What led to the decision to open Genezareth Church for non-religious events?
Genezareth Church was once a quiet Protestant church with a dwindling congregation. The Protestant Church District of Neukölln was looking for a place to try out new concepts for church spaces—so-called "third places" that blend the functions of a cultural centre and a place of worship. The aim was to breathe new life into the church and explore alternative funding models.
Today, Genezareth Church hosts services, spiritual workshops and a wide range of events. It serves as a testing ground for understanding how a church can also function as an event venue, and what costs and logistics are involved.
The church is now a vibrant space offering a diverse programme: from baby groups and community work in the mornings, to choir rehearsals and workshops in the afternoons, and concerts, weddings, dinner parties and congresses in the evenings. The concept has proven successful and attracts visitors from across Europe who come to be inspired.
I originally joined the project as an interior designer and developed the design concept for the church. I’m now working on a similar project for another church on the outskirts of Berlin, focusing on creating a modern, welcoming and practical community centre—one that draws people in without necessarily requiring them to become church members.
You originally trained as an interior designer—how did you come into your current role?
I came to the project by chance. As a designer, I met the pastor in charge, who gave me the opportunity to develop the interior and lighting concept. We created a flexible and modular design that allows the space to be quickly transformed—for example, for congresses, children's groups or weddings.
After the design phase, the church was looking for someone to take over the commercial side of venue hire. With twelve years of experience as a production manager and coordinator in film and television—and a strong network—it turned out to be a perfect fit. Although I hadn’t had any personal connection to the church since my youth, I found the project exciting and wanted to get involved.
Now I support the church not only with venue hire, but also in an advisory capacity when it comes to aesthetic decisions. We're continually developing the space, working with artist collectives and improving the technical infrastructure. I’m also building a team of event managers and social media managers to keep up with growing interest and workload.
Our sole aim is to keep the space vibrant and to use it as a kind of testing ground from which the church can learn. Other than that, there’s no fixed roadmap—we’re constantly experimenting and evolving.
How do non-religious visitors perceive the space? Are you managing to create an open, welcoming atmosphere?
This space is very open to all backgrounds, religious affiliations, genders and sexual orientations. That openness was established right from the start by our leadership team, and I find that incredibly impressive. I come from a strictly Christian family myself, but here I’ve come to appreciate a new kind of openness. Our Protestant church has both male and female pastors, some of whom are in relationships and married.
We also have an intercultural centre that focuses on building relationships with other religions and cultural identities. At some Christian events, rabbis and other faith representatives are invited to join, supporting interfaith dialogue. This inclusive approach convinced me from the very beginning, as I believe all religions should coexist peacefully and side by side.
We’ve launched many small-scale projects, like urban gardening and children’s groups, that bring people together and foster community connections. Friendships and a real sense of togetherness are forming here—which, in my view, is deeply rooted in faith. This kind of social exchange is far stronger than it used to be, back when churches primarily offered worship services for members of the congregation.
That said, in the venue hire business, I do notice that some companies hesitate or decline to book with us because they don’t want to hold their event in a church. It shows that many people still have preconceived ideas or reservations about religious spaces—often without knowing how open and versatile these places have become. If they could see for themselves how flexible and welcoming our church is, many of those prejudices would quickly fall away.
There is a certain hesitation, but overwhelmingly we get positive responses. People are often amazed when they realise that events like parties or meditation sessions take place in our church. It shows that our approach is working—and offers a compelling example of how a church can be something quite different.
What about MICE events at Genezareth Church?
This venue is ideally suited for congresses. We have three colour-coded galleries, an additional side room, and a beautiful setting close to Tempelhofer Feld. In my ideal scenario, we’d host three to four congresses here each month.
Unlike conventional congress centres, we offer a unique and engaging atmosphere. Innovative companies and start-ups in particular are looking for something out of the ordinary—and our venue delivers exactly that.
Churches are typically empty during the week and mainly used in the evenings and on Sundays, which makes them perfect for congresses. All you really need are chairs, a projector and catering. The distinctive setting leaves a lasting impression, and the acoustics lend themselves to memorable highlights such as live music. We can even transition straight into a dinner party, supported by the TERZ restaurant just across the way.