Hans Joachim Schliep (born 22 March 1945, in Drangstedt) is a German Lutheran theologian, pastor and author. From 1990 to 1999 he was director of the Amt für Gemeindedienst (English: Office for Community Service, since 2002 Haus kirchlicher Dienste of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover), and by May 2000 the commissioner for the environment (German: Umweltbeauftragter) of the Church of Hanover and the Confederation of Protestant Churches in Lower Saxony. From 1999 to 2008 Schliep was the first pastor at the Kronsberg Church Centre and founder of the congregation at the Expo-neighbourhood in Kronsberg, Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany. Biography Study Schliep finished junior high school in 1961 and started an apprenticeship at the Seebeck Shipyard in Bremerhaven as an industrial clerk and worked there until 1965. In 1969 he attended the Jung-Stilling-College in Espelkamp (Ecclesiastical Institute for the attainment of higher education) for his high school diploma and finished a study of Protestant theology, philosophy and in social sciences. In 1974 Schliep gained a first theology degree at the Ruhr University Bochum and served subsequently as vicar for the Evangelical Church of Westphalia at the Stiepel Village Church in Stiepel, Bochum, Westphalia. Career Schliep was ordained in October 1976 and was pastor at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Cross in Bremerhaven. In 1983 Schliep was appointed as department head (Dezernent), titled Oberkirchenrat (superior ecclesiastical councillor) to the Hanover Regional Church Office (German: Landeskirchenamt Hannover) of the Church of Hanover responsible for the training of pastors, adult education, folk high schools ("Heimvolkshochschulen") and other things. On 1 March 1990 Schliep was appointed director of the Amt für Gemeindedienst (Office of Community Service) and commissioner for the environment (until 31 May 2000) of the Church of Hanover and the Confederation of Protestant Churches in Lower Saxony. From 1991 he was the coordinator and manager of the Church of Hanover Help for Chernobyl Children (since 1994: AG Hilfe für Tschernobylkinder). During this time he was the first and only Commissioner for Aviation for the Church of hannover. From 1994 to 1999 Schliep was in personal union director of the Amt für Gemeindedienst, department head at the Hanover Regional Church Office and an extraordinary member in the college of the Regional Church Office (German: Ausserordentliches Mitglied im -Kollegium- des Landeskirchenamtes Hannover). Schliep left his leadership offices at his own request in April 1999 and became pastor at the Kronsberg Church Centre (official Exhibit