Old Catholic Bishop Matthias Ring Steps Down After 16 Years

Matthias Ring, bishop of the Old Catholic Church in Germany, has resigned after a 16-year tenure. The two reports differ on the timeline. Kirche-und-Leben.de said Ring had announced his intention to resign, and that the diocese of the Old Catholics in Bonn confirmed he would step down on September 5, 2026. Katholisch.de reported that he had resigned at the start of September. Both reports describe the end of his service as the close of a long episcopal ministry.

Katholisch.de reported that Ring was elected bishop in 2009 by the Synod of the Diocese. Kirche-und-Leben.de said he has served as bishop since 2010, which it described as 16 years in the episcopal office. The reports give different starting dates, and this article reports both as stated by each outlet.

Ring was born in 1963 in Wallenfels, Upper Franconia. According to Kirche-und-Leben.de, he began his ministry as a pastor in Regensburg before becoming a research associate at the Alt-Katholic Seminary of the University of Bonn. His doctoral thesis focused on National Socialism through the lens of the Old Catholic Church.

Katholisch.de reported that the Corona pandemic halted services during his tenure, causing significant financial and emotional strain for the church. Ring pointed to the consecration of 13 altars as a sign of the resilience and faith of congregations. The Old Catholic Church in Germany has nearly 16,000 members, according to both reports. Kirche-und-Leben.de said they are organized into about 60 parishes and about 60 other locations where regular services are held.

In an interview with katholisch.de, Ring described his move to what he called “albishop” with a mix of humility and humor. He spoke in casual attire in the sacristy of the name-Jesus Church in Bonn, his former cathedral. His bishop’s ring and the cathedral key remain as reminders of his former role, a way of remembering the past and passing on the faith (Hebrews 13:7).

The Old Catholic diocese of Karlsruhe will hold an extraordinary synod in October to choose his successor, according to Kirche-und-Leben.de.