18 Dec, 2014

Press Release: Churches meet with Italian EU Presidency

In the closing days of the Italian EU Presidency, Italy’s Foreign Minister Paolo Gentilioni met with a joint delegation of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) and the Conference of European Churches (CEC) on 18 December in Rome. Delegates present at the meeting urged the presidency for concrete action on youth unemployment, migration, and freedom of religion and belief.

18 Dec, 2014

CEC Reacts to Lima talks: Climate change needs more decisive action

CEC Reacts to Lima talks: Climate change needs more decisive action The 20th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ended last week in Lima, Peru. The nearly two-week gathering saw over 12, 000 international visitors, including government and UN agency representatives, descend on Lima for intensive dialogue aimed at assessing and addressing widespread global climate change.

7 Dec, 2014

CSC Celebrates Merger with CEC, Governing Board meets

The governing bodies of the Church and Society Commission met on 2 and 3 December in Leuven, Belgium to legally finalise its merger with the Conference of European Churches under Belgian law. The group also tended to other business matters including a review of its programmatic work by executive staff, its finances, and plans for continuing the mission and mandate of CSC in this time of transition.

7 Dec, 2014

Press Release: Statement on the Persecution of Religious Minorities in the Middle East

In advance of observance of International Human Rights Day on 10 December, the Governing Board of the Conference of European Churches has adopted this statement on the persecution of religious minorities in the Middle East. What follows is a call for an end to the violence, increased humanitarian aid, and increased international support for persecuted and displaced persons.

26 Nov, 2014

Human trafficking: Churches call on the EU for action on a wider front

An estimated 800,000 women, men, and children are victims of human trafficking within the EU today. The EU and its member states urgently need to implement the legal framework already in place and to intensify cooperation with civil society and church organisations that work with victims at the grassroots level. This was one of the main messages of the Dialogue Seminar organised by COMECE and the Church and Society Commission of CEC in cooperation with CCME in dialogue with the EU Commission on 27 November.

24 Nov, 2014

CEC Presence at Pope Francis’s visit

A historic moment in Strasbourg! CEC had the honour to be invited by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Mr. Torbjorn Jagland, and was represented by Richard Fischer, Executive Secretary, to hear Pope Francis.

19 Nov, 2014

Press Release: Digital Churches? Challenges in proclaiming the Gospel today

The CEC-CCEE Joint Committee annual meeting took place from 17 to 19 November in Hannover at the invitation of the Protestant Church in Germany (EKD). Participants gathered to discuss the theme Communication of the Gospel in Today’s Europe. Different speeches were given on three main sub themes: the communication in Today’s Europe; Christian communication and “marketing” of Christian faith today and Christian Communication and building communion

18 Nov, 2014

Press Release: Communication of Christian Faith in Today’s Europe

Communication of the Christian faith in today’s Europe will be the focus of the annual meeting of the Joint Committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE), scheduled to take place in Hannover (Germany) from 17-19 November.

16 Nov, 2014

Press Release: Standing up for Freedom of Religion or Belief

Training on Freedom of Religion or Belief took place from 12-15 November in Elstal, Germany. The training was hosted by the Union of Free churches in Germany, organized by the European Baptist Federation (EBF) and the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC).