Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's former foreign minister, has been elected as the country's new president, the 12th person to hold the largely ceremonial post in the post-war era.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is due to take office on 19 March 2017, succeeding Joachim Gauck. He previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2017, and as vice chancellor from 2007 to 2009. He was chairman-in-office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2016.
"Let's be brave, because then we don't have to be afraid of the future," Steinmeier said in his acceptance speech.
He said the world faces "rough times", but that Germany, as a functioning democracy, had the responsibility to fight for stability.
Pastor Johannes Naether (Hanover), the first chairman of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany, congratulated Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier (SPD) on his election to the 12th Presidency of the Federal Republic of Germany in a letter on behalf of the church.
Steinmeier took over the post in "stormy times, in which the world seemed to break at the seams. "Said Naether with a quotation from the president's speech "At this time we have to convey a clear orientation with security and no deception but with concise words. This is one of the challenging tasks you face. "Naether wished Steinmeier for a clarity of speech and intelligibility that is valuable in uniting and connecting our current community."
The church leaders called Steinmeier to the office with a "tenacity" knowing the foundation of the basic law and the values that arise from the Christian faith. "Naether continued: "I wish you continued service to our country with a joyful and grateful heart, this is, to be certain, the prayer, support and solidarity of many Christians."
