IV news:
As announced in the summer newsletter, the General Assembly of the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) took place from 27 August to 2 September in the Transylvanian city of Sibiu (Romania). Under the motto ‘In the light of Christ – called to hope’, 100 delegates from 70 member churches and more than 100 advisors, guests, stewards and employees met in Sibiu at the invitation of the various Protestant churches in Romania. Michael Jacobs (IV) and Heinz-Joachim Lohmann (Oikosnet Europe) participated as observers.
Several study texts – ‘Christian Speaking of God’, ‘Practice and Theology of the Lord’s Supper’, and ‘Church and Democracy’ – were discussed and adopted to recommend them to the member churches for study and further use. An extensive paper on ‘Gender, Sexuality, Marriage, Family’, which had already caused irritation in advance and led to the withdrawal of the Reformed Church of Romania from the General Assembly, remained controversial. In addition to further statements on current issues (e.g. migration from the perspective of the countries of origin), numerous work assignments from the General Assembly to the newly elected Council for the 2024-2030 term of office were adopted. The new Council comprises 13 members, with Rita Famos from the Reformed Church of Switzerland as the new Executive President.
The cooperation with the CPCE as the European Protestant church communion is essential for the IV and other European associations. As a newly accredited INGO at the Council of Europe, it also has access to political actors in human rights, the rule of law, and democracy. Therefore, it is an essential partner of the IV in securing Religious Education and the freedom of Christian schools in the national school systems. The exchange with the Secretary General of the CPCE, Dr Mario Fischer, which began in December 2023, will continue to deepen the cooperation further. Soon, a concrete task will be securing and organising religious education at European (EU) schools.