CHRISTIAN CHURCHES
Brussels: KEK at the meeting of religious leaders Representatives of Christian, Anglican, Reformed, Lutheran and Orthodox Churches in Europe attended the meeting of the religious leaders of 14 EU-Member States with the Presidents of European institutions held July 19. In a statement KEK underlines that the meeting in Brussels “was the first after the ratification of Lisbon Treaty which provides for EU engagement in an open, transparent and ongoing dialogue with the Churches and faith communities”. In consideration of Art.17 of the Treaty, the archbishop of Athens and All Greece Hieronimos II conveyed the need for “structured dialogue between religious communities, targeted at the eradication of poverty and social exclusion”. Christopher Hill, Anglican bishop of Guildford (Church of England and KEK vice-president) expressed his hope that it will become a “substantial dialogue”. Indeed, he added, “the Churches can give and important contribution to Europe given their presence at local and national level, whose influence extends throughout Europe and across the world”. “Furthermore – he added – Churches are also the largest social-service providers in Europe, thus they best convey the claims of the man-on-the street, notably those living in a state of poverty and social exclusion”. The themes of the ongoing economic crisis, the Churches’ contribution and their dialogue with EU institutions were equally addressed by Metropolitan Emmanuel of France, KEK president, by bishop Porfyrios of the Church in Cyprus and by President Guy Liagre, representing Belgium’s united Protestant Church. Italy: conference on Edinburgh “Longing for communion, building dialogue. One hundred years of ecumenical hope”. This is the title of the 47th formation Session promoted each year by the Secretariat for Ecumenical Activity (SAE), an inter-denominational movement of lay people engaged in the field of ecumenism and dialogue. The meeting will take place in Chianciano (Siena, Italy) July 25 – 31. The meeting draws inspiration from the Edinburgh Conference of 1910, which marked the beginning of the ecumenical movement. An intense week of debates, reflection and prayer with lectures by speakers from different confessional and cultural backgrounds mark this year’s SAE event. “It is a precious occasion to cherish once again the hope of a communion with Edinburgh – said Simone Morandini, professor of Ecumenical studies at S. Bernardino in Venice -. We will examine what has happened over the past one hundred years at international and national level along with the future prospects we are called to invest our dreams in”. Lutherans: the 11th World Assembly in Stuttgart”Give us this day our daily bread”: the fourth request of the Pater Noster is the theme of the 11th Assembly of the World Lutheran Federation (LWF) -which started off on July 20 in Stuttgart, Germany. The Assembly – LWF highest governing body – meets every 6 years. Some 1,000 people are expected to attend this year’s meeting which include 418 delegates who will debate the priorities of Lutheran witness in the world. The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams will deliver the keynote speech. “Hunger is not God’s fault but ours” LWF President bishop Mark. S. Hanson said in the opening address. “If people lack what they need for daily life, it is because we have failed to ensure that the good things of God’s creation are justly and equitably distributed to all”. Bishop Hanson, who serves as the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), was elected in the LWF Assembly in Winnipeg (Canada) in 2003. His mandate is due to expire this year. The delegates gathered in Stuttgart will elect his successor. Germany: Hamburg’s woman bishop resigns Protestant German Church representatives regretfully accepted the resignations of the bishop of Hamburg Maria Jepsen, the first female Lutheran bishop, due to abuse allegations in her diocese. Jepsen was confronted with the case of pastor Dieter K., who abused 20 boys and girls in the 1970s-80s in the city of Ahrensburg. Jepsen said she was informed of the abuses only in March 2010 after which she acted accordingly. According to Der Spiegel, the bishop had been informed of the case already in 1999 but failed to take the necessary measures. “My credibility has been called into question”, she said to explain her decision. “Therefore, I am no longer in a position to continue the duty I promised to God and to my congregation when I was ordained and when I was elected as a bishop”. Maria Jepsen’s resignations follow those of woman bishop Margot Kässmann, who a few months ago stepped down as EKD President for drink-driving.
