German bishop seeks divorce

A leading German bishop has petitioned for divorce from her husband, and is the first bishop ever in the country to do so.

Margot Kaessmann, bishop of Hanover, has not stated why she wishes to end her marriage but she is being supported by the German church, The Times reports.

In a statement, the Hanover Synod said: "The church senate declares unanimously that it supports bishop Margot Kaessmann in this difficult situation, and supports also with all its force the continuation of her proven record in office."

Bishop Kaessmann and her husband Eckhard have been married for 26 years and have four daughters together.

The 48-year-old leads more than three million Evangelical Lutherans in Lower Saxony, Germany. Upon her ordination she was the youngest serving bishop in the country, and she was also Germany's second female bishop.

Her estranged husband is also a pastor, and at the beginning of their careers the couple served together in a parish.