The Council of the German Evangelical Church (EKD) presented a second document on dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Germany on 28 November. The document is to be considered both “as a tool to guide members of the EKD and public opinion” on the question, and as a “specific contribution to dialogue with Muslims in Germany”, explained Bishop Wolfgang Huber, chairman of the EKD Council, during the press conference at which the document was presented. As pointed out by Huber together with Jürgen Schmude, who chairs the ad hoc committee set up by the Council, the document defines the guidelines that evangelical communities should follow in seeking collaboration with their Moslem partners. Schmude, former federal minister and ecclesiastical president of the EKD Synod, also pointed out that “good neighbourhood between Christians and Muslims has long been pursued” and presents “good opportunities for development”: therefore, “the critical questions” that will emerge during talks “are not attacks but efforts to find common ground and foster mutual understanding”.
