Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

From its very beginnings, it was taken as a matter of course in the Christian Community that both men and women alike could receive the Sacrament of Ordination and enter the priesthood. Well before his lecture courses on theology which led up to the founding of the Movement for Religious Renewal, Rudolf Steiner made it very clear that women had just as much right as men to hold services.

There were for example three women amongst the priests ordained in 1922; indeed, Gertrud Spörri even belonged to the first group responsible for leading the whole movement. Since that time, it has been clear that men and women have equal responsibilities within the priesthood not just in terms of carrying the congregations but also in all other tasks within the priests' circle.

As the Priest Seminary in Stuttgart does not receive any state funding, we rely on course fees for our income. The fees are presently approximately 7,500 Euros per year for accommodation, course fees and food during weekdays (except for suppers). In individual cases a student loan or 'stipendium' can be applied for in the second year of the course. The granting of a student loan depends on available resources.

The Seminary is recognised by the funding body 'Bundesausbildungförderungsgesetz' (or BAFöG).

In general, the students live in single rooms in one of our two places of accommodation at the Seminary. There are exceptions however when, due to the family situation for example, a different arrangement is necessary.