconsecration of Dresden's rebuilt Frauenkirche, a powerful symbol of renewal after the Cold War. Beyond Saxony, he served as vice president of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany and as deputy head bishop of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany. Bohl was recognized for his regular pastoral letters, extensive visitations throughout Saxony, and active engagement in public debates on ethical and social matters. He retired in 2015 and continued his ministry through occasional preaching until his death at age 76.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jochen_Bohl