Following the path of dialogue

Human rights and social commitment are at the heart of the Churches’ calling. The Church and Society Commission held the first plenary meeting in Hagenau (Strasbourg) May 28-June 1st. As its main theme the meeting reflected on the role of religious symbols in the public sphere. During the meeting it emerged that many conflicts over religious matters derive from a lack of communication but also from an inability to effectively address concerns emanating from increased diversity in our societies. The meetings with high-ranking officials of the Council of Europe focused on human and religious rights. The Court of Human Rights prescribes that whereas the right to believe is an absolute right, the external manifestation of religious belief can be limited in the name of public safety, public order, health and morals or the rights and freedoms of others, but only as prescribed by law and as necessary in democratic societies. Conversely, the Council of Europe has developed a new policy towards religious communities. More than before it is open for dialogue with religious communities as recognition of their importance in promoting human rights, rule of law and democracy. Over the next two years CSC will continue deepening its dialogue on globalisation with the Latin American Council of Churches, contributing to the European Year on Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion and promote nuclear disarmament.Lisbon Treaty. The Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches in conjunction with COMECE have been working on a joint document since last Autumn. The draft text was circulated for consultation by the two bodies and was adopted by the COMECE Plenary in mid-April and later by CEC Presidium at its meeting in Warsaw at the end of April. The document will serve as the basis for discussions on Article 17 with the EU institutions. The churches’ document acknowledges the similarity between the value basis of the European Union (Article 2) and the value basis of European integration as expressed in Charta Oecumenica. It considers Article 17 as a welcome legal reference reflecting the years of dialogue between the European institutions and churches and religious communities. The paper explains the specific contribution the churches make to European integration and it offers content to the notions of “openness, transparency and regularity” which are to define the dialogue. These proposals were approved by the CEC Presidium as a reserve of ideas to be drawn on during the discussions with the institutions.Human rights. Work has been under way for the definition of a Human Rights Manual for the use of CEC Member Churches. During the meeting of May 3-5 CSC brought together human rights focal points from 25 Member Churches to further debates on themes such as “The Bible and Human Rights”, “Interpretation of Human Rights in the Light of Church Fathers” and “Universality and Different Cultures and Traditions”. The draft document can be downloaded by logging on www.csc.ceceurope.org. CSC gave its endorsement to a seminar for the Protection of the cultural heritage in the Northern part of Cyprus organized by the Representation of the Church of Cyprus, which took place at the European Parliament past April 14.A Christian employment and economy network. Church Action on Labour and Life (CALL) was founded in Brussels on 28-30 April 2010, consisting of five permanent working groups. The first working group is preparing a citizen’s initiative on the balance between working time and family life. The second will focus on precarious working situations. A third group will work on the role of religion in the public sphere. The fourth group will look at concepts for sustainable economic growth. A fifth group committed itself to produce a regular newsletter on economic ethics. The whole network is to meet in assemblies. The next assembly is planned for spring 2011 in Bucharest.CSC’s upcoming events. A Dialogue Seminar on the social dimension of the Europe 2020 Strategy is scheduled for 9 July, a joint endeavour of CSC, COMECE and the European Commission, while a consultation on poverty will take place in Brussels at the end of September. CSC is involved in the organisation of the next event of the Wealth, Poverty and Ecology process of the World Council of Churches (Hungary November 8-12 2011). Fact sheetThe Church and Society Commission (CSC) is one of the commissions of the Conference of European Churches (CEC/KEK). The CSC links CEC’s 125 member churches from all over Europe and its associated organisations with the European Union’s institutions, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and the UN (on European matters). It engages its member churches and associated organisations in studies and projects relevant to church and society and thus supports and strengthens the common witness of European churches vis-à-vis the European Institutions and in the respective European societies. A 25-member Commission defines the working programme in agreement with CEC’s Central Committee. CSC Plenary meetings take place once a year, the work is carried out by an executive committee and a Secretariat in cooperation with the CEC Secretary-General in Geneva. CSC cooperates with various organizations, including COMECE. Rev. Pasteur Serge Fornerud (Federation of Swiss Protestant Churches) serves as CSC moderator.