The 30th annual German Evangelical Kirchentag (DEKT) opened at Hanover on 25 May. The event, which will continue till Sunday 29 May, is dedicated this year to the social situation in Germany, the consequences of globalization, the role of the Churches and ecumenism. The participation of some 100,000 people is expected for the final day. World Youth Day (WYD) will also be present at the event in Hanover with its own stand to give information on the Days of meeting in the dioceses, the Day of social commitment and on the programme of WYD in Cologne. The event is traditionally considered a platform for social and political developments and will be characterised by the participation of various personalities, including the President of the Republic Horst Köhler and Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Established at Hanover in 1949 on the initiative of the theologian Reinold von Thadden-Trieglaff, the Evangelical congress has been held each year since 1954. Over 3000 events are planned this year, including the meeting of evangelical bishop Wolfgang Huber, chairman of the Council of the German Evangelical Council, with Cardinal Karl Lehmann, president of the German Bishops’ Conference, who will review the first ecumenical Kirchentag, held in Berlin in 2003, in collaboration with the Central Committee of German Catholics. The next ecumenical meeting of the German Churches will be held in Munich in 2010.
