With the start of Advent, a new ecumenical venture has been born in Germany. Promoted by German Catholic Action (ZdK) in collaboration with the Johann-Adam-Möhler institute for ecumenism in Paderborn, the religious institute of the evangelical league in Bensheim and the ecumenical institute of the Catholic faculty of theology in Münster, the project is an internet-based form of ecumenism. Its website www.oekumene-ideenboerse.de is aimed at promoting ecumenical collaboration by the exchange of ideas, and the pooling of experiences. “Ecumenism is alive and well. It’s with us! declared Hans-Georg Hunstig, spokesman of the ZdK, on the occasion of the project’s presentation in recent days , We invite everyone interested in the ecumenical practice of parishes, associations and institutions to participate in this exchange of experiences via Internet”. The intention is to present on the website not only “the already well-tried fields of ecumenical collaboration, but also future ecumenical projects”. The site contains models of ecumenism subdivided by sectors that range from religious services to communities, from biblical work in schools to charitable activities performed in partnership by Catholic and Evangelic organizations. Apart from these practical examples, information is also given on the various ecumenical documents published by the Churches. According to Hunstig, for whom the project also represents “an important sign on the road to the Ecumenical Day of the Churches”, planned to be held in Berlin from 28 May to 1st June 2003, the site “may become a kind of agora, a media fair for the exchange of the common commitment of many Christians, a stimulus for a new ecumenical life in our cities and communities”.
