Faculty of Theology

„AG Schutzkonzept“

 The Working Group ”AG Schutzkonzept” officially began its work on March 5, 2026, with an initial, constituent meeting. The goal is to develop an internal safety policy for the Faculty of Theology aimed at preventing sexual violence. The working group has agreed on the following work plan: The process will begin with the conduct of a risk and potential analysis during the Summer Semester 2026 and Winter Semester 2026/27; based on the results of this analysis, a context-specific prevention plan and an intervention plan for the Faculty of Theology—including initial drafts—will then be developed in parallel during the Summer Semester 27 and Winter Semester 27/28. Final editing, evaluation, and updating will then take place in early 2028. The work package for the 2026 summer semester involves designing a risk and potential analysis by conducting a survey using a questionnaire. The goal is to identify the specific prevention and intervention needs at the Faculty of Theology, to pinpoint areas and situations of risk, to assess existing regulations and framework conditions, and to identify specific (theological) potentials for prevention (e.g., guiding principles, conceptions of humanity, etc.). The Working Group ”AG Schutzkonzept” is composed of representatives from all four status groups (research staff, students, non-faculty staff, and faculty members) as well as advisory members from the Equality Team and the university-wide Equality Office.

Members of the working group:

1 Miriam David (advisory), Equality Team
2 Karlotta Gehrt, Student group
3 Dr. Marcus Hase, Administrative group
4 Dr. Doris Hayn (advisory), Equal Opportunity Officer at the University of Göttingen
5 Raphael Keiner, Mid-level Faculty Group
6 Lukas Rölz, Student group
7 Nasreen Shah, Mid-level Faculty Group
8 Verena Slaby, Administrative group
9 Prof. Dr. Sarah Schulz, Group of University Professors
10 Jun.-Prof. Dr. Julian Zeyher-Quattlender (Coordination), Group of University Professors



At its second meeting on June 4, 2026, the Working Group ”AG Schutzkonzept “ addressed issues related to the design, content, and implementation of a potential risk and opportunity analysis. First, the various reports from the status group committees were presented and discussed. It was noted that while all status groups were generally willing to engage with the topic, there was also a simultaneous sense of uncertainty regarding how to approach it, along with a corresponding need for more information. In the second part of the meeting, two experts who had already gained relevant experience with comparable studies were consulted: Dr. Daniela Marx, Head of the Diversity Division at the Office for Equal Opportunity and Diversity at the University of Göttingen, presented the working group with helpful background information and recommendations for conducting an RPA; Stephan Schlosser, M.A., from the Institute for Methods and Methodological Foundations of the Social Sciences (IMMS) at the University of Göttingen, supplemented this with equally important technical and methodological considerations. In this context, a need for further information on data protection issues and funding options arose, which is to be addressed by the next meeting. Taking into account the information now available regarding implementation, timelines, and budgetary constraints, as well as the available personnel, financial, and time resources, the working group will agree on next steps at its next meeting on July 15, 2026.


On July 14, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., the working group held an event at the Theologicum on the topic “What Is Sexual Violence?” Wiebke Seedorf, a prevention specialist from the Center for Sexualized Violence of the Evangelical Lutheran Regional Church of Hanover, spoke to approximately 30 participants on the topic and answered their questions. At its third meeting on July 15, 2026, the working group discussed the next steps for conducting a risk and potential analysis. It was decided to collect qualitative data through externally facilitated focus groups (either specific to status groups or organized according to sociodemographic variables such as gender) and to combine this qualitative data collection with the development of a safety plan under external guidance. To involve students in the ICT program, a focus group in English is also planned. Potential facilitators are to be contacted and proposals solicited by the next meeting.The working group has also agreed on a logo for the group, which is to be designed by the next meeting. Going forward, the working group will be known as: “Working Group on the Prevention Concept Against Sexualized Violence – Faculty of Theology.” The working group looks back on a productive summer semester and will resume its work in October 2026.