News
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit will be one of the main speakers at the Second Ecumenical Kirchentag (church convention) in Munich, Germany, 12-16 May.
Tveit will participate in two key panel discussions on ecumenism and on peace with Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, chairperson of the German Catholic Bishops' Conference, and with the Rev. Nikolaus Schneider, chairperson of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), among others.
The Ecumenical Kirchentag, an initiative of Germany's Protestant and Roman Catholic lay movements, is expected to draw in hundreds of thousands of visitors, including some 4000 guests from abroad.
Other highlights on the agenda for Tveit and other WCC representatives are:
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Tveit brings greetings from the WCC fellowship of 349 churches worldwide to the opening event on Wednesday evening;
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Tveit co-conducts an inter-religious Bible study with Muslim theologian Dr Ataullah Siddiqui on Saturday;
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Peace-making Forum on Friday: "One day preparing for the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation"; it includes a liturgical evening with the participation of Archbishop Zollitsch and peace activists such as the former minister of the Nikolai Church in Leipzig, Rev. Christian Führer;
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Launch of the worship book “Laudate omnes gentes” during an ecumenical celebration Saturday evening; participants will include former EKD Council chairperson Rev. Dr Margot Kässmann, the Catholic Bishop of Magdeburg Dr Gerhard Feige and the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany and Central Europe Dr Serafim Joanta.
WCC staff and members of its governing bodies will also be involved in public debates related to issues of social justice, overcoming violence, mission and the changing ecumenical landscape.
The Ecumenical Kirchentag offers some 3000 events – worship services, bible studies, discussions, workshops etc. – under the theme "That you may have hope."
While the Protestant and the Roman Catholic lay movements in Germany have been celebrating the faith at their respective conventions – Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag and Deutscher Katholikentag – for many decades, the ecumenical gathering is only the second of its kind. The First Ecumenical Kirchentag took place in Berlin in 2003.
Media contact in Munich: Annegret Kapp (+41.78.949.30.89), Juan Michel (+41.79.507.6363)
Overview of WCC activities at the Second Ecumenical Kirchentag
Find more information, including a short video presentation, on the Kirchentag website
