Bischof Gerhard Ulrich

Allowing Life to take its course and insisting on permanent change

Gerhard Ulrich and his wife Cornelia have been members of OW from the outset. Since 1982 they have regularly come to Pellworm as summer visitors. Gerhard has become bishop of the North Elbian Protestant-Lutheran Church in 2008.

Why are you attracted to Pellworm ?

Right at the beginning there were practical reasons: we wanted to get away from hectic life, enjoy enough room for our children, and not have to travel too far. We stayed with Uwe Both in his pension “peace of the sea”. Then we discovered Doris and Jeje' home. From that moment we haven’t been able to get away.

Why not?

You come to rest with them. As if a new rhythm of life takes possession of you. When you go fishing with Jeje time vanishes. Fishing, the wind, ebb and flow. That’s all. You needn’t say or explain anything. You inevitably feel that a power mightier than us is at work and that we had better not cross its path. The Pellworm islanders live with the rhythm of creation: ebb and flow, breathing in and breathing out, allowing things to come and to go. This brings wonderful relief and conciliation. And in that place you become more aware of the fact that we are allowed to draw on abundant resources. This is a gift, not the result of hard work. One day in a Thanksgiving sermon I told my audience about an experience I had when I went fishing mullets with Jeje. On the mudflats, some way off the Buphever dyke, we put up our fishing nets. It cost us a lot of effort and trouble. Then we waited for low tide. I approached the fishing nets full of expectancy, the big catch in mind. Two mullets were caught in the nets. I was so disappointed: all this effort for just two fish? And Jeje? He was so happy that he had caught the two fish that the sea had given to him as a present and he slaughtered them. We cut the nets, cleaned them and then we had a barbecue on the dyke with a lot of friends. There was enough to eat for everyone. Such is life out of the plenty. And your appreciation for all kinds of food (edibles, means of subsistence) grows. That’s what you call “stress less prosperity”.

But you didn’t only go fishing. You also stuck your oar in other things.

I did. The reason is that the islanders expect tourists to be active. You are welcomed in a friendly way but they don’t “pamper” you. If there is something to be done you can join your hosts in their activities, or you can leave it. But you can’t withdraw from the positive energy of this commu nity. We have made many friends – uncomplicated, straight forward relationships. For our children, as well as for us, Pellworm is where we belong.

But you didn’t always meet with positive energy.

You are thinking of the foundation of our association. You are right, but the reaction was normal. All of a sudden there were ideas that conflicted with the indiscriminate processing of nature. OW touched on a sore point. There were apparent contradictions between the advertised nature idyll and the existing conventional agricultural management. This frightened many people initially. But it is the way if you have visions and want to pursue them, if you want to live your dreams. Visions must always be conveyed through real life. That hurts, that frustrates you and there will be a reaction. And where there is forward motion the forces of persistence are evoked. But behold! Many of those who looked down on the crackpots of OW, full of scepticism and in contempt, 20 years ago have allowed themselves to be changed ( with regard to agriculture, windpower etc. Hans Momme, Claus, Silke, Uwe, Matthias and many other friends have pursued their ideas with calm and perseverance. I think that this is also a token of positive energy. I believe that OW has moved more in people’s minds than those responsible on Pellworm know or are ready to admit.

You often mention ecological subjects in your sermons and articles. Do you think that they can help people to assume more responsibility in their communities?

Yes, I do. It is my theological conviction. Man does not exist by himself, he doesn’t breathe by himself. God’s creation gives respiration to him. I think that the Pellworm islanders are privileged by the fact that they are closer to this cognition than those who are exposed to the hectic rush of big cities. It’s easier for them to let life take its course. They needn’t always submit everyth ing to economic efficiency. Pellworm is often on my mind in what I say or write down because I think that this principle of “letting things take their course” is so beneficial – mainly with regard to ecological questions

As to OW: Should we rather have “allowed things to take their course”  for the past  20 years?

I believe that OW has quietly moved a great deal more than many observers suspect. For many the focus of attention was the initial fears and conflicts all that had gone wrong: the marketing, the resistance of the local authority, the wish of certain interest groups to ridicule OW’s ideas and objectives. But what about all the new friends we made, the holistic approach for the benefit of the island, the close cooperation with Estonia at a time when Hiiumaa was still a long way off for everyone? Much more has developed than the naturalness in which renewable energies and organic farming have found their way into the island economy.

Do you think that we might profit from these ecological achievements economically?

Not necessarily in the classical sense. I believe that Pellworm is a model of a more considerate handling of nature, time and human relations. Their way of life reflects their views convincingly, without high-sounding words. You can give as many chequered lectures on climate change and protection of the environment as you like. People will only understand what they are about when they are given the experience on the spot. I regret that the eco-bicycle tours have ceased to exist. I have learned incredibly much through them. No facts. But I’ve learned that sustainable life can be lived with ease and relish .It has nothing to do with crabby sacrifice. I think that OW should convey their ideas by optimising their cooperation with the holidaymakers. They should approach and activate them. Holidaymakers have enough time to learn, to discover, to sense what should be done next.

You went to Copenhagen to attend the Earth Summit. Were you depressed by the performance and the results?

I was in a way. There were the politicians, unable to make the necessary decisions. I was also embarrassed by the arrogance of development minister Niebel. On the other hand I was glad to perceive the effect that our partnerships with the developing countries have had on their self confidence Our partners from Ghana and India did not allow themselves to be overrun. They are very self-confident and they insist on their claims, which is encouraging. In a dramatic appeal to the conference they demonstrated that even today they suffer from the consequences of climate change and that the flood of refugees that entails misery and violence affects the global community. . In Copenhagen it has dramatically become apparent that climate protection is not the same as foreign aid. Climate change is another obligation imposed on us, a commitment that is serious about our responsibility for its consequences in the poorest nations on earth. And it is our lifestyle that is responsible for these consequences. We can’t sneak out of our responsibility and I expect all politicians and each individual to do penance. The bible asks us to “change our ways”. We must humble ourselves before creation and question our way of life. We are expected to share what we have. And: We should begin to stop the global destruction of biotopes.

Do you have a new vision for Pellworm ?

Your question isn’t easy to answer. On the one hand it is important to “let things take their course”. On the other hand we must continue to work on the successful projects, our energy concept, for example. But we must also take care that we strike the right balance. I am concerned about the masses of corn that are cultivated for the biogas plants.

To my mind we should be a good example to other initiatives and individuals (people) by accepting the limits of our abilities. Nature sets boundaries for all of us.  We must respect them. If you want to have a good life in peace and justice you must respect your own limitations and the fact that you are reliant on a supreme being. None of us owes life to himself. We are creations in the first place and our creator’s tools. He has made the world beautiful and perfect.We are expected to preserve it and to care for it. Not everything that is practicable is good at the same time. But the experiences that we can draw life from – on Pellworm and in other places – are very positive. Living in times of plenty out of the plenty is the opposite of living lavishly.We congratulate “Ökologisch Wirtschaften!” On its twentieth birthday and we thank them for all the good they gave to us.