Presented on 12 September two years ago, the “Sozialwort” project consists of three phases: the first consisted in the distribution of a questionnaire to survey the activities performed by the Churches. The second phase, presented on 12 September 2001, envisaged the publication and public discussion of the “Sozialbericht” (“Report on social engagement”), that summarizes the results of the 522 questionnaires in 183 pages. The report describes the experiences and practice of ecclesiastical groups and individual Christians engaged in social service. It is subdivided into two parts: the first is composed of chapters dedicated to the various issues and the various groups of beneficiaries of social service. The second part concerns the motivations of the activities and the social institutions involved, the difficulties in performing the service, the wishes and requests being made to the Churches, to the political world and to society, the relation between Church and society and lastly the questions concerning the future. The document was publicly discussed with institutions, parties and social partners up till the spring of 2002. “In spite of all the diversities of the participating Churches says the Report the project enables us to perceive the many points we have in common”. The time has now come to pass to the third phase, which envisages the drafting of a joint final document by the 14 participating Churches.
