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Castle Church in Wiittenberg, Germany. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC
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.
