Dr. Jens Kreuter is a lawyer and theologian. During his childhood, his family lived in Liberia (for two years). As a high-school student, he spent a year in the USA. After graduating from high school in Wuppertal, he did social work in Israel from 1985, thus fulfilling his duty to do civilian service as a conscientious objector instead of being drafted to Germany’s armed forces (Bundeswehr). He did voluntary work for the World Council of Churches and the biannual conferences of Germany’s Protestant Church. Kreuter studied at the universities of Wuppertal, Bern, Naumburg/Saale and Heidelberg.
In the course of is post-graduate legal training, he worked for the Administrative Court of Baden-Württemberg and the Brussels office of the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD). He also served as a vicar in Bonn. After completing his training as lawyer and pastor, he took parental leave for one year.
From 2001 to 2006, he was an EKD advisor on matters concerning the welfare state and socio-economic matters. After a short stint as a personal assistant to the chief of staff of the state premier of Lower Saxony, he was appointed federal commissioner for the Civilian Service on October 1st, 2006, and held that office until both military and civilian service were susprended. He remained an officer of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and was responsible for setting up the Federal Voluntary Service, the International Youth Voluntary Service and the development of youth voluntary services.
Jens Kreuter is married and has three children.
On February 1st, 2015 Dr. Jens Kreuter became Chief Executive Officer of Engagement Global gGmbH – Service für Entwicklungsinitiativen (Engagement Global gGmbH – Service for Development Initiatives).