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“Already there is such a spirit of coexistence—a spirit which is now gaining more and more ground with the different religions working side-by-side, day-after-day in Karlsruhe.”
The people of Karlsruhe have always lived an everyday ecumenism, he reflected, both in a religious and secular sense. “The German-French reconciliation has achieved so much,” he said.
He urged participants of the 11th WCC Assembly to take time to enjoy the history and gifts Karlsruhe has to offer. “Many communities in the city are contributing to the WCC assembly,” he said. Musical performances, special lectures, and family events are taking place throughout the city during the days of the assembly.
“I hope that despite all the programmatic work and the formalities, you will also find time to enjoy your stay in Karlsruhe,” he said. “I hope that our city leaves a lasting impression on you and that your visit to us will not be your last.”
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3 September 2022, Karlsruhe, Germany: WCC central committee moderator Dr Agnes Abuom (right) greets Muhterem Aras, president of the state parliament of Baden-Württemberg (left), as Mayor Frank Mentrup of Karlsruhe (centre) invites the leadership of the central commmittee of the World Council of Churches to sign the City of Karlsruhe's book of honour in connection with the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, held in Karlsruhe, Germany from 31 August to 8 September, under the theme "Christ's Love Moves the World to Reconciliation and Unity." Also in this photo: Bishop Heike Springhart from the Evangelischen Landeskirche in Baden (far right) and Martina Pauly of the Vereinte Evangelische Mission (far left).
Albin Hillert/WCC
Love your neighbour
President of the State Parliament of Baden-Württemberg Muhterem Aras expressed great pleasure that so many different churches have traveled to Karlsruhe—and she welcomed them as neighbors.
"It’s love your neighbor—that gives us all the strength we need,” she said. “We have to live together. We need churches that look beyond their own sphere. We need a global strength, and this is a tremendous task.”
She also offered thanks to people—both local and global—who worked to plan the assembly. “I would like to thank all the helpers and participants from the bottom of my heart—even if not by name—who made this outstanding international meeting possible.”
Dr Agnes Abuom, WCC moderator, expressed sincere gratitude to the city of Karlsruhe for hosting the 31 August to 8 September Assembly in the historic German city.
“We have been warmly welcomed and we are inspired by the beauty and history of Karlsruhe,” she said. “We know Karlsruhe to be a city founded with a vision of hospitality and tolerance.”
Abuom reflected that Karlsruhe is a city where diverse Christian traditions have been welcomed for hundreds of years.
“For the fellowship of WCC member churches, the Protestant Church of Baden has a special place among our member churches as the oldest united church in the world,” she said.
“Assemblies of the WCC are remembered by the name of the city where they were held. The 11th assembly will forever be remembered as the Karlsruhe assembly.”
Livestream of the WCC 11th Assembly in Karlsruhe, Germany
