At their extraordinary district assembly on 31 May 2026, the members of the Reformed Church in the Zug Menzingen Walchwil district nominated Ruth Schäfer for election as their new minister.

The nomination was passed unanimously. Ruth Schäfer introduced herself personally to the congregation beforehand and gave an insight into her background, her previous work and her motivation.

Candidate with extensive experience
Ruth Schäfer comes from Essen in Germany and studied theology and philosophy in Bochum, Jerusalem and Munich. She came to Switzerland in 2011 and completed a training vicariate with the Evangelical Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt in Frenkendorf-Füllingsdorf and Kleinbasel. Since then, she has worked in both individual and team pastoral roles in various Reformed cantonal churches.

Ruth Schäfer also has many years of international experience as a university lecturer at the Theological College in Banjarmasin, Indonesia, and as a visiting lecturer at the Sabah Theological Seminary, which serves several Protestant churches in Sabah, Malaysia.

Collaboration as a key element
Ms Schäfer sees her strengths in the areas of pastoral care, spirituality and worship planning. During her introduction, she emphasised that she was particularly drawn to the combination of active village life with local clubs and ecumenical collaboration. “God speaks to us humans through life experiences, today just as in biblical times. It is exciting to engage in conversation about this together.”

She is also deeply committed to supporting elderly, old or sick people, to whom she will devote herself as part of her work with the elderly in the city of Zug.

Successor to Reverend Irene Schwyn
Following the death of long-serving Reverend Irene Schwyn in October 2024, the vacant parish post was filled by various temporary replacements and subsequently re-advertised. The members of the Reformed Church in the Zug Menzingen Walchwil district are delighted to be able to nominate Ruth Schäfer as a suitable candidate who wishes to continue the life of the congregation in Walchwil and enrich the work with the elderly in Zug.

The election of the new pastor is scheduled for 22 June 2026 during the meeting of the Grand Parish Council. Simona Starzynski