The Conference of Europe Churches General Assembly elected a new President and two Vice-Presidents.
Rev. Christian Krieger was elected president.
Regarding his term in office, he has two primary goals: “The first goal belongs to the community of churches in Europe. I want to strengthen their dialogue, their encountering. The second goal belongs to their witness in Europe and for Europe to strengthen also the work with social issues, with economical issues, with migrant issues and so on,” said Krieger. He is President of the Reformed Church in Alsace and Lorraine and Vice-President of both the Union of Protestant Churches in Alsace and Lorraine and the Protestant Federation of France.
Elected as Vice-Presidents were Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia and the Rt Rev. Dr Gulnar Francis-Dehqani.
“The most important aspect of our work should be working united as the body of Christ for a better tomorrow, for a better Europe and especially for our youth, to make sure that they fully participate,” said Metropolitan Cleopas. Originally from Greece, he was elected Metropolitan of Sweden and All Scandinavia and ordained into the episcopacy in 2014 by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
“My priority is to be engaged with others in work around issues with refugees and the movement of people across Europe,” said Bishop Francis-Dehqani. Coming originally from Iran, since 2017 she serves the Church of England as the Bishop of Loughborough with a particular brief to work with diverse cultures and minority ethnic communities within the Diocese.
From left to right: The Rt Rev. Dr Gulnar Francis-Dehqani and Metropolitan Cleopas Strongylis
For high resolution photos of the CEC leadership please click here