New pastor Lea-Katharina Müller: A new beginning in Burghaun!

New pastor Lea-Katharina Müller: A new beginning in Burghaun!

Lea-Katharina Müller is the new Protestant pastor of the Burghaun and Rothenkirchen parishes in the Fulda district. She took up her position at the beginning of June 2025 and will look after the members of both communities on a half-time basis. The 28-year-old also has another half-time job as a school priest at the Geistal comprehensive school in Bad Hersfeld.

Müller's official presentation will take place next Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the Christ Church Burghaun. Dean Dr. Thorsten Waap will present it to the community as part of a church service. Müller, who was born in Fulda and grew up in Neuenstein near Bad Hersfeld, is happy to now be working in her home region.

A path full of commitment

After graduating from high school, she did a voluntary social year in the Protestant parish of Obergeis, where she particularly looked after the trombone choirs. She completed her theology studies in Frankfurt am Main and Göttingen and proudly emphasizes that she comes from a rural area and appreciates village life. “Here, people know each other and support each other,” she explains. She carried out her vicariate at the St. Martin's Church in Bad Hersfeld, where she was intensively involved in the Protestant daycare center and designed a mini St. Martin's Church for the children.

Müller's innovative spirit is also reflected in her organization of the after-work party “Holy Aperoly”, which was ultimately attended by around 300 people. She would like to arrive in her new parish and actively shape church life together with the members. She sees the necessary change processes in the church as an opportunity to develop faith and community work in a contemporary way.

The path of the church

The Protestant Church is in a continuous process of change. Innovative concepts and adapting to the needs of the community are important, especially at a time when membership numbers are declining. ekd.de reports that the church is making greater efforts to ensure the satisfaction of its employees. The need to strengthen infrastructure and promote volunteerism is becoming increasingly clear.

Müller himself sees her new beginning as part of these important developments. “I’m looking forward to getting to know the local people better,” she says optimistically. At a time when the church's digital footprint and visibility are becoming more important both online and analogue, it is crucial for new pastors to face the challenges with creativity and openness.

The parishes of Burghaun and Rothenkirchen can look forward to a committed pastor who is ready to bring a breath of fresh air to the work on site. Time will tell whether Müller can live up to her goal of actively shaping the church community. But with her commitment so far, she has already shown that she has a good knack for community work and is open to new things.

The future will show how the community deals with these changes and how Lea-Katharina Müller will find her place in the Protestant church.