East German Clerics Face Dilemma in Mass Exodus

In a bit of black humor, they’re calling it the “Buda Pest,” the nagging exodus of East Germans through Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Protestant ministers in the German Democratic Republic have been watching in anguish as members and employees of their churches leave for the West.

The church leaders have exerted a degree of authority in calling for political reform and dialogue with the country’s Communist Party, and many have tried to persuade their parishioners to stay and work for change rather than fleeing.

“If there could only be some signal from the government leadership that could bring a glimmer of hope, I am sure the mass exodus would stop,” one pastor declared. He added, when questioned, “The legal recognition of the New Forum would be such a sign.”

New Forum is an organization formed by several leading intellectuals to promote dialogue on changes in East Germany. Its attempts to achieve legal recognition so far have been rejected by the government.

However, in the wake of mass protests here and in other major cities of East Germany--many of them held in churches--during the country’s 40th anniversary this past week, there were some signals that the ruling East German Politburo was willing to discuss reforms, and even make some conciliatory moves.

The church in the GDR has been functioning as a “roof” under which opposition against the government can be aired--”where people can express what they think,” said one West German church official whose work is to settle East German refugees in West Berlin.

In interviews and discussions in East Germany early this month with a number of ministers, all of whom wished to remain anonymous, it became apparent that Protestant clergy are deeply split in their evaluation of current developments in their homeland.

Some, a seemingly small minority, agree with the position taken by the communist-dominated government that critics of present policy have as their goal the overthrow of socialism.

In a British broadcast interview aired in East Germany, the Rev. Werner Kratschell of East Berlin said a government official told him socialism must not be called into question, otherwise the government will use a “Chinese-style” solution.

But the majority of ministers are deeply sympathetic with the dissatisfaction shown by much of the GDR population.

“I used to urge my members not to leave the GDR. I don’t do that anymore. I can’t criticize those who are leaving, and I also can’t criticize those who are staying,” one minister remarked.

Another pastor, who leads a small congregation in the corner of East Germany near the borders of Czechoslovakia and Poland, emphasized that the great majority of East Germans want to remain in their country. Socialism should not be overthrown, he said, but reformed.

“We don’t have true socialism here,” he explained. “It has never been given a chance. We need to fill it with new values” to replace the prevailing communism and Stalinism.

For many East Germans, discontent over the shortage of consumer goods plays a central role, the ministers said. A phony 40 mark bill (there is no such East German currency) is being circulated. It contains the sentence, “You can’t buy anything with this bill, nothing with the regular one either.”

“When you’re 30 years old in our land, what do you have to look forward to? After a wait of 12 or 15 years a Trabi and then maybe, 12 years later, still another one,” remarked one minister.

The minister was using the nickname for the Trabant, the small East German auto so often seen in television pictures of those leaving Hungary. Most parts of the body are made of pressed cardboard and it has a small two-cycle engine. The style has remained unchanged for almost 25 years. East Germans often call it their “cardboard box.”

In many cases, replacement parts for autos, plumbing and household appliances are nonexistent or can be obtained only after a long wait. Lines of shoppers seeking even basic food and consumer items are often long, and the variety of goods is limited.

Among those whose economic position in life is better, there is widespread mistrust of the government and a desire for more personal rights, clergy said. Restrictions on travel beyond East Germany are particularly galling, parishioners complained.

A young pastor said Americans should know what the church in East Germany is saying to its members:

“We understand why people feel they must leave. But we sorrow over those who go. We urge the rest to stay. And we have hope for those of us who remain. Reform may be possible; our times are in God’s hands.”