“We need points of contact for our confidence”
At the opening of the synod of the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (Protestant Church in Germany – EKD), which is convening in Würzburg, Bishop Kirsten Fehrs, Acting Chair of the Council of EKD, today (Sunday 10 November) called for trust in God when it came to accepting and shaping the changes on the agenda in the church and society. “Much in our world has become unstable – and many people are experiencing growing uncertainty and fears,” she said, adding that it was an important demand on the church to name these concerns clearly and seriously address them. “Our work in society and spiritually starts where people need us, where words and rituals keep fears under control and prop up hope,” said the acting Council Chair. “We need points of contact for our confidence.” It was not just a matter of what was on the mind and heart of each individual – it was also about the soul of a country, Bishop Fehrs declared.
The acting Council Chair also commented on recent political events. The abrupt end of the governing coalition and the result of the elections in the United States are “a clear break, where we can only speculate on the extent of the tension it will create for us”. It was her hope, she said, that Germany would get back into step, politically speaking. “Topics like social justice, migration policy, climate action and the economic situation call for political stability, readiness for dialogue and a clear compass,” said Bishop Fehrs. “Democracy lives from stable institutions, but it also lives from trust and hope that the best solution can be found in civil disagreement.”
In the presence of Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Bishop Fehrs warned in her Council report of growing anti-Semitism in Germany. “In our country, Jews are afraid of living their faith in public and they fear for their safety. The extent of anti-Semitic acts of violence is shown by Thursday’s horrifying attacks on Israeli football fans in Amsterdam.” She went on to emphasise the importance of being “emotionally involved when we resolutely state: Never again is now! We are all responsible for ensuring that Jewish life in Germany is possible in freedom and without risk. In a spirit of solidarity, we underline our togetherness in this country.”
In her address the acting Council Chair reaffirmed the church’s commitment to refugees. “The Protestant Church holds firmly to giving sanctuary in church buildings. Contrary to all political trends, we will constantly repeat: people are at stake, not numbers.” That is why the main theme of this synod – “displacement, migration and human rights” – is so important to her, she noted. Bishop Fehrs took the opportunity to thank everyone in Protestant parishes who worked for refugees, whether as volunteers or staff. “We are grateful that your compassion and humanity are not negotiable – in contrast to criticisms we are off-balance and incredibly naïve,” said Bishop Fehrs. “I am convinced that the majority in this country is humane.”
The bishop elaborated at length on the changes needed in the Protestant Church. “The topic of sexualised violence is, and remains, a major challenge. We are striving our level best to do justice to those who have experienced sexualised violence. We are trying to work through it credibly and to recognise systemic dangers; we want to protect people.” In this context, special importance is attributed to the results of the independent ForuM study published in January. “Dealing with the results of the study stimulated a fresh approach, in some cases even at the level of church districts and congregations,” she reported. This, she added, involved no less than a far-reaching transformation process, reaching down into the depths of the Protestant self-understanding. “And that is exactly right.” Safeguarding strategies should not just go down on paper but should reach people’s hearts and attitudes, the bishop underlined. “This is an ongoing task,” she added.
In view of the persistently high number of people cancelling their church membership, the acting Council Chair highlighted the productive dynamic being felt at present in the ‘future processes’ of the regional churches: “We have to keep on going, courageously, but not in the same way as before.”
The oral report of Kirsten Fehrs, Acting Chair of the Council of EKD, is accessible at www.ekd.de/bericht-rat-2024.
The sessions of the EKD Synod can be followed in livestream at www.ekd.de/stream.
Würzburg, 10 November 2024
EKD Press Office
Carsten Splitt
About the EKD Synod: The EKD Synod, with the Council and Church Conference, is one of the three governing bodies of the EKD. It is convening from 10 to 13 November in Würzburg. In accordance with the EKD’s constitution, the 13th Synod has 128 members. The assignments of Synod include drafting declarations and decisions on contemporary questions and accompanying the work of the EKD Council by issuing guidelines. Synod also discusses and adopts the budget and church laws. Synod is chaired by a body of moderators (presidium), under its president Anna-Nicole Heinrich. She is also a member of the 15-person EKD Council. Acting Chair of the Council of EKD of the EKD is Kirsten Fehrs. The EKD is a community of 20 Lutheran, Reformed and United regional churches in Germany. 18.6 million Protestants belong to one of the 12,500 congregations.