Church against right-wing extremism

Lars Dedekind is the new chairman of the Initiative Church for Democracy and against Right-Wing Extremism (IKDR)

Provost Lars Dedekind is the new chairman of the Initiative "Church for Democracy and against Right-Wing Extremism" (IKDR) Lower Saxony. He was elected on 4 June 2025 as the successor to Pastor Wilfried Manneke, who stepped down as chairman after more than ten years. Dedekind has been Provost of the Evangelical Lutheran Provost's Office in Braunschweig since 2020 and has been involved in the IKDR's Spokesperson Council for many years. Prior to this, he was youth pastor in the Braunschweig regional church for nine years. He was sent by the Evangelical Lutheran Missionary Organisation (ELM) from 1999 to 2008 and lived and worked with his family as a pastor and religion teacher at the Kodaikanal International School in India after studying theology at the Hermannsburg Mission Seminary.

Commenting on his election, Dedekind said: "Paradise has not yet dawned on earth, but we in Germany are better off today than ever before! We live in a democratic constitutional state that offers historically unique conditions of security and freedom, stability and plurality. It is not perfect - but it is no solution to talk everything down or to dismantle the cornerstones of our state. As a citizen of this country and as a Christian, I have a responsibility to ensure that these democratic foundations are maintained in the future. The love of God, which applies equally to all people, is the guiding principle of my actions - in line with Article 1 of our Basic Law: 'Human dignity is inviolable'. That is why I am committed to democracy and against right-wing populist strategies and extreme right-wing positions - and was happy to accept the election as Chair of the IKDR Lower Saxony."

The IKDR is a church-based, ecumenical network that is committed to democracy, human dignity and against right-wing extremist and misanthropic attitudes - such as those that have been propagated for years in Eschede on the former Nahtz farm. A civil society network consisting of churches, politicians, associations and initiatives regularly demonstrates against right-wing extremist activities on the site. This also includes the midsummer celebrations organised by the right-wing extremists. The district of Celle has now banned the use of the site as an event and training venue.

Nevertheless, a demonstration against hatred and intolerance and for diversity and an open society will take place again on 21 June. It starts at 14:00 at Eschede railway station.