In 2012, Claudia Bandixen caused many companions in the church landscape to shake their heads. The then president of the Reformed Regional Church of Aarau moved to the directorate of Mission 21, even though the ministry was facing major financial and structural challenges at the time. But in retrospect, the speakers at the official farewell of the director agreed that the change had been the right one at the time: Mission 21 is now stable and fit for the future.
Recognition for persistent commitment
There were many words of appreciation from, among others, Andreas Zeller (President of the Synodal Council of the Reformed Church of Bern Jura Solothurn), Michel Müller (President of the Church Council of the Reformed Church of the Canton of Zurich), Martin Keller (Church Council of the Reformed Church of Aarau), Heiko Behrens of the Oeme-Fachstelle Bern Jura Solothurn and Johannes Blum, President of the Board of Mission 21.
Rudolf Bausch from the partner organization Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) and Manfred Golda from the Evangelical Working Group for World Mission also addressed their words of thanks and farewell to Claudia Bandixen, as did Eckehart Lauk from the Basel Mission German Branch and Karl F. Appl, President of the Board of the Basel Mission and Vice President of the Board of Mission 21.
Greetings from around the world
Many guests and delegates from Africa, Asia and Latin America also brought greetings and gifts. Alfred Mbuta from DR Congo emphasized the bond of faith with Claudia Bandixen, Ebed Grijalva Yauri from Peru, Peter Gai Lual and Paska Aciya Nimiriano from South Sudan, Joel Billi from Nigeria and Henriette Lebang and Halim Pratama from Indonesia looked back with gratitude on the cooperation.
Claudia Bandixen's successor Jochen Kirsch emphasized that Claudia Bandixen was always able to combine qualities such as creativity and reliability, flexibility and perseverance in a positive way in her work.
A current focus: advocacy work
Claudia Bandixen herself thanked her family in particular in a short speech. At the Friendship and Encounter Day, which had taken place in the afternoon at the Mission House, she emphasized that she had always had a dream: She wanted to finish her work with advocacy, that is, advocating for disadvantaged people. In fact, she has expanded advocacy work at Mission 21, particularly in the areas of gender justice and religious freedom. Her successor, Jochen Kirsch, will build on this work, Claudia Bandixen said. She has also successfully stabilized Mission 21 and played a key role in shaping its further development.
Text: Miriam Glass, Mission 21
â–º More pictures can be found on the Facebook page from Mission 21.
