Women’s Ministries Advisory Weekend 2026

It was more than a work meeting—more than a strategic review at the new headquarters of the two German Unions. The advisory of the Women’s Ministries (WM) Directors of the six German conferences and two Unions, as well as the Division WM Director, became an intense moment of collective reflection—and at the same time a powerful signal for the future.
In an atmosphere characterized by both professionalism and personal connection, the leaders came together to take stock. Away from day-to-day business, the retreat provided the necessary space for a structured review: Which projects have had a lasting impact? Where were networks strengthened, structures modernized, and new target groups reached? And where is there a need to streamline processes and pool resources more wisely?
The discussions were characterized by remarkable openness and mutual appreciation. There was no smug celebration of success or glossing over of challenges. The WM department will continue to face a variety of future challenges, particularly as the leadership in two conferences is still pending.
In addition to all the conceptual issues, however, the weekend was also marked by a deeply emotional moment: the farewell to two long-standing companions who are entering well-deserved retirement. What once began as collegial cooperation had, over the years, developed into lasting friendships. Personal tributes made it clear how formative their commitment had been – both professionally and personally. They had built structures, mediated conflicts, encouraged young women, and provided stability in difficult times. Their mark remains visible. The farewell was not a quiet retreat, but a dignified send-off full of gratitude. Gifts, personal words, and a few tears underscored that it was not just roles that were ending, but a chapter of shared history.
At the end of the weekend, there was a feeling that cannot be captured in minutes: cohesion. The leaders returned with clear goals, new ideas, and strengthened confidence in their joint work.
The event impressively demonstrated that strategic planning and personal connections are not contradictory—on the contrary. It is precisely where responsibility is shared over many years that a culture emerges that does not fear change, but shapes it.
The advisory weekend was therefore not an endpoint, but a transition between generations, between the established and the new, between farewell and new beginnings.