Farewell to Pastor Tilo Brach: A moving chapter comes to an end

Farewell to Pastor Tilo Brach: A moving chapter comes to an end

Pastor Tilo Brach, a familiar face in the Winterbach Protestant community, is embarking on a new path in life as he prepares for his impending retirement. With the official retirement date of July 1, 2025, Brach will step down from her positions after almost three decades of committed community work. His last baptismal service recently took place at the end of May, and his wife, Pastor Elisabeth Brach, will also be giving up her duties in hospital pastoral care. Since July 1996, Tilo Brach has led the church with passion and is particularly known for his innovative approaches, such as conducting motorcycle services and implementing online formats during the Corona pandemic to create a digital connection. Wochenspiegel Online reports that before he moved to the Palatinate Protestant Community, Brach worked as a hospital chaplain in Zweibrücken and in the first years of his term personally visited everyone over sixty years old in order to build relationships.

Brach not only shaped the community of Winterbach, but also the surrounding communities. Over the years he has taken on numerous responsibilities, including leading the vacancy services and the merger of the communities of Oberauerbach and Battweiler-Stockbornerhof to form the Jakobusgemeinde in 2022. His visionary ideas, such as the founding of a motorcycle service, which was launched in 2004 after a get-together at the volunteer fire department, are still an integral part of his successor work today. The service began with around 20 participants and has now developed into a large event that attracts over 100 visitors. The importance of this service lies in promoting trust in the protection and support of a higher power.

Motorcycle church services and their development

Motorcycle worship services, also known as MoGo, are a special form of worship designed specifically for motorcyclists. This unique form of worship aims to provide people who are generally distant from church with access tailored to their needs. The concept pioneered by Tilo Brach also involves participants appearing in full motorcycle gear and often receiving blessings for their motorcycles. These services take place not only in churches, but also at events or in eye-catching environments, such as Pott Schütthöhe Airport, where a record number of over 200 guests was achieved last year. Wikipedia describes that motorcycle church services have become increasingly popular in recent years, with events that can attract up to 40,000 participants.

The course of these services has changed over the years. A moderated sermon, often accompanied by live music, is a central element today. Guitarist Franky P, who regularly performs at the church services, enriches the event with pop and country music. The topics of the sermons have also become more important; Among other things, life paths and motorcycle tours are linked. Brach plans to celebrate his 19th and final motorcycle service in 2024, during which the traditional blessing of the motorcycles and helmets should not be missing. These events are a place of exchange and community where bikers are given the opportunity to combine their joy of motorcycling and their faith.

A new phase of life for Pastor Brach

During his time as a pastor, Tilo Brach not only strengthened the spiritual community, but also forged valuable personal relationships. After his playing career ends, he now wants to concentrate on his five grandchildren and enjoy his retired life. He emphasizes the importance of letting go for succession planning in church communities and sees the opportunity for new people and forms of faith to emerge. Brach and his wife are highly valued by the community and their departure from active positions is perceived as a significant loss.

The motorcycle services and Tilo Brach's charisma will continue to be remembered and are part of his legacy that will last beyond his time in Winterbach. The future development of the parishes is followed with excitement as new paths for faith and community are opened up.