Πέμπτη 24 Οκτωβρίου 2019

COUNCIL OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN GERMANY DECLARES 2021 “YEAR OF ECUMENISM”

Council of Christian Churches in Germany declares 2021 “Year of Ecumenism”
Castle Church in Wiittenberg, Germany. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
24 October 2019

The Council of Christian Churches in Germany has declared the year 2021 as a “Year of Ecumenism” in order to be able to link the Ecumenical Kirchentag as well as other ecumenical events to the World Council of Churches 11th Assembly, to be held in Karlsruhe, Germany in 2021.
The year 2021 will also hold the 3rd Ecumenical Kirchentag as well as several regional jubilees, all of which will promote ecumenism. The Council of Christian Churches in Germany has therefore proclaimed a “Year of Ecumenism 2021“ in order to make the diversity of the ecumenical landscape in Germany visible and to harmonise the various events planned.
Dr Verena Hammes, general secretary of the Council of Christian Churches in Germany, reflected that the year 2021 will be a very important year for the ecumenical life of churches in Germany. "Of course we are all looking forward to the Third Ecumenical Kirchentag which will take place from 12-16 May in Frankfurt and brings together a lot of Christians in Germany,” said Hammes. “The Kirchentag is also a great opportunity to communicate church life in society and consider public themes together.”
Hammes added that churches in Germany are deeply happy to be hosts for the WCC Assembly.
“Besides those two big events, the Council of Churches in Germany celebrates its yearly Ecumenical Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation for the first time together with the Swiss and Austrian councils at the Bodensee,” said Hammes. “In addition to that, a few more regional anniversaries with ecumenical perspectives will take place.”
Hammes added: “To give all these events a frame in which to be placed, the General Assembly of the Council of Churches in Germany proclaimed a Year of Ecumenism 2021 in order to express the relevance of our Christian life in society, in order to collect these events and to strengthen the unity among the Christian churches in Germany and worldwide.