CEC-KEK Press Releases 2006 EU COMMISSIONER FIGEL’: EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS NEED TO BE IN CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH CHURCHES AND CIVIL SOCIETY - 14 December 2006 Christian values and convictions influenced from the very beginning the movement for European unity, stated Bishop Wolfgang Huber, President of the Evangelical Church in Germany at the conference of European church leaders “Values, religion, identity”, meeting in Brussels from 12-13 December. FOR A EUROPE BASED ON SHARED VALUES AND A COMMON HOPE: AN OPEN LETTER FROM CHURCH LEADERS TO POLITICAL LEADERS IN EUROPE” - 14 December 2006 “The spiritual heritage of Christianity constitutes an empowering source of inspiration and enrichment for Europe. Religion is a living and constructive factor of public life”. So said some 60 church leaders from 28 countries from all over Europe, meeting on 12-13 December 2006 in Brussels, at the invitation of the Church & Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). At the close of the meeting participants approved an “Open Letter from Church Leaders to Political Leaders in Europe”. CHURCHES CALLED ON TO LAUNCH A “PLAN C” FOR EUROPE: “COMMITMENT, COMPASSION AND CONVIVIALITY” - 13 December 2006 In order to revitalise the public debate on the future of Europe, the European Commission has recently launched the “Plan D” (Democracy, Dialogue and Debate). “Couldn’t we as churches give our contribution to this discussion by launching a ‘Plan C’ – Churches and the European Project: Commitment, Compassion and Conviviality?”. This was the proposal of Archbishop Jukka Paarma from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland at the opening session of the conference “Values, religion, identity”, meeting in Brussels from 12-13 December 2006. NEW EXECUTIVE IN BRUSSELS: NORDIC DIMENSION REINFORCED WITHIN THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY COMMISSION OF CEC - 4 December 2006 Elina Eloranta has joined the Brussels office of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) as Executive Secretary on General and Institutional Affairs. VALUES, RELIGION, IDENTITY: EUROPEAN CHURCH LEADERS TO MEET IN BRUSSELS, 12-13 DECEMBER - 4 December 2006 More than 60 European leaders from the Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox Churches will meet in Brussels from 12-13 December 2006, at the State Representation of Baden-Württemberg (Germany) to the European Union, to discuss the theme "Values, Religion, Identity". The conference is organised by the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). THE CHRISTIANS OF EUROPE SET OUT TOWARDS SIBIU - 3 November 2006 Representatives of all the churches in Europe will be coming together in Sibiu, Romania, in September 2007 to share in the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3). The coordinators of the nine Fora which will take place during the Assembly met in Geneva on 30 October 2006. RELIGION AND MEDIA – MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND CHANCES. TEMPLETON LECTURE BY ANTONIO MARUJO IN LISBON - 24 October 2006 “The secular media show a great ignorance of and suspicion towards religion. On the other hand, religious institutions show a lack of confidence in the media, and seem to be unable to understand the fundamentals of journalism as well as to grasp the challenges of modern information technology”, said Portuguese journalist António Marujo in his John Templeton lecture on the theme “Religion and Media – Misunderstandings and chances”. SHAPING A FRAMEWORK FOR FUTURE SOCIAL AND HEALTHCARE SERVICES: A CONTRIBUTION OF THE CHURCHES AND CHURCH ORGANSIATIONS - 19 October 2006 Churches and church-related organisations, such as Caritas and Diaconia, are major providers of social and healthcare services in the European Union. In a Dialogue Seminar with the European Commission they underlined their particular commitment to provide social and healthcare services in order to serve European citizens and the common good of the EU. CCME - COMMUNICATION ESSENTIAL FOR MOBILISING PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY Christian anti-trafficking network looks at ways to raise understanding of human trafficking - 16 October 2006 Some 50 representatives of churches, governments, police, the judiciary, diplomatic corps and NGOs from some 15 European countries met in Vilnius from October 11th to 15th 2006 for an international conference and workshop on trafficking in human beings. THE ROLE OF RELIGION IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS: A CONSULTATION IN NORTHERN IRELAND - 12 October 2006 A consultation on the role of religion in conflict situations is being organised by the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). It will take place at Corrymeela, near Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, 13-17 October 2006... USE OF ENERGY: CHRISTIANS WITNESS THROUGH CHANGED LIFESTYLES - 2 October 2006 The 6th Assembly of European Christian Environmental Network was held 27 September – 1 October in Flämslätt, Sweden. Delegates from 21 countries adopted a call addressed to the churches and Christians in Europe encouraging increased attention to the symptoms of the distorted values of consumer societies which seek happiness by exploiting the resources of the world: “In the light of Christian mission and concern for justice, we call churches, as big energy consumers, to action.” “LIVING IN A NEW ENERGY ERA”: EUROPEAN CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO MEET IN SWEDEN - 21 September 2006 The 6th Assembly of the European Christian Environmental Network will take place in Flämslätt (Sweden) from 27 September to 1 October 2006. The Assembly will be a gathering of about 100 delegates, activists and guests from all of Europe. They will discuss and work together on joint activities to face the challenge of caring for the environment from the perspective of the Christian way of life and Christian theology. CHURCHES TO PUT PRESSURE ON EU TO RESOLVE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS - 31 August 2006 "Do not be content with prayer alone. Act!" This is the heartfelt plea of Christians in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel, said Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont, President of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), reporting to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 31 August concerning the pastoral visit he headed in Beirut and Jerusalem from 10-15 August. ECUMENICAL DELEGATION RETURNS FROM BEIRUT AND JERUSALEM AND TRANSMITS THE CONCERNS OF THE CHURCHES - 16 August 2006 "Why such awful destruction?" was the question heard over and over again by members of an ecumenical pastoral delegation in relation to Israel's attacks on Lebanon. ECUMENICAL DELEGATION TO MIDDLE EAST WILL EXPRESS SOLIDARITY, LISTEN TO AND PRAY WITH THOSE AFFLICTED BY THE CONFLICT - 9 August 2006 Entrusted with the mission of expressing global ecumenical solidarity with churches and people affected by the current conflict in the Middle East, a three-member ecumenical pastoral delegation composed of representatives of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of France, and the World Council of Churches (WCC) has left Cyprus by boat en route for Beirut. CEC ISSUES STATEMENT CALLING FOR CEASE-FIRE IN MIDDLE EAST - 26 July 2006 The Venerable Colin Williams, General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) has today added CECs voice to those who have been calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East. AN ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN GRAZ, AUSTRIA - 10 July 2006 "Theology does not only serve the churches, and Christian communities, it also makes a vital contribution in the social and political arena, helping people to understand human nature and all of creation", said the representatives of theological institutions and churches in the final statement from their meeting in Graz, Austria from 6-9 July 2006. COLIN WILLIAMS PLEADS FOR A VISION OF A RENEWED EUROPE AT WORLD SUMMIT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS - 5 July 2006 The General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the Venerable Colin Williams, is participating in the World Summit of Religious Leaders convened in Moscow by the Interreligious Council of Russia, on the eve of the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg... CHURCH DELEGATION FINDS DIALOGUE AND A CERTAIN PRAGMATISM ARE KEY CONCEPTS FOR THE FINNISH EU PRESIDENCY - 3 July 2006 There is not likely to be much progress with regard to the Constitutional Treaty during the Finnish Presidency. But the EU needs to respond more efficiently to global challenges. This is what the people of Europe as well as countries outside the European Union expect... CCME - COMBATING TRAFFICKING IN HUMAN BEINGS: INVOLVING NEW EXPERTS ESSENTIAL - 29 June 2006 Established and emerging stakeholders in the fight against trafficking in human beings have met for an international workshop in Prague/Czech Republic, 25-28 June, in order to identify possible areas of future cooperation. Invited by the Churches´ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME), the workshop “New Partnerships against Trafficking” brought together participants from established anti-trafficking organisations and organisations, which are able to add important expertise to the struggle against all forms of trafficking, but so far have only marginally been involved in such activities. CCME - EUORPE'S ASYLUMN RULES PUT LIVES AT RISK AND CAUSE SUFFERING - 27 June 2006 Seventy-three organisations assisting refugees, members of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), united today to warn that the current EU asylum system is putting lives at risk and causing unnecessary suffering to traumatised refugee families who have fled persecution in their homelands. The signatories include the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe/Conference of European Churches and many other church-related organisations. CCME - INCREASE RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEES TO EU MEMBER STATES - 16 June 2006 After a visit to the refugee camp in Dadaab/Kenya, CCME delegation underlines the importance of resettlement for sharing responsibility for refugee protection. ORTHODOX/PROTESTANT DIALOGUE TO BE PURSUED WITH ADDED VIGOUR -13 June 2006 Dialogue between Orthodox Churches and Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches is to be pursued with added vigour in the working programme of the Churches in Dialogue Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC). LAUNCH OF THE SECOND STAGE OF THE EUROPEAN ECUMENICAL ASSEMBLY - 8 June 2006 The Charta Oecumenica is the “parameter for reciprocal relations” among churches, said Italian Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox at the end of the conference “Christians and Europe – Italian stage of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3)”, held in Terni, Italy, from 5-7 June 2006. CHURCHES IN DIALOGUE COMMISSION ASSESSES THE STATE OF ECUMENICAL RELATIONS WITHIN EUROPE - 7 June 2006 Relations between the Orthodox Churches and the Churches of the Reformation will be a central theme of the annual meeting of the Churches in Dialogue Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) which will be held in Tallinn, Estonia from 8-12 June 2006. “AGAINST A TYRANNY OF NORMALITY” - 6 June 2006 European churches and diaconal organisations ask for a higher sensitivity of the European Commission regarding the prevention of mental ill health – A contribution to the EU Green Paper FROM LONDONERRY/DERRY TO SIBIU: EUROPEAN CHURCHES ON THE MOVE - 31 May 2006 “As we are on the way towards the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3, Sibiu, Romania, 4-8 September 2007), we commend the witness and struggle of Christians throughout the island of Ireland, whose efforts contribute to the reconciliation and peace-building process in Europe”, stated the Central Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CC) at their first meeting in Northern Ireland STOP TRAFFICKING AT FIFA FOOTBALL WORLD CUP – AND BEYOND, SAYS CEC CENTRAL COMMITTEE - 31 May 2006 The Central Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), meeting in Londonderry/Derry, Northern Ireland, from 25-31 May 2006, has approved the following statement on trafficking in women, in relation to the forthcoming football World Cup. . . EUROPEAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS MEET WITH PRESIDENTS BARROSO AND SCHÜSSEL 30 May 2006 The contribution of the Churches and religious communities to the European integration process was at the centre of the discussions of religious leaders with the President of the European Council, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, at a meeting on 30 May 2006 in Brussels. EFFORTS OF CHRISTIANS IN IRELAND CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE BUILDING IN EUROPE, CEC CENTRAL COMMITTEE SAYS - 30 May 2005 The Central Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), meeting in Londonderry/Derry, Northern Ireland, from 25-31 May, has approved a statement on Northern Ireland commending “the witness and struggle of Christians throughout the island of Ireland, whose efforts contribute to the reconciliation and peace-building process in Europe.” CEC CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING OPENED IN LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND - 26 May 2006 The annual meeting of the Central Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) opened yesterday, Ascension Day, with an act of worship in St Columb's Cathedral (Church of Ireland, Anglican) of Londonderry (also called Derry), Northern Ireland. ANTONIO MARUJO FROM LISBON IS WINNER OF THE 2005 JOHN TEMPLETON EUROPEAN PRIZE FOR RELIGION WRITING António Marujo, religion writer with "Público", a popular daily newspaper published in Lisbon, Portugal, has been named as the winner of the 2005 John Templeton award for the "European Religion Writer of the Year". CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF CEC MEETS IN NORTHERN IRELAND - 22 May 2006 The Central Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) will meet for its annual session from 25-31 May 2006 in (London)Derry, Northern Ireland. CEC STUDY SECRETARY VIOREL IONITA HONOURED WITH ABBOT HEUFELDER PRIZE BY NIEDERALTAICH ABBEY - 18 May 2006 The Romanian Orthodox priest and theologian Prof. Dr Viorel Ionita, Study Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in Geneva, has been awarded the "Abbot Emmanuel Heufelder Prize" from the Benedictine Abbey of Niederaltaich in Bavaria, Germany. EUROPEAN CHURCHES SUPPORT “PLAN D”. A BROAD DISCUSSION ON THE FUTURE OF EUROPE NEEDED - 8 May 2006 Fresh thinking, a new and positive vision as well as the involvement of civil society are needed in order to maintain the dynamics of the European project and to “bring Europe closer to its citizens”. CHURCHES CALL FOR A EUROPEAN PEACE AGENCY - 4 May 2006 The role of the political institutions and the role of the churches on issues relating to Peace, Security and Reconciliation was the main theme taken up by the 40 church representatives from 18 European countries, who attended the plenary meeting of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) in Sigtuna, Sweden, from 29 April to 3 May 2006. UNITY, CATHOLICITY AND BAPTISM: EUROPEAN CHURCHES IN DIALOGUE - 2 May 2006 From 27 to 30 April 2006 the third consultation on the question of ecclesiology, jointly organised by the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) – formerly called Leuenberg Church Fellowship - took place at Phanar/Istanbul, the See of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY COMMISSION OF CEC MEETS IN SWEDEN - 27 April 2006 Focusing on the issue of “European Churches and Challenges to Peace, Security and Reconciliation”, the annual plenary meeting of the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) will be held in Sweden from 29 April - 03 May. ORTHODOX AND PROTESTANTS IN EUROPE DIALOGUE ON UNITY AND BAPTISM - 26 April 2006 The issues of unity and “catholicity” (the universal dimension of the Church), and the mutual recognition of baptism will be the theme of the third consultation on ecclesiology between Orthodox and Protestant churches in Europe, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, 27-30 April 2006. MORE SPACE FOR CREATION IN THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR - 6 April 2006 More space to honour God as Creator and to reflect on the preservation of the environment is needed within the Christian calendar. This is the message from a consultation on Creation Spirituality which was held in Geneva, 2-6 April 2006 under the auspices of the European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) and the International Reformed John Knox Centre. TEMPLETON AWARD FOR RELIGIOUS WRITING: Entries accepted through March 2006 - 8 February 2006 In conjunction with the Templeton Foundation, the Office of Communications of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) invites journalists to submit entries for the 2005 European prize for religious writing in the secular press. EUROPEAN CHRISTIANS ARE COMMITTED TO RESPECT MUSLIMS - 3 February 2006 The Conference of European Churches, whose membership includes the Church of Denmark and the Church of Norway, entirely supports the statements issued by those two churches regarding the published cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. BEATE FAGERLI FROM NORWAY IS CEC/EEA3 ASSEMBLY SECRETARY - 1 February 2006 Beate Fagerli started working today in Geneva, Switzerland as the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) Secretary for the Conference of European Churches (CEC). EEA3 FIRST STAGE: RENEWED ENTHUSIASM FOR THE ECUMENICAL JOURNEY: A summary of the ecumenical encounter in Rome, 24-27 January 2006 - 1 February 2006 “Rediscovering new light in the crucified and risen Christ on the road to reconciliation between Christians and Europe”: this was the sub-theme of the first stage of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3), an ecumenical encounter of 150 delegates held in Rome, Italy, 24-27 January 2006. A LETTER TO THE CHRISTIANS OF EUROPE: "THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINES UPON ALL" - 27 January 2006 150 representatives of churches, Bishops’ Conferences, movements and ecumenical organisations from 44 European countries met in Rome, from 24th to 27th January 2006, for the first stage of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3), convened by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC). L'ENFANT WINS 9th JOHN TEMPLETON EUROPEAN FILM OF THE YEAR AWARD - 11 January 2006 The film “L’Enfant” by Belgian directors Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne is the winner of the John Templeton European Film of the Year Award 2005. The Award is presented on behalf of the US-based John Templeton Foundation by the International Church Film Organisation INTERFILM and the Conference of European Churches, and is chosen by an international jury. LAUNCH OF THE THIRD EUROPEAN ECUMENICAL ASSEMBLY - 10 January 2006 From 24-27 January 2006, 150 delegates from Europe’s churches, Bishops’ Conferences, ecumenical bodies, communities and movements will gather in Rome for the start of the process of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly (EEA3) organised by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC). The Assembly theme is The light of Christ shines upon all. Hope for renewal and unity in Europe.