News
World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will speak at the 31st German Protestant "Kirchentag" in Cologne, addressing the issue of "How can religions live together?"
Kobia's address is slated as one of the keynote lectures at the gathering, and will take place on Thursday, 7 June, at 11:00, at Rheinparkhalle 3.2 (Rheinparkweg [72 / K10]). A questions and answers session with the WCC general secretary will follow his address.
Inaugurated in 1949, the "Kirchentag" occurs every two years, and is the largest Protestant gathering in Germany. This year, it is taking place in Cologne from 6 to 10 June. Some 100.000 participants are expected to share in the discussions, lectures, concerts, dancing and singing in what organizers label as "a festival of faith and reflection".
Religious leaders speak out on eve of G8 summit
Earlier on, on 5-6 June, Kobia will participate in a religious leaders' conference organized by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) to coincide with the G8 Summit.
Taking place in Cologne as well, the conference has an interfaith character, and is being convened under the theme "Just participation! Faith - Commitment - Responsibility". The conference is expected to adopt a two-page statement on "Collective Responsibility for Global Poverty Alleviation" that will be immediately forwarded to the G8 summit meeting in Heilegendamm.
On Wednesday, 6 June, at 09:00, Kobia will join an interfaith panel seeking common ground among religious communities. He will share some reflections on a "Faith commitment to poverty eradication" from a Christian perspective.
Media contact in Cologne: Juan Michel +41-79-507-6363
Additional information (in German) on the pre-G8 Religious Leaders Conference