Neumarkt, Altdorf and Hersbruck: Shared future until 2029!

Neumarkt, Altdorf and Hersbruck: Shared future until 2029!

On June 26, 2025, it was announced that the Protestant deaneries of Neumarkt, Altdorf and Hersbruck were seeking a merger, which would come into force on January 1, 2029. The aim of this initiative is to reorganize and strengthen Protestant work in these three regions. The process will take several years and is intended to create a common foundation for the future of the communities and their members. This is announced by Neumarkt Aktuell.

A first introductory workshop took place on May 17, 2025 in the Protestant family recreation center in Sulzbürg. The deans Christiane Murner (Neumarkt), Tobias Schäfer (Hersbruck) and Veronika Zieske (Altdorf) as well as members of the deanery committees took part in this workshop. The participants discussed current church membership numbers, specific work priorities, vacancies and other important geographical and regional church requirements.

Collaboration and structure

A central element of the discussions was the existing cooperation, especially with regard to the joint Diakonisches Werk and the adult education center NAH. Central questions about the future were discussed in four working groups, consisting of two mixed voluntary and one full-time group as well as the group of deans. This structured approach is intended to ensure that all perspectives are incorporated into the merger process.

A twelve-member steering group was set up to manage this complex process. This group is made up of two full-time and two volunteer representatives from each deanery district. Your tasks include discussing central topic areas, managing communication and preparing the general meetings of the deanery committees in order to advance the merger process in a transparent and coordinated manner.

Previous mergers as a model

Similar to the merger of the Bayreuth and Bad Berneck deaneries, it is clear that such mergers are often viewed as necessary steps for the future. Dean Thomas Guba emphasized that creating a clear structure and distribution of tasks is crucial for the success of the merger. These experiences can also be important for the merger of the three deaneries in Neumarkt, Altdorf and Hersbruck. The merger process in Bayreuth, which was completed in 2017, had similar challenges and problems that had to be overcome in order to lay a stable foundation for the future, as [Evangelisch.de](https://www.evangelisch.de/contente/174572/07-09-2020/dekanats-fusion-war- correcter-tritt-bayreuth-bad-berneck-dekan-guba-bayern) reported.

In Bavaria, such merger processes have in the past enabled the deaneries to better distribute resources and optimize the workload of the deans. For the deaneries of Neumarkt, Altdorf and Hersbruck, the formation of a steering group and the clear distribution of tasks could form the basis for a successful merger.

The coming years will show how this merger process develops and whether it meets the expectations that the communities involved have of a shared future.