to appoint / invoke
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to appoint
To officially place someone in a high office or important position, especially a scholar in a professorship.
Die Physikerin wurde an die Universität Berlin berufen.
The physicist was appointed to the University of Berlin.
to invoke
To cite something (e.g., a law, a right, an authority) as a reason or justification for one's own actions.
Der Anwalt berief sich auf einen Präzedenzfall aus dem letzten Jahr.
The lawyer invoked a precedent from last year.
to convene
To officially convene an assembly, council, or committee; to call people together for a meeting.
Der Vorstand hat eine außerordentliche Sitzung berufen.
The board convened an extraordinary meeting.
'Berufen' (to appoint / invoke) is an inseparable verb consisting of the prefix 'be-' and the verb 'rufen' (to call). The prefix remains firmly attached to the verb in all conjugated forms.
Man hat ihn in den Aufsichtsrat berufen.
He was appointed to the supervisory board.
This meaning is very often used in the passive to emphasize who receives the position. The position is often indicated with 'auf' (+ accusative) or 'an' (+ accusative), especially in academic contexts.
Sie wurde auf eine Professur für Geschichte berufen.
She was appointed to a professorship in history.
This meaning exists only as a reflexive construction with a fixed preposition: 'sich auf etwas berufen' (to invoke/rely on something). The 'etwas' is always in the accusative and is the reason or justification.
Sie berief sich auf ihr Recht zu schweigen.
She invoked her right to remain silent.
In the meaning of 'einberufen' (to convene), the verb is combined with committees or assemblies. Typical objects are: eine Sitzung (a meeting), eine Konferenz (a conference), einen Ausschuss (a committee), or einen Krisenstab berufen (to convene a crisis team).
Der Präsident berief eine Sondersitzung des Parlaments.
The president convened a special session of parliament.
to hire / adjust / stop
When referring to a professorship, einstellen and berufen can describe the same personnel process from different perspectives. Einstellen emphasizes the employment relationship, while berufen emphasizes the official appointment to the professorship. For the academic appointment, berufen is therefore more precise.
Die Universität beruft die Wissenschaftlerin zum April auf eine Professur.
The university appoints the researcher to a professorship effective April.
Die Universität stellt die Wissenschaftlerin ab April mit einem unbefristeten Arbeitsvertrag ein.
The university hires the researcher on a permanent employment contract starting in April.
