The second international ecumenical gathering promoted by “Together for Europe” is to be held in Stuttgart on 12 May. “Together for Europe” is a regrouping of 250 Christian movements – Catholic, Evangelical, Anglican and Orthodox – and communities from all over Europe that, while maintaining their own autonomy, act together on particular occasions in pursuit of shared objectives, bringing the contribution of their own charism and their own spirituality. The meeting’s objective, explain its promoters, is to “arouse an ever wider commitment to a more united, more vital and more responsible Europe” overcoming “prejudices, nationalism, historical traumas, social conflicts, fears of the future and loss of identity, in response to the questions about meaning and values”. This year’s meeting forms part of the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome and is aimed at “making a contribution also to the ‘itinerary’ that the Churches of Europe are making in preparation for the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3), due to be held in Sibiu (Romania) from 4 to 9 September 2007”. “Together for Europe” will be held in the Hanns Martin Schleyer Sports Centre in Stuttgart, with satellite link-ups with parallel events in Paris, Moscow, Belfast, Madrid, Budapest and Prague. It will be introduced among others by Cardinal Walter Kasper, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity, and Pastor Arnold de Clermont, President of the CEC (Conference of European Churches) and of the Protestant Federation of France. The introductory addresses will be followed by the reflections of Evangelical pastor Ulrich Parzany, Nicky Gumbel (Anglican Church), Chiara Lubich (Focolari) and Andrea Riccardi (St. Egidio Community). Marriage and the family, economy and work, poverty, peace and justice, and the urban environment will be the focus of testimonies and discussions. The meeting also plans a dialogue with representatives of the civil and ecumenical institutions of the continent, including the Orthodox Archbishop of Tirana and all Albania, Anastasios Yannulatos, the Archbishop of Prague, Cardinal Miloslav Vlk, and Jacques Barrot, vice-president of the European Commission. The meeting will end with a “Message to Europe”, a declaration of commitment by the movements and communities of the various Churches and proposals for the involvement of politicians and civil society.
