Christian identity in Europe

About 70 pastoral theologians from 14 European countries (Belgium, Croatia, Czech republic, Netherlands, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine) participated at the international symposium held in Prague on 19-22 March under the title "Christian Identity in Europe". The event – first of its kind – was organized by the Conference of German speaking pastoral theologians and the Association of pastoral theologians from Central and Eastern Europe.Without barriers. The main aim of the organizers was to allow personal meeting of coleagues from German speaking countries and from the countries of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as to offer opportunity for academic dialogue on one topic from various aspects. "German speaking participants were surprised and really appreciated that it was possible to hold the symposium in German language, that coleagues for whom it’s not a mother tongue speak German well enough to exchange experiences and views on academic level", says one of the organizers, Dr. Petr Slouk, noting that this fact and joint preparation of the event contributed to a "good atmosphere" that characterized the whole symposium. Will to overcome the differences. Conference becomes a place where pastoral theologians reflect on differences in their views regarding the situation of the Church and its pastoral work, as well as on elements uniting them. Thus, the academic debate transcended the borders among the countries, national cultures and attitudes towards pastoral issues, explain the organizers, adding that "plurality of Europe reflects in various social realities related to pastoral theological approaches. We may encounter tensions, but we’ll gladly manage them with mutual respect and good will". The first part of the symposium was dedicated to presentations on Christian identity by theologians from several countries. Prof. Josip Baloban from Croatia and Prof. Maria Widl from Germany focused on theological criteria of Christian identity. Afterwards, the experts discussed the meaning and importance of constitutive elements of the Church from the point of view of Church communities/Church leadership and their practical aspects. Among other topics there were diacony/cultural solidarity, liturgy, sacraments, spirituality, as well as "Christian heritage and its message in the middle of the city". Prof. Tomás Halík from Charles University in Prague raised a guestion "Is Europe without soul?" and his referate was followed by discussion about common challenges in this regard. "We hope that our joint symposium will strengthen international contacts and contribute to mutual opennes among pastoral theologians", comments Prof. Richard Hartmann, president of the Conference of German speaking pastoral theologians on the results of the event. Dialogue between theory and practice. "Great importance in pastoral theology belongs to practice and the context in which the Church is active and in which people live. A dialogue between theory and practice", explains Petr Slouk, pointing to the fact that this attitude resulted in two afternoons during which the participants of the symposium had an opportunity to encounter real life through interesting projects of Community Center of Mother Therese, Academic parish by the Church of the Holy Redeemer or Ecumenical academy in Prague. Two groups decided for "alternative sightseing". A tourist guide who has experience with life on streets, provides unusual tour over the places, cultural and historical sites of Prague. "These guided tours are very intense and spontaneous, because the guides don’t focus on theory but on their personal experiences, including the insight to often severe life in difficult conditions", explains Slouk. Plans for the future. In the future, both parties will try to improve mutual communication and flow of information through invitations to academic conferences and contributions to newsletters of the Conference of German speaking pastoral theologians. "There’s a mutual interest for contact, as the event in Prague included also discussion of concrete possibilities of cooperation on professional projects", note the organizers. The Council of the Conference of German speaking pastoral theologians which held its session after the symposium has shown an interest to organize similar event that could take place in 3-4 years. Setting of the topic for the next symposium will be up to the Association of pastoral theologians of Central and Eastern Europe. The conference was supported by the Renovabis Foundation and hosted by the Pastoral Center of the Prague Archbishopric, with cooperation of Catholic Faculty of Theology of Charles University.