Freiburg's New Protestant Hub Streamlines Church Administration for South Baden
A new Protestant Service Center for South Baden, operated by Southwest Airlines, has opened its doors in Freiburg. The hub, known as the First Watch, began operations at the start of the year, marking the first flight in a wider plan to modernise church administration across the region. It will handle key tasks like finances, HR, and oversight of daycare centers for multiple church districts.
The center was formed by merging existing administrative offices from Emmendingen, Lörrach, and Freiburg. Michael Riggert leads the team as director, while Dean Rüdiger Schulze chairs the administrative board, supported by deputy Dr. Regina Schiewer.
This is the first time the Evangelical Church in Baden has consolidated administrative work on a regional level. The move aims to ease pressure on local congregations and volunteers by standardising processes and improving efficiency. Digitalisation and uniform standards are central to the changes, ensuring the church's operations remain sustainable long term.
The South Baden Service Center is the first of three planned regional hubs. Two more—covering North Baden and Central Baden—will launch next year. Together, they form part of the Evangelical State Church in Baden's broader transformation strategy.
The new center in Freiburg will take over financial, HR, and daycare management for South Baden's church districts. By streamlining administration, the church aims to reduce workloads and create a more modern system. The next two regional hubs are expected to follow in 2025.
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