Benedikt Brunner, member of the academic staff at the IEG, refers to the conference to be held from the 29 to the 31 March 2023 "Priester — Volkslehrer — Zeremonienmeister. Katholische und evangelische ‚Geistliche‘ in der zweiten Hälfte des 18. Jahrhunderts". Conference Venue: Akademie des Bistums Mainz — Erbacher Hof, Grebenstr. 24–26, 55116 Mainz, Germany The search for a sustainable priesthood and parish ministry in the face of a lack of new pastoral talent is a concern for German Catholics and Protestants alike. But a look at the history of Christianity shows that a crisis-motivated striving for new forms of pastoral existence and activities that are qualified as contemporary is not only a topic of the present. The second half of the 18th century, too, was characterised by a complex mixture of intellectual, theological and devotional history, in which fundamental debates were held about the meaning, purpose and usefulness of pastors. In the context of this conference, 15 speakers will illuminate this historical background in an interdenominational and international discussion. Pastoral practices, discourses and innovations will be discussed in two sections. The German-speaking countries as well as Belgium, the Netherlands and the USA will be examined. IEG staff member Beneditk Brunner will present a lecture on "Between pietistic theory and pastoral practice. Friedrich Christoph Oetinger and Philipp Matthäus Hahn as pastors". The conference is being organised in cooperation with the Catholic Academy of the Diocese of Mainz, by Prof. Dr. Florian Bock (Ruhr-Universität Bochum), Dr. Benedikt Brunner (IEG), Prof. Dr. Thomas Kuhn (University of Greifswald), Prof. Dr. Bernhard Schneider (Society for Middle Rhine Church History and Faculty of Theology, Trier). Registration: Academy of the Diocese of Mainz, Erbacher Hof. Grebenstr. 24-26, 55116 Mainz E-mail: ebh.akademie@bistum-mainz.de For enquiries call 06131/257-523 The fees can be paid on site in cash or by EC card. The conference fee (catering) is 98.00 €, plus accommodation (single room incl. breakfast) for 2 nights the fee is € 138.00 Picture: Münstermaifeld, Stiftskirche, Epitaph des Kanonikers Christoph Heidger, 1572. Photographer Rolf Kranz. Source: Wikimedia Commons.