Born 1960; study of Protestant theology in Bochum and Bonn, Germany; 1991 - 1999 pastoral work in the area of hospital counseling and lecturer at a seminar for nursing in geriatrics; since 1999, parish pastor of the Protestant congregation Essen-Kupferdreh, also giving religious instruction at an Essen high school; for the last several years, Protestant Chair of the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation, Essen; married and 2 children.