This study in church history examines Herder's ecclesiastical ministry in Saxon-Weimar (1776-1803). Thematically it follows on from Haym's biography (1880/85), but instead of subordinating Herder's official activities to the history of his life and work it presents the first comprehensive account of his official functions on the basis of their institutional and structural constants. Apart from staffing decisions and draft concepts for his three central fields of activity (church, school and university), his ministry is outlined using new archive material.

This study was awarded the Hans Lilje Prize by the Göttingen Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2006.

Martin Keßler, Universität Basel.