The Ökumenischer Predigtpreis in Bonn honored Marburg pastor Antje Armstroff for best sermon, Hannover pastors Ellen and Stefanie Radtke for lifetime achievement regarding their YouTube channel “Anders Amen,” and a VEM team for digital formats.
Nearly all recipients at this year’s awards ceremony in the festival hall of the University of Bonn were women. The undotierte Predigtpreis has been awarded in Bonn since 2000. It is overseen by the Protestant-theological and Catholic-theological faculties alongside the Old Catholic Seminary. The ceremony took place on October 27, as the University of Bonn announced on Wednesday.
Marburg Pastor Wins Best Sermon for Pentecost Address
In her address, the Protestant theologian connected personal conflicts and failed peace negotiations with biblical scenes. Armstroff serves as the study director for confirmation work at the Religionspädagogisches Institut in Marburg and received the honor for her address on Pentecost Monday concerning the biblical text from the Gospel of John, specifically chapters 20, verses 19 to 23.
YouTube Channel Anders Amen Earns Lifetime Achievement Award
The lifetime achievement award went to married pastors Ellen and Stefanie Radtke from the Protestant Church of Hannover for their YouTube channel “Anders Amen.” The channel ran for six years starting in 2020. The pastors addressed personal, theological, and societal questions. The jury praised them for reaching audiences far beyond traditional church milieus. Productions for the channel were handled by the Protestant Church Radio of Lower Saxony-Bremen (ekn).
FaithCast Podcast Recognition for Stachel und Herz
Sarah Vecera, Thea Hummel, and Julian Elf from the United Evangelical Mission (VEM) won the FaithCast award for digital formats with their podcast “Stachel und Herz.” The creators discuss racism, sexism, societal power structures, church, and justice personally, politically, and with humor.
Criteria and Support for the Bonn Predigtpreis
The award recognizes sermons, die einen hervorragenden Beitrag zur Redekultur in den Kirchen im deutschsprachigen Raum leisten und durch ihren theologischen Gehalt, biblische Fundierung, Erfahrungsnähe und Glaubwürdigkeit überzeugen
. Winning entries must convince through theological content, biblical foundation, proximity to experience, and credibility. Past laureates include Hanns Dieter Hüsch, Walter Jens, Margot Käßmann, and Luisa Neubauer. The Verlag am Birnbach publisher has supported the prize since 2023, supplying parishes nationwide with work materials, gift items, and literature.
