Project B2 examines the Weimar-Jena area around 1800 with regard to the structure and organization of the ministry. It addresses questions concerning specific persons as well as institutions related to the church. The research focuses on the organization, training and practice of theologians in their central spheres of activity (church, school, university). The starting point during the first project phase (2001-2004) was the highest church representative in the duchy, Johann Gottfried Herder. For almost three decades (1776-1803) he presided over the regional church in his position as general superintendent. After the analysis of Herder's leading function within the church, the delivery of sermons has become the focus of the research. In this context, the research during the second project phase (2004-2007) has continued to concentrate on Herder and contextualizes his sermons within the Weimar-Jena phenomenon. back >>

Research objectivesThe connection of the two different poles during both research phases – the leading position within the church, on the one hand, and the sermon, on the other hand – makes it possible to draw an overall picture of the structure of the church offices in a small Lutheran state. In addition to the collection of church data for the whole duchy and research on the organization of the offices of the higher church authorities, the issue of the communication of content is considered with regard to different social contexts.
Herder's leading function within the churchFor the leading position of the general superintendent different tasks have been identified according to their respective local, regional and territorial relations. At the same time, and to a larger extent than in previous biographical studies of Herder, the research addressed questions of proactive, reactive, and administrative procedures. The ministry constitutes a field in the official and institutional practice which opens up links to Herder's publications and, at the same time, allows for structural comparisons within and outside of the Weimar-Jena area.
The ministry in Weimar-Jena around 1800 The contextualization of Herder's sermons is related to the second major town church within the duchy, namely Jena, and reconsiders the bipolar character of the Weimar-Jena area with the formative institution of the university in one place and the court in another. The aim of the analysis of selected sermons by Herder's successor Röhr is the identification of different local or epochal characteristics. In the case of Jena, the institutional relations between the university or the Faculty of Theology and the town can be demonstrated by the example of Marezoll.

Outlook: Within the SFB 482 Project B2 has been able to build, in particular, on the material previous work of the historical Projects A1 and A2, and to contribute for its own part to the exploration of the institutional structure of the church in the duchy. In their substance and in their relevance for the history of institutions, the findings are largely unique for the time around 1800. At the same time, they are a starting point for contributing to the research on church history and theology of the period around 1800 that has recently received new impetus.