From parliament to the army: national councilor Yvette Estermann becomes an army chaplain

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Your first encounter with the Swiss army: a shock. In 1993 Yvette Estermann (56) moved from Slovakia to Switzerland. She saw soldiers of the Swiss army in public carrying their assault rifles. “Is War Here?” she wondered. So she tells the “Aargauer Zeitung”.

The shock gave way to admiration. About the militia army. And the SVP land council member is quoted in the article about the confidence that a state has in its citizens that they can even take their weapons home.

Change of scenery after 16 years of federal politics

Now Estermann himself enters the army. After 16 years in federal politics, she will step down as a member of the National Council at the end of the legislature in December. National pride, light bulbs and daylight saving time – these were the subjects to which she devoted herself with great zeal.

From next year she will serve as a pastor in the army, among other things. Three years ago she started studying theology at the University of Bern. Studied Ancient Hebrew and Ancient Greek. And remembered a statement that former federal councilor Ueli Maurer (72) is said to have said at a parliamentary group meeting: The Swiss army has no pastors. Estermann took an assessment – ​​​​​​and got the job.

As an army chaplain, she will serve 15 to 25 days a year. Will support members of the military with their problems in daily military life. Will listen to them, talk to them, be there for them.

First master, then pastor

There are currently 171 chaplains serving in the military. Many of them are Reformed or Catholic, and for the past three years there have also been ministers with a liberal religious background. In the past year, Jews and Muslims have joined them. The military wants to increase the number of chaplains to 242 by 2028.

Yvette Estermann wants to be involved in theology outside the army in the future, she tells the “Aargauer Zeitung”. She wants to get her master’s first. From 2027 she plans to work as a Reformed minister. (Okay)

Source:Blick