The Grossmünster, shown here in an interior shot, is known far beyond Zurich. (Archive photo: Alexandra Wey/ Keystone)
So you’re going back to your roots. What motivated you to apply?
After ten years at the Friedenskirche in Bern, I felt that the time was ripe for a change. I had successfully implemented many projects and achieved a lot. I was going through a kind of midlife crisis and was wondering what was next. I tried to talk to the former pastor at the Grossmünster, Christoph Sigrist, but he was very reserved and did not want to talk about his successor. The job advertisement surprised me and came at an inopportune time, as I had already planned a sabbatical in New York. Nevertheless, I was interested, so I spoke to my wife and children about the idea of applying. At the Grossmünster, there is also exchange with female academics, and the theological faculty is practically next door. I have worked as a scientist and am particularly looking forward to it. The position is tailor-made, even if neither the parish election committee nor Christoph Sigrist had thought of me.
«I called individual theologians whom I consider to be very capable and asked them for their opinion on my application.»
Christian Walti, designated Grossmünster pastor
There are some parallels between you and Christoph Sigrist. You are both known beyond Zurich and Bern, both have strong personalities and are committed to diaconal work. Are you a Sigrist 2.0?
I don’t believe in duplicating people. I’ve known Christoph Sigrist for a long time and have met him many times in my professional career. But I never saw him as my role model or a father figure. I’m more urban, belong to a different generation and define diaconate differently – namely as an activity that enables encounters and overcomes barriers.
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Until now, only one woman, Käthi La Roche, was a pastor at the Grossmünster between 1999 and 2011. You are a “middle-aged white man”. What do you say to critics who would have liked to see a woman at the city church?
I understand this criticism and can live with being observed. I accept the fact that there will be people who judge me by my gender – especially since I am filling a symbolic position. Women also applied, but I don’t know who my competition was. I called individual female theologians who I consider to be very capable and asked them what they thought about my application. They all said they were not applying. That gave me a relative sense of self-confidence. When I received the acceptance, the first thing I asked was how this could be justified – another man. Martin Rüsch, my fellow pastor, is a few years away from retirement. I am waiting for the female colleagues I called to apply. It is important to me to campaign for diversity. With Cornelia Camichel and Priscilla Schwendimann, for example, there are strong personalities in the Old Town Churches team. No one has to take a back seat.
To person
Christian Walti studied theology at the University of Zurich and received his doctorate in liturgical sciences. Since 2014 he has worked as a Reformed pastor at the Friedenskirche and in the “House of Religions” in the city of Bern. He is also involved in “Dock 8”, a socio-cultural meeting place in the south of Bern.
The 42-year-old is expected to take up his post at the Grossmünster on
February 1, 2025, pending approval by the parish parliament. Before that, Walti will travel to New York for a study trip. He is married to theologian and former Bern Minster pastor Esther Schläpfer; the couple has two children. (jow)
Image: Ruben Hollinger
Until now, only one woman, Käthi La Roche, was a pastor at the Grossmünster between 1999 and 2011. You are a “middle-aged white man”. What do you say to critics who would have liked to see a woman at the city church?
I understand this criticism and can live with being observed. I accept the fact that there will be people who judge me by my gender – especially since I am filling a symbolic position. Women also applied, but I don’t know who my competition was. I called individual female theologians who I consider to be very capable and asked them what they thought about my application. They all said they were not applying. That gave me a relative sense of self-confidence. When I received the acceptance, the first thing I asked was how this could be justified – another man. Martin Rüsch, my fellow pastor, is a few years away from retirement. I am waiting for the female colleagues I called to apply. It is important to me to campaign for diversity. With Cornelia Camichel and Priscilla Schwendimann, for example, there are strong personalities in the Old Town Churches team. No one has to take a back seat.
«In Bern I was a “prophet in foreign lands”, in Zurich I am a kind of son.»
Christian Walti, designated Grossmünster pastor
You have a reputation as a team player. How important is good cooperation within the old town churches to you?
In Bern we tried to create projects in which at least two people were responsible. I want to keep that and I have the impression that my colleagues are open to change. Territorial allocations and rigid responsibilities are damaging to the church. Agility and flexibility are important to me. Not everyone has to have the same face, like Christoph Sigrist did. I don’t want to be the pastor that everyone comes to. Those who are in the first or second row should change.
Your wife and children are staying in Bern while you take a room in Zurich. Is your engagement a short interlude?
We are trying the “long-distance family” experiment. My wife and children are on board with this and think it’s good if I’m not always at home – that’s already the case. My wife is an independent theologian, it’s possible that she will move to Zurich, then we’ll have to talk to the children, but it’s also possible that everyone will want to stay in Bern. We don’t see that as a problem. My life will shift permanently to Zurich, and the people of Bern need to be aware of that.
Then your heart beats stronger for Zurich?
In Bern I was a “prophet in foreign lands”, in Zurich I’m a kind of son. If I say something, nobody gets the idea that I’m not one of them – I hear that all the time in Bern. I’m curious to rediscover Zurich – the city is no longer the same as it was 15 years ago. YB or FCZ? I was never really a YB fan, maybe someone can convince me to cheer for FCZ now.
Would you, as Werner Gysel did with you, leave the Grossmünster to young people overnight?
That’s a great idea, we’ll do it. I hope the housekeeping staff agrees.
