Marianne Kellenberger long held the dream of becoming a pastor. Twelve years ago, she achieved that goal and has been serving the Saanen-Gsteig community since 2016. She generously carved out time from her busy schedule to sit down with GstaadLife and talk  about community, compassion and the future of the church

You are from Gstaad originally?
Yes, I grew up in the Ebnit region, just down the road from where I live now. I always wanted to become a pastor from a very young age, but I wasn’t so good in school. I didn’t think it would be possible to complete the necessary studies so when I left school I undertook a photography apprenticeship. However, I didn’t enjoy the work, so I decided to complete another apprenticeship in banking and then worked for UBS in Thun, Bern and Lausanne.

That doesn’t sound like the traditional career route of a pastor. What made you finally decide to enter the church?
It was down to my grandfather, really. He was getting older, and just before he died, he reminded me that my dream had been to become a pastor when I was a child. I told him I still wanted that, but I was concerned about the training because you have to learn Latin, Hebrew, and Greek. I just thought it would be too complicated for me. But he insisted that in life, you must follow your dreams. Shortly after that conversation, he died. I went straight to see Pastor Hemmeler and asked him what it would take for me to become a pastor. I decided I was going to give it a go!

What was the training actually like?
The training began with an entrance exam. Once I passed that, I was accepted onto the main course of study. I spent two years in Bern at the Kirchlich Theologische Schule (KTS) to complete my initial qualifications. After that, I went on to the University of Bern, where I studied for three years to earn my Bachelor’s degree, followed by another three years for my Master’s. All in all, it was eight years of study.

So the little girl who wasn’t any good in school got a Master’s degree?
Yes, exactly! The whole time I kept thinking it would be so beautiful to be successful and become a pastor, but I never really thought I would achieve the goal or complete the studies because it was such a long road. But it was beautiful, and I enjoyed it all – especially learning from the old professors at the university in Bern. That was so wonderful. I really just took it step by step by step by step – and after nine years, I was a pastor! It was so, so wonderful to know I had achieved it!

What happened next?
After leaving university, you have to complete twelve months of practical training before becoming a qualified pastor. I wanted to spend that year here, but the university initially said no – they told me it wouldn’t be accepted to train in my hometown. I pushed back. I had been away from Gstaad for over twenty years, and the people here knew me from other contexts not connected to the church, so I knew it wouldn’t be a problem. Eventually, the university agreed.

What I didn’t expect was just how warmly I would be received. The people gave me their trust – their confidence in me was so genuine, and that really touched me. It made me feel completely at home. I learned that truly speaking with people – really connecting with them – is the key to their hearts. And being from here, for the people here, brings a special quality to the work I hadn’t anticipated.

After that year of practical training in Gstaad, I moved away, spending almost four years in Eriswil.

It was a small parish, and I was the only pastor there, with just some part-time help. I had to carry the entire community on my shoulders and manage everything myself. It was a powerful learning experience. I understand now how a parish really functions because I had to do it all.

And now, here in Gstaad, in a parish that includes Saanen and the surrounding areas. I’m one of three pastors, which brings a different dynamic to the work. But it feels incredibly meaningful to be home, serving this community.

You help people navigate life from start to finish – from births to funerals. Tell me about that.
For me, being a pastor means walking alongside people throughout their entire lives – through everything, from the most joyful to the most painful moments. That’s what I feel called to do.

One of the most visible parts of my work is writing and delivering sermons, especially during times of grief. When someone has lost a loved one – someone deeply dear to them – being present in that moment is incredibly important. It’s a privilege to offer comfort and strength, to simply be there with all the love and care I can give.

In those moments, I see my role as one of pure service. I help people enter a new chapter of life, one without the person they’ve lost. And in its simplest form, I’m there to serve – with my presence, with my words when no one else can find any, with my ability to organise and offer structure when everything feels like it’s falling apart. It’s quiet, beautiful work, and it means everything to me to help people in these difficult moments.

Weddings, on the other hand, can be a bit more complex – and amusing at times. People often come with very fixed ideas about what they want: the music, the atmosphere, the theatre of it all. And I have to gently remind them that a wedding in the church is a religious service, not a performance. Once, a groom wanted the entire wedding party to dance out of the church. I asked him, “Do you know your parents?” He paused, and then realised – no, they would not be dancing out of the church. Clapping, perhaps, but not dancing! It was something he’d seen on television. People come with all kinds of ideas!

Music is another one. People regularly want “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. And I must explain – it’s beautifully written, yes, but the song tells the story of David, who desires Bathsheba and sends her husband into battle to die. Not quite the love story you want at your wedding ceremony! They usually understand – but it’s still funny how often it comes up.

These days, I usually only officiate weddings for people from the Saanenland. If someone from outside the region reaches out, I’ll meet with them and help them find the right pastor for their celebration. Sometimes that’s me – but more often, I connect them with someone else who suits their vision.

What do you most enjoy about being pastor?
I really like everything about my job, but if I had to pick something in particular, two things come to mind. First, would be working with children – especially teenagers. They are so positive and so willing to share their ideas and opinions. I love listening to them and have learned so much from their view of life. Second, I also really love preparing sermons and the message I can give to help people.

How do you write your sermons?
If I’m preparing for a celebration like a baptism, I begin with the verse the family has chosen for the child. I use that text as the foundation for the sermon, building everything around it. I always try to draw from the people involved in the service. What are they bringing into this moment? I try to meet them there.

At other times, inspiration comes from something more unexpected – maybe a piece of music that fits the moment. I often take the songs that will be sung during the service and weave them into the sermon.

If I have no specific ideas, I simply choose a story from the Bible and build the message from there. I really love exploring the stories in the Bible – they offer so much depth and humanity. There’s also a structured way of working with the Bible – a kind of cycle where you take a different passage each Sunday. Over the course of six years, you cover almost the entire Bible. Sometimes I follow that approach.

How do you separate your work from your personal life?
Finding balance is a difficult part of the job. I don’t want to create a barrier between myself and the people I serve, but I also need to protect a bit of space for myself.

Over time, I’ve developed a small system to help me step out of both the very sad moments and the very beautiful ones. Because ultimately, those moments belong to them, not to me.

At home, I have a soap that smells really good. When I get home, I go into my bathroom and wash my hands with it. As I do this, I say to myself, Now I’m back with me. And I pray – I ask God to take care of these people now. They’re in His hands. They’re in their own shoes, walking their own path. And I return to mine.

If it was an especially hard or emotional service, I’ll sometimes take a shower or a bath, using the same soap. That ritual helps me come back to myself. Back to comfort. Back to stillness. Just to be with myself again.

How do you see the role of the church in 2025?
I believe the church continues to offer something deeply important in 2025: a sense of stability in the community. We are here for everyone, and that really matters. We’re not a club for a specific group. We don’t serve just the elderly or just the young. We’re here for all people, across every stage of life. I think it’s really important to remember that.

We create spaces and moments that stand beside people as they move through life. I think the church has an important role in reminding people what it really is – and what it has always been.

Long before the state took over such responsibilities as education, welfare and care, the church was doing that work. The church built schools, offered support, looked after those in need. We were here before the state as we know it, and I believe we will still be here long after.

I see the church as the heart of the community – not just something on the side, but something central, steady, and enduring. We are here for the people. Sometimes, I think it’s important for the church to stand tall – shoulders back – and simply say: We are here. We are here for you.

Life is often fast-paced and challenging. How does the church help people navigate modern life?
I believe the church has an important role in showing people – young, old, and in between – that they are good as they are, that they are loved, and that they have worth, not because of what they do in life but simply because they exist. I think we give people silence and stability.

The church can offer something very special: a deep sense of confidence. A confidence in the great love that exists between heaven and earth. And I don’t think this depends on which religion someone follows. What matters is that a person lives their faith – really lives it.

For me, Christianity is the path I follow. But I do believe everyone needs something they can hold onto – something that helps them feel there is more. Something that reminds them they are not alone. I see it when I’m with the children – the ones who are around fourteen. I tell them stories from the Bible. Over time, I’ve learned how to tell these stories well, and now I share them with the children. I try to give them something meaningful – a moment for the soul. A space where they can slow down, be present, and just be themselves without stress or pressure.

What do you do to relax?
I love drawing. Whenever I’m learning a new Bible story by heart, I find it helps to create a series of drawings to help me remember the tale. And then I colour in the drawings. That’s important to me – lots of colour – and I’m left with some beautiful pictures. In fact, I love the Bible stories so much that I recently completed a project, in collaboration with Micha Perreten, to translate the Old Testament into Swiss German, which I’d love to publish on iTunes. We’re starting work on the New Testament. It’s a lot of fun.

However, my favourite hobby is playing golf. My husband suggested golf to me for years, but I never thought it was a sport for me. But then, I had the opportunity to try it and it’s just perfect. Whenever I arrive at the golf club I feel as though I’m on holiday for a couple of hours. It’s a way for me to completely relax.

I tried other sports, but they weren’t a success. I found that when I went jogging, my mind was working overtime, which was not relaxing! Swimming was even worse because it was utter silence, and I felt as though I carried people’s sadness with me! Golf is totally different. I’m not really that good, but I enjoy it, and that’s the most important thing. You have to really focus on the ball, and in that moment, there is nothing else to think about.

ANNA CHARLES