“The Churches in Europe: witnesses of healing” is the title of a recently published book by Keith Clements, general secretary of the KEK (Conference of the European Churches that represents 126 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches and 43 church organizations throughout the continent). “Personal contribution by Clements says a press release of the Conference to the forthcoming 12th KEK assembly on ‘Jesus Christ heals and reconciles. Our witness in Europe'”, scheduled to be held in Trondheim, in Norway, from 25 June to 2 July. “Are we still useful?” is the provocative question posed to the Churches by the author who gathers together in his book (published in Geneva) “articles, speeches and sermons focused on the theme of healing and reconciliation”. They include a sermon given in Bosnia on the Sunday following 11 September 2001. “Today in ecumenism there’s too little personal faith, too few signs of joyful dedication to Christ”. In this climate, “even concepts of healing and reconciliation risk being reduced to abstractions and theological principles devoid of life, unless we are able to demonstrate their significance in a living faith and in actual experience, in Europe and elsewhere”, declared Clements.
