CEC-KEK Press Releases 2005


  • CEC PRESIDIUM ON MIGRATION IN EUROPE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN ALBANIA 19 December 2005
    The Presidium of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) met in Geneva from 14-17 December 2005. The 10-member Presidium serves as the executive of the Central Committee of CEC, which will meet in Northern Ireland at the end of May 2006.
  • CEC PRESIDIUM TO MEET IN GENEVA 14-17 DECEMBER 12 December 2005
    The Presidium of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) will meet in Geneva, at the International John Knox Centre, from 14-17 December 2005. The 10-member Presidium serves as the executive of the 40-member Central Committee of CEC.
  • CEC FACILITATES DIALOGUE BETWEEN EASTERN ORTHODOX AND ANGLICAN/NORDIC LUTHERAN CHURCHES - 9 December 2005
    A consultation between theologians from of Eastern Orthodox Churches and the so called "Porvoo Churches" was held from 1-4 December 2005 at the Church Institute for Advanced Training (Kirkon koulutuskeskus) of Järvenpää, Finland, at the initiative of the Conference of European Churches (CEC).
  • EUROPEAN CHURCHES LIVING THEIR FAITH IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALISATION
    - 5 December 2005
    “Churches in Europe recognise globalisation as a process containing both opportunities and challenges. Although elements have been identified which could lead to the rejection of economic globalisation, the European experience witnesses that neither total rejection nor uncritical endorsement is entirely appropriate.”
  • EEA3 LOGO: THE LIGHT OF CHRIST ILLUMINATES EUROPE - 2 December 2005
    The Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) announced today (2 December 2005) the winner of the competition to design the logo for the next Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) on the theme “The light of Christ shines upon all. Hope for renewal and unity in Europe”
  • THE VENERABLE COLIN WILLIAMS TAKES UP THE POSITION OF GENERAL SECRETARY OF CEC - 1 December 2005
    The Venerable Colin Williams, Archdeacon Emeritus of Lancaster in the Anglican Diocese of Blackburn, England, has taken up the position of General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), effective today, 1 December 2005.
  • CHRISTIANS TO STREGTHEN THE VOICE OF THE MARGINALISED IN EUROPE - 25 November 2005
    The conference "A common vision for a social Europe: Towards quality of life for all" concluded its proceedings yesterday with a call for social policy to be an integral part of all European policies.
  • CHURCHES CALL FOR A COMMON VISION FOR A SOCIAL EUROPE - 22 November 2005
    “At the European level there are many different kinds of social models. All of them need reforms in order to respond to the big challenges of today,” said former EU Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou opening the conference “A common vision for a social Europe: Towards quality of life for all.”
  • EU COMMISSIONER DIAMANTOPOULOU, ARCHBISHOP HAMMAR AND
    DIRECTOR HAMMER TO OPEN CONFERENCE ON SOCIAL EUROPE     - 17 November 2005
    The interventions of Ms Anna Diamantopoulou, EU Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs 1999-2004, Archbishop Karl Gustav Hammar, leader of the Church of Sweden, and Dr Georg-Hinrich Hammer, Director of the Friedehorst Foundation (Bremen, Germany), will open the conference organised by the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and Eurodiaconia on “A common vision for a social Europe: Towards quality of life for all”. The conference will be held in Brussels, 22-24 November 2005.
  • RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN VALUES - 8 November 2005
    Delegation of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) met with EU Commission President Barroso.
  • CHRISTIANS ASK FOR MORE COHERENCE IN EU DEMOGRAPHY POLICIES - 18 October 2005
    Contribution of European churches, diaconal, migrant and youth organisations to the EU Green Paper on demographic changes
  • 2nd ALL-EUROPE CONSULTATION OF THEOLOGICAL FACULTIES TO BE HELD IN GRAZ, AUSTRIA, 6-9 JULY 2006 - 5 October 2005
    The Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Catholic Theological Faculty of the Karl-Franzens-University of Graz, Austria, have announced the convening of the Second Consultation of the Theological Faculties in Europe.
  • TEMPLETON PRIZE FOR RELIGION WRITING AWARDED TO TOMAS GÄRTNER IN DRESDEN
    - 23 September 2005
    The John Templeton prize for the "European Religion Writer of the Year 2004" has been awarded to Dr Tomas Gärtner, a freelance journalist from Dresden, Germany.
  • CEC SEARCH FOR EEA3 ASSEMBLY SECRETARY - 20 September 2005
    The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is searching for an Assembly Secretary for the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3), which will take place in Sibiu, Romania, 4-8 September 2007
  • EUROPEAN AND USA CHURCHES TO WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER - 15 September 2005
    The ecumenical situation in Europe and the United States; security, religion and conflict; and the European and USA churches' role in the process of globalisation were the themes of a consultation on "Europe and the USA today: common challenges, common ecumenical responsibilities".
  • ON THE WAY TO SIBIU: CEC PRESIDENT VISITS ROMANIAN CHURCHES - 6 September 2005
    The Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3), to be held in Sibiu, Romania, 4-8 September 2007, is fully supported by the Romanian churches.
  • SHOCK AND SADNESS AT THE DEATH OF BROTHER ROGER OF TAIZÉ - 17 August 2005
    The General Secretaries of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), Rev. Dr Keith Clements and Mgr. Aldo Giordano, together with their colleagues, wish to express how shocked and saddened they are at the news that Brother Roger Schutz, the founder of the Community of Taizé in Burgundy. . .
  • TOMAS GÄRTNER FROM DRESDEN IS THE 2004 EUROPEAN RELIGION WRITER OF THE YEAR - 26 July 2005
    Mr Tomas Gärtner, a freelance journalist writing mainly for the daily newspaper, "Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten" (DNN), from Dresden (Germany), has been named the winner of the 2004 John Templeton award for the "European Religion Writer of the Year".
  • EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS COMMITTED TO CONTINUING DIALOGUE - 12 July 2005
    Sixteen religious leaders from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions met on 12 July with the President of the European Commission, Manuel Barroso.
  • THE LONDON BOMB ATTACKS: MESSAGE FROM CEC GENERAL SECRETARY - 8 July 2005
    The General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Rev. Dr Keith Clements, has sent the following message to CEC Member Churches in Britain and Ireland . . .
  • "THE EUROPEAN UNION MUST REMAIN A LIGHT-HOUSE FOR THE SOCIAL STATE" - 23 June 2005
    The Church and Society Commission of CEC and Eurodiaconia, together with Vice-President Ingo Friedrich MEP, presented the new book "European Churches confronting poverty" in the European Parliament in Brussels.
  • EUROPEAN CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES ADDRESS THE G8 LEADERS - 21 June 2005
    Representatives of different churches from all over Europe adopted an “Open letter from CEC to the G8 Summit”, welcoming “the initiative of the British Government in prioritising the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as a focus for the G8”.
  • CHURCH & SOCIETY COMMISSION OF CEC MEETS IN SCOTLAND - 14 June 2005
    The annual plenary meeting of the Church & Society Commission will be held 15-19 June 2005 in Dunblane, Scotland, at the Scottish Churches’ House. Forty five participants are expected, coming from over twenty European countries.
  • EUROPEAN CHURCHES CONFRONTING POVERTY: BOOK PRESENTATION IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, 21 JUNE - 14 June 2005
    All European countries are confronted with the problem of poverty and social exclusion. What can and should be the commitment of European churches and diaconal organisations regarding these problems, in the context of an economy that is under pressure from globalisation and competition?
  • CEC CALLS ON EUROPEAN POLITICIANS TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE - 10 June 2005
    The Central Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), meeting in Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece 4-10 June 2005, calls on “the European Institutions and politicians to take seriously the concerns of the people and encourages them to work towards a closer relationship with its citizens”.
  • ANGLICAN ARCHDEACON COLIN WILLIAMS WILL BE NEW GENERAL SECRETARY OF CEC - 6 June 2005
    The Venerable Colin Williams, Anglican Archdeacon of Lancaster, England, will be the new General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) starting December 2005.
  • CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO ELECT NEW GENERAL SECRETARY OF CEC - 3 June 2005
    The Central Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) will meet for its annual session from 3-10 June 2005 in Aghios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece, upon invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
  • ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CEC COMMISSION FOR CHURCHES IN DIALOGUE - 3 June 2005
    The annual meeting of the Churches in Dialogue Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) met in Cartigny, Switzerland, from Saturday 28th May until Thursday 2nd June 2005.
  • CHURCHES WELCOME THE EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION AS A STEP TOWARDS A VALUE-BASED EUROPE - 26 May 2005
    "A European Union with a Constitution is better than a European Union without a Constitution". This is the opinion of Rev. Rüdiger Noll, Director of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC).
  • CEC CHURCHES IN DIALOGUE COMMISSION TO MEET IN GENEVA 28 MAY - 2 JUNE - 25 May 2005
    The "Churches in Dialogue" Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) will hold its annual plenary meeting in Cartigny, Geneva, from 28 May to 2 June 2005.
  • CHURCHES MEET WITH THE LUXEMBOURG PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION - 20 May 2005
    Church representatives welcomed the inclusion of respect for human dignity and prospects for increased solidarity in the Constitutional Treaty of the European Union (EU) during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and President-in-Office of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, held in Brussels on 20 May 2005.
  • EUROPEAN COMPETITION TO DESIGN A LOGO FOR THE EEA3 - 19 May 2005
    The Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) announce a competition to design a logo for the next Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3).
  • CEC MEETS FRENCH GOVERNMENT PRIOR TO G8 SUMMIT AND CALLS FOR ACTION ON REDUCING GLOBAL POVERTY - 18 May 2005
    A call for real progress in honouring commitments taken by the industrialised countries towards the developing world was the key message of a delegation of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) which met in Paris on 17 May 2005 with representatives of the French government in view of the upcoming summit of the G8 countries.
  • 5TH ECEN ASSEMBLY IN BASEL: CHURCHES FOR A SUSTAINABLE EUROPE - 9 May 2005
    More than 120 environmental experts from 30 European countries and from all Christian traditions took part in the 5th Assembly of the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) in Basel,Switzerland, from 5-8 May 2005.
  • LETTER TO THE CHURCHES IN EUROPE – 3RD EUROPEAN ECUMENICAL ASSEMBLY - 4 May 2005
    The Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) have written a letter to all European Churches and Bishops’ Conferences announcing the 3rd European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3).
  • 5TH ECEN ASSEMBLY IN BASEL, SWITZERLAND, 4-8 MAY: THE CHURCHES' CONTRIBUTION TO A SUSTAINABLE EUROPE - 2 May 2005
    The 5th Assembly of the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) will take place from 4-8 May 2005 in Basle, Switzerland. ECEN was founded in 1998 following a recommendation of the second European Ecumenical Assembly (Graz, Austria 1997).
  • CEC PRESIDENT ATTENDS COMMEMORATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN EREVAN AND ETCHMIADZIN 26 April 2005
    Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), took part in the ceremonies commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in Erevan and Etchmiadzin, Armenia, on 24 April 2005.
  • STATEMENT OF CEC GENERAL SECRETARY ON THE ELECTION OF NEW POPE - 20 April 2005
    The Conference of European Churches greets the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church with heartfelt prayers for the blessings of God’s strength, guidance and wisdom upon his pontificate.
  • STATEMENT OF CEC ON THE OCCASION OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE - 14 April 2005
    The Presidium of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) has issued the following Public Statement on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. . .
  • CEC ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF END OF WORLD WAR 2 IN EUROPE - 12 April 2005
    The Presidium of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), meeting in Västerås, Sweden, 6-10 April 2005, has agreed to send a message to the churches concerning the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
  • CEC PRESIDIUM MEETS IN VÄSTERÅS, SWEDEN - 6 April 2005
    The Presidium of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) is meeting today until Sunday 10 April in Västerås, Sweden, upon invitation of the CEC Deputy Vice-President, the Very Rev. Margarethe Isberg, Lutheran Dean of Västerås.
  • STATEMENT OF CEC GENERAL SECRETARY ON THE DEATH OF POPE JOHN PAUL II - 3 April 2005
    With the news of the death of Pope John Paul II, the Conference of European Churches (CEC) joins with Christians of all traditions throughout the world who now turn to God, the God of all comfort, in the most solemn prayer and reflection.
  • EU SUMMIT: CHURCHES PLEAD FOR COHERENCE OF EU POLICIES- 21 March 2005
    Eurodiaconia and the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) wrote a letter to Mr Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, expressing their concern for poverty and exclusion within Europe in view of the forthcoming Spring summit of the European Union (EU), which will take place in Brussels on 22-23 March under the Presidency of Luxembourg.
  • CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATORS CALL FOR A NEW COVENANT FOR EUROPE - 14 March 2005
    The Assembly of the European Region of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) has called for a new social and moral covenant for Europe. “Openness to re-negotiating and sharing public communication space will be the first signs of this new covenant, and shared ownership and editorial decision-making its inevitable consequences”, participants in the 10-13 March 2005 WACC Assembly in Strasbourg, France said in their final statement.
  • CHRISTIANS FACING UP TO GLOBALISATION - 8 March 2005
    “The globalising economy disrupts human relationships and tends to place great risk at the individual level.” This was the main message of the conference “Facing up to Globalisation; Visions – Alternatives – Strategies”, which met from 2 to 6 March in Celakovice near Prague, Czech Republic.
  • “KOSOVO MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN”: CEC DELEGATION VISITS SERBIA - 16 February 2005
    A delegation from the Conference of European Churches (CEC) has just completed a four-day visit to Serbia, including Kosovo, 10-14 February 2005.
  • TOWARDS THE THIRD EUROPEAN ECUMENICAL ASSEMBLY - 7 February 2005
    “The light of Christ shines upon all. Hope for renewal and unity in Europe”: this is the theme of the 3rd European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3), put forward by the Joint Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), which met in Chartres, France, from 3-6 February 2005.
  • CEC AND CCEE SEND MESSAGE TO THE POPE - 4 February 2005
    The members of the Joint Committee of Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), meeting in Chartres, France, from 3-6 February 2005, sent a message to Pope John Paul II today, wishing him a speedy recovery from his illness.<
  • CEC PRESIDENT PAYS FIRST VISIT TO MOSCOW - 28 January 2005
    The President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, has just concluded a visit to Moscow, 24-27 January 2005, where he met with His Holiness Patriarch Alexei II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and other church leaders.
  • THE TRACKS LEADING TO AUSCHWITZ ARE STILL IN PLACE< - 26 January 2005
    "In a world of violence, poverty, disease and misery for millions" we should "ask ourselves which track we’re on, and where it is ultimately leading", as many of the "tracks that led towards Auschwitz are still in place".
  • CEC REJOICES FOR SIGNING OF CHARTA OECUMENICA BY SWISS CHURCHES - 24 January 2005
    The Conference of European Churches (CEC) has expressed its joy for the signing of the Charta Oecumenica by the Swiss churches on Sunday 23 January at the Collégiale of St-Ursanne (Canton Jura).
  • "YASMIN" WINS 8TH TEMPLETON EUROPEAN FILM AWARD- 17 January 2005
    The film "Yasmin" by British director Kenneth Glenaan is the winner of the John Templeton European Film of the Year Award 2004.
  • CCEE AND CEC MEET IN CHARTRES TO REVIEW THE ECUMENICAL SCENE IN EUROPE - 14 January 2005
    The annual meeting of the Joint Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Bishops' Conferences (CCEE) will take place in Chartres, France, 3-6 February 2005.
  • EUROPEAN CHURCHES SUPPORT DAY OF MOURNING FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS - 4 January 2005
    A day of mourning will be observed tomorrow throughout Europe in remembrance of the victims of the 26 December tidal waves in Asia. A three-minute silence will be held at 12 am in all member states of the European Union.

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