Together - Annual Bulletin 2019 - Mission EineWelt
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Annual Bulletin 2019
GOING
F U R T H E R
together
1
Content Editorial
3 EDITORIAL Dear readers,
4 DIRECTORS’ OFFICE
“Nothing is as constant as change” – this realisation We hope you’ll appreciate this new approach as much as
Nurturing relationships, ongoing encounters
wasn’t brought to us by today’s experts in organisational we do. Above all, our wish is that you’ll feel well informed
8 DEPARTMENT FOR AFRICA development, but was clearly already apparent 2,500 ye- about what we do. Perhaps you will even glimpse a re-
Faraja Diaconic Centre ars ago to the Greek philosopher Heracles as an insight flection of yourself here and there at the heart of what we
into everyday life. Our preacher at the Worldwide Church think and experience.
12 DEPARTMENT FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA/PACIFIC/EAST ASIA Festival in 2020, Emmanuel Kileo from Tanzania, confir-
“We can’t just stay sitting within our church’s four walls” med to us Christians that constantly being on the go is the This would make us very happy indeed!
15 MAGICAL BEGINNING momentum underlying our lives. Warm regards,
At Mission OneWorld, we therefore hope that you will
16 PACIFIC INFORMATION POINT share our enthusiasm for new ventures, as we set out to
20 years of information and networking redesign our annual report. The reports from our depart-
ments are no longer factual, chronological lists of what
19 DEPARTMENT FOR LATIN AMERICA Dr Gabriele Hoerschelmann
has happened during the past year. Instead, our officers
All-round aid and care for refugees in Central America Director of Mission OneWorld
have endeavoured to reflect upon their work throughout
21 SEEK PEACE … MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU 2019 from a personal point of view. We want to give you
Yours faithfully,
the opportunity to gain a better insight into our work in
24 DEPARTMENT FOR MISSION AND INTERCULTURAL STUDIES this way. The key events throughout the year are now
Intercultural opening: Christianity goes global – everywhere summarised separately under the heading “Telegram”, so
28 DEPARTMENT FOR PARTNERSHIP AND PARISH WORK you can decide for yourself in which order you’d like to
Global goes local read about things. We’ve changed the layout, too – the D. Min. Hanns Hoerschelmann
idea being to capture the content more closely and high- Director of Mission OneWorld
34 DEPARTMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND POLITICS light its essence.
Interacting, educating, accompanying
38 DEPARTMENT FOR FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Accompanying partnerships long-term
42 FUNDRAISING
“Simply friends”: The great fortune of getting support
46 LIST OF CONTACTS
Photo: Thorsten Krafft
2 3
Directors’ Office Directors’ Office
N
Photo: MEW
D. MIN. HANNS &
DR. GABRIELE HOERSCHELMANN
Director Mission EineWelt
urturing relationships,
Photo: Thorsten Kraft
ongoing encounters
As we look out of the window whi- people from all continents can gather together digitally at the same time is not simply a habit, but a reality. It is the foundation that the heart of the Liberian bush to a hope-inspiring
le writing this annual report in our and relate to one another this way. This only succeeds because we have we stand on together. Even when a road in front of us has project full of old memories and simultaneously
office set in a red brick building, a pe- cultivated these connections over the years. In this regard, 2019 was been washed away by torrential rain, preventing us from re- visions for the future. At a spot on the river-
culiar sight meets our eyes. The sky is also characterised by continuing to nurture partnerships, appreciating aching our destination, relationships and conversations quickly bank, under a roof made of huge bamboo ca-
blue, the sun is shining and it’s warm, old companions and receiving new impetus. spring up. “We are Lutherans” – in the face of a six-metre-wide, nes, a youth camp is being constructed. The
yet the courtyard is empty. There are no Prior to our retirement, we both went on a final business trip with five-metre-deep crevasse in the road, this brief introduction forms place of worship already exists. Like a ca-
international volunteers sitting together in one of our longstanding national officers. an invisible bridge for talking in confidence, a serious discussion thedral, the bamboo on the riverbank ar-
groups on the lawn getting ready for their and hearty laughter. Such encounters show me time and again how ches over an area with benches, where
imminent send-off to one of our partner
Hanns Hoerschelmann: it’s inevitably individual people who forge and fashion the relationship the young people come together to
countries; no staff have spontaneously moved between our churches. But the real basis for this is the faith, hope and pray, sing and listen to God’s Word.
their team meetings into the garden to enjoy the With Traugott Farnbacher and love that are bestowed upon us. Bishop Jensen Seyenkulo himself
beautiful weather; no guests are strolling from Regional Bishop Heinrich Bedford- recalls how he used to come here
the seminar rooms for a coffee break in the can- Strohm in Papua New Guinea Gabriele Hoerschelmann: as a teenager to pray and hear
teen. It is quiet. The corona pandemic has also about God in the congregation.
affected how things are done at Mission One- Anyone who knows Traugott Farnbacher will also know that In Liberia with Reinhard Hansen What’s new, however, is the youth
World. Things are different from just a few trips in his company are never boring. His enthusiasm for the centre that they are constructing here,
weeks ago, and utterly different from 2019. churches and people whom he has accompanied for decades is My first encounter with Liberia was the final official visit to the con- investing a great deal of creativity into
absolutely infectious. It was just the same on our trip to Papua tinent for the Head of the Department for Africa, Reinhard Hansen. building houses for accommodation,
And yet our life doesn’t stand still, no- New Guinea in January 2019 with Regional Bishop Heinrich Bed- It’s not rare for business trips to our partner churches to involve a sports field and a kitchen. Their plans
netheless. We are holding video confe- ford-Strohm, whose first visit it was to this country and this church. long journeys off-road in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It was the for commencing youth work there exude
rences from the offices we have set up The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria has had ties with this same on this trip to Liberia, when, after several days of meetings enthusiasm and conviction. Our party from
at home, study days are being run di- country in the Pacific for more than a century. Throughout the trip, we and get-togethers in the capital Monrovia, we finally left the city Mission OneWorld is delighted to be on site
gitally – even the Worldwide Church constantly came across signs of former staff members from Bavaria and behind us to go and visit hospitals, schools and youth projects and see for ourselves how new opportunities
Festival has been allocated a virtual witnessed the vibrancy of their work to this day. In the fellowship that has in the country. Our colleague in youth work at the Lutheran are emerging from these beginnings.
venue. We are experiencing how grown over the decades, the greeting “Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ” Church in Liberia, Deaconess Marianne Lorenz, took us into
4 5
Directors’ Office
+++ TELEGRAM +++
+++ JANUARY +++
When the petition for “Diversity of species – save the with the acapella quintet VIVA VOCE. Choirs from the
bees!” was launched, one of the first signatories was Jür- worldwide church also made guest appearances on the
gen Bergmann, Head of the Department for Development stage. The event drew an audience of 10,000 people.
and Politics at Mission OneWorld.
+++ JULY +++
+++ FEBRUARY +++ The “Teaching in Museums” sponsorships were awarded
Mission OneWorld attended the Nuremberg Toy Trade Fair at the 20th Bavarian Museums’ Conference in Neumarkt.
to join the protests by the Nuremberg Alliance for Fair One of the three award winners was the standing exhibiti-
Toys against inhumane working conditions in the global on “einBlick” (“in-Sight”) by Mission OneWorld, based on
manufacturing process. a learning-by-playing concept co-developed with eLear-
Secretary of State Florian Herrmann became the new pa- ning and the Department for Development and Politics.
tron of the “Mobile Phone Campaign in Bavaria”. During the Lilac Night event and the Worldwide Church
Festival, we bade farewell to the departing Head of the
+++ MARCH +++ Department for Africa Reinhard Hansen and to Ulrike
Weltuni addressed the risks and opportunities presented Hansen, Director of Studies in the Department for Mission
by digitalisation. and Intercultural Studies.
An era drew to an end as we said farewell to Traugott
Farnbacher upon his retirement, marking the occasion +++ AUGUST +++
with a study day, a service of worship and a special recep- Mission OneWorld and the
tion. During his 15-or-so years of service as the Head of Pacific Information Desk
the Department for Papua New Guinea/Pacific/East Asia, took part in the Remem-
he made a distinct mark on the work conducted by Missi- brance Day for Hiroshima
on OneWorld in this partnership region. in Nuremberg.
“Reaching for the stars together”: Mission OneWorld
launched its EU elections campaign. +++ SEPTEMBER +++
Photos (4): MEW
The panel of judges reached its decision, naming the Su- Gabriele Hoerschelmann
per Kwata Band from Tanzania the winner of the interna- preached in St. Martha’s
tional song contest “Human Beings – Not for Sale” with Church in Nuremberg at
its stirring reggae song “War is a Business”. the award ceremony for
the Nuremberg Prize for
+++ APRIL +++ Human Rights.
Waking the slumbering giant
There were changes to staff in the Department for PPO,
Our Worldwide Church Festival in July was attended by Archbishop with Thomas Paulsteiner and Arnim Doerfer assuming +++ NOVEMBER +++
Musa Panti Filibus from the Lutheran Church in Nigeria, who is also their new roles as Head of Department and Expert for Pa- Priceless treasure for Mission OneWorld: After five years of
the President of the Lutheran World Federation. Through the work pua New Guinea. service as Director of Studies in the Department for Missi-
conducted in Africa, he has already had close links with Mission One- on and Intercultural Studies and the Department for Part-
World for many years. He came, for one, to wish Reinhard Hansen +++ MAY +++ nership and Parish Work at Mission OneWorld, we bade
well for his retirement, but also to expand our network of relations. In “Creation – Not for Sale”: Mission One- farewell to Margaret Obaga and her husband, church
Die
Schopfung
doing so, he offered new inspiration. The Lutheran World Federation had World launched its new cam- musician William, who taught at the Technical College for
launched a campaign called “Waking the Giant” to encourage churches to paign for the forthcoming year Intercultural Theology in Hermannsburg.
raise public awareness of their decades-long efforts towards sustainable at its annual reception in Würz- At the Missions and Partnership Conference in Neuendet-
development targets in their societies, likening the churches to a sleeping burg. telsau, the Bavarian Deaconry Missions Officers and Dea-
giant, unaware of his power and size. The message was therefore that we A delegation of church leaders from Malaysia visited Mis- conry Missions Pastors resolved to focus more heavily than
possess ideas, structures and dedicated people and can certainly change sion OneWorld, including talks with the Bavarian Synodal before on “the topics of climate change and preserving
more in this world than we sometimes believe. At Mission OneWorld, President, Annekathrin Preidel, focusing on ecumenical creation as part of partnership work” in their deaconries
we and our partners all over the world are already long-standing pro- practices in Malaysia and Germany. and parishes.
ponents of this effort to wake the slumbering giant.
+++ JUNE +++ +++ DECEMBER +++
Gabriele und Hanns Hoerschelmann Under the umbrella of the German Evangelical Mission Vincent Gewert won 1st prize in the photographic compe-
Agency (EMW), Mission OneWorld co-hosted a concert tition for volunteers at Mission OneWorld.
6 7
Department for Africa Referat Afrika
REINHARD HANSEN
KLAUS DOTZER
Are you familiar with the phenome-
non that certain “first impressions” are branded inde-
libly into our mind’s eye and our souls? Some such searing impres-
sions remain with me from Tanzania, where I first worked during the 1990s.
Even more than 25 years later, I can still sense some of those memories and fee-
lings created by strong “first impressions”, often triggered by a particular turn of
phrase, picture or smell.
Faraja Diaconic Centre:
Indelible first impressions and
closing circles
One of these vivid memories is my first visit to the site of what is now the Faraja Diaconic Centre at West Kilimanjaro. It must have
been in 1994 or 1995. When I close my eyes, I can still bring the scene back to life. I see myself standing there – a young man on
the unfinished foundation of a house in the middle of undulating hills, a few fields and lots of scrub. Two or three spindly goats
are searching for edible greenery in the strong wind. To the east, the snow-covered summit of Mount Kilimanjaro rises in the
twilight; to the west, Mount Meru is clearly visible. This landscape moved me, along with the thought that here, according to
the plan of the ELCT Northern Diocese, should be built a diaconal centre as the home of a Brethren for Tanzanian Deaconry.
Right here? Here “in the midst of nowhere” between the mountains? I still know exactly how movingly beautiful I found the
place, but also that my imagination hardly stretched far enough to picture anything more than steppes …
… 25 years later, on 5 October 2019, I am standing right there once again. A house has now stood on that foundation
for decades, surrounded by other buildings. It’s a proper small diaconal village these days, including a boarders’
primary school for children with physical disabilities. Over there is the school where young men are trained to
become deacons, not to mention numerous houses for staff.
Today, instead of standing here on my own, I am surrounded by hundreds of people, all dressed in their
finest attire. There’s hustle and bustle all over the site, as we all make our way up to the church on
the hill.
During the service of worship, the Mission OneWorld staff members Gabriele and
Photos (3): MEW
Armin Raunigk are given a ceremonious send-off. This married
couple of deacons have worked
8 9
Department for Africa Department for Africa
as managers at Faraja in recent years. Goodluck Emmanuel Nnko and Rector The typically Tanzanian celebratory ser- conic Centre is a success story. All in all,
When the Bishop of the Northern Dioce- Elirehma Kaaya together with general vice of worship lasted for more than five I spent 13 years living and working in
se, Fredrick O. Shoo, releases them from manager Samson Mphuru will steer the hours. Besides decommissioning the Tanzania. I have now been the Officer for
their duties, this marks the end of an destiny of the Brethren at the Faraja De- Raunigks and inaugurating the three Tanzania at Mission OneWorld for three
era. Mission OneWorld, in collaboration aconry. new managers, seven of the Faraja Bre- years. Faith in God and an ample dose of
with the Rummelsberg communities, thren were invested as deacons, giving optimism are absolutely essential in this
Photo: MEW
has been sending deacons and their The former Rummelsberg Rector Günter the Faraja Brethren 33 in active service job. FARAJA is Swahili for CONSOLENCE.
husbands or wives to help establish the Breitenbach and his successor-in-wai- and around 25 in training. Among other The fact that God isn’t concerned if my
Faraja Diaconic Centre at Kilimanjaro ting at that point, Reiner Schübel, have things, they help disabled children, pro- imagination, my faith in Him and my op-
Photo: MEW
since 1994. also come along especially for the occa- vide medical aid, care for orphans and timism aren’t always sufficient, and he
sion and promise in the packed church: attend to the financial administration of still allows great things to happen, is a
Immediately after the Raunigks are “Even if we won’t have any more staff church facilities. very consoling thought on the evening
decommissioned, the new Tanzanian from Bavaria here in the future, this drive away from Faraja Diaconic Centre.
managers of the Diaconic Centre are doesn’t mark the end of our collabora- As we climb into the off-road vehicles
ceremonially inaugurated. In future, tion. Much rather, it is about to rise to a at the end of the day and leave Faraja, I Claus Heim, Officer for Tanzania
the heads of training Senior Brother new level.” feel profound gratitude. The Faraja Dia-
+++ TELEGRAM +++
German viewpoint was represented placing his finger in the wound – ecumenical work with women. Ho- I believe that “At the end of the day,
by Regional Bishop Susanne Breit- one example being rescue efforts at wever, her work at Mission OneWorld whatever we do as churches must
Kessler and Director of Mission One- sea. “The rescuers are ending up in made up only half of her professional somehow filter down at some point
World Gabriele Hoerschelmann. court. People are drowning in the life. After her retirement from Mis- to benefit the lives of the people at
+++ MARCH +++ what’s what. The Speakers’ Tour with Mediterranean, which is turning into sion OneWorld, the 62-year-old will the grassroots in our parishes – in Af-
Study Day at the Protestant Academy African managers seeks to overturn +++ JULY +++ the biggest human grave in history.” continue her other half-time role as a rica, and here at home. This is how
in Tutzing: “AFRICAAAAAA…” was this attitude and initiate eye-to-eye To mark their joint retirement, Rein- The maritime rule used to be very parish pastor in Vestenberg. my own work as Officer for Africa will
the name of a fully booked weekend dialogue between Europe and Africa.” hard and Ulrike Hansen once again straightforward: “Anyone in peril at have to be gauged. I am looking for-
seminar run by Mission OneWorld succeeded in inviting two eminent sea is saved – full stop”. He said that Reinhard Hansen worked as an Ex- ward to working with everyone duri-
in collaboration with the Protestant Events were co-hosted with various African speakers to the Study Day on the EU seemed to have lost its values pert on Tanzania from 1994 to 2001 ng the years ahead. For me, Africa is
Academy in Tutzing. Speakers inclu- mission agencies around Germany in “Unity as a task – impetuses on our in the meantime. The Hansens urged before becoming Head of the Depart- the people there, whom I was able to
ded John Njenga Karugia (“What is Hannover, Berlin, Hamburg and Mu- joint path” in Neuendettelsau on 20 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in ment for Africa at Mission OneWorld, serve as a pastor, and who enabled
China doing ‘right’ and Europe doing nich and at the German Evangelical July 2019. Professor Faustin Mahali Bavaria to speak out clearly on such which he remained until 30 Septem- my faith and myself to grow into what
‘wrong’ in Africa?”), Emmanuel Kileo Church Conference (DEKT) in Dort- from the Tumaini University in Ma- wrongs: “Jesus calls upon us to get ber 2019. On 1 October 2019, he em- I am today. I wish to be there for these
(“Higher education and the educatio- mund. kumira spoke on “Beyond Traditional involved.” barked upon the passive stage of his people; and I also wish to bring these
nal landscape in Tanzania: Is educa- Approaches to Theological Education partial retirement. people closer to us here in Germany.”
tion the key to a sustainable future?”) The well-attended Speakers’ Tour in Africa” and the Archbishop of the Ulrike Hansen had been a Director
and Valinirina Nomenjanahary (“The session in Munich at Nymphenburg Lutheran Church in Nigeria, who is of Studies at Mission OneWorld since +++ OCTOBER +++ Klaus Dotzer now oversees Kenya,
role of women in society, develop- Castle on 13 June 2019 focused on the also the President of the Lutheran 1995, focusing on supporting foreign Reverend Klaus became the new Congo (DRC), Mozambique and Li-
ment and politics, including the ef- subject of “Africa and Europe in dia- World Federation (LWF), Musa Panti bursary stu- Head of the Department for Africa on beria. Deacon Claus Heim remains
fects on the global population”). The logue: Church, politics and society”. Filibus gave a talk entitled “Waking dents and 1 October 2019, explaining: responsible for the partner church
conference could be seen and heard The General Secretary of the Pan- the Giant – the Lutheran Communion in Tanzania. All the African churches
far and wide thanks to a TV recording African Church Conference, Fidon as an Actor in a Global Initiative”. “Reinhard’s handover to me began partnered with Mission OneWorld are
of the panel discussion between An- Mwombeki, outlined the 2016 Agen- The day was rounded off with a mo- with visits to the Democratic Republic supported by Monika Caspary as the
eth Lwakatare, Emmanuel Kileo and da of the African Union, comparing it ving farewell service of worship in- of Congo, Kenya and the Staff Confe- coordinator at the ELCB Project Desk
John Njenga Karugia by Bavarian with the United Nations Sustainability cluding a dialogue sermon by the rence in Tanzania. That was the easy Africa (PDA) based in Tanzania. The
Broadcasting (BR alpha). Goals. Paul Muchena, Coordinator of Hansens. bit. The harder part has since then ELCB PDA now has its own office at
the Catholic Commission for Justice been finding my way into the “inter- the ELCT Head Office in Arusha, assi-
+++ JUNE +++ and Peace in war-torn Zimbabwe, In their joint sermon, among other nal organisation”, where, thank God, sting our five African partner churches
“Speakers’ Tour” – making African spoke about the importance of civil things, they voiced criticism of the I have at my side a tried-and-tested, in planning, supporting and auditing
voices heard in Germany society in African countries. EU’s current treatment of the people highly practised and skilled team in projects. The range of activities per-
The Mission OneWorld homepage attempting to flee to Europe over the the form of Sigrid Kinkelin, Marina formed by the office will continue to
Photo: MEW
says the following about the Spea- The Head Bishop of the Evangelical Mediterranean. “Jesus would wish Ostertag, Simona Fuckerer and Claus expand with the introduction of the
kers’ Tour: “The traditional European Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Fredrick for humane regulations that promote Heiman, who are patiently and ami- new compliance processes to include
attitude towards African development O. Shoo, focused on designating the human coexistence. But unfortunate- cably assisting me. The same goes documentation checks and auditing.
and prospects is still often (neo-)co- “preservation of creation” a core duty ly there are many areas where this is for all the staff here at Mission One-
lonialist – with Europe telling Africa for Christians all over the world. The not the case, said Reinhard Hansen, World!
10 11
Department for Papua New Guinea/Pacific/East Asia Department for Papua New Guinea/Pacific/East Asia
Bible schools and in ecumenical the-
ological seminars. A solid academic
training is crucial, but not an end in
“We can’t just stay
itself. This has to be invested in
God’s service to invite people to
seek faith in Jesus Christ. To pre-
serve and heighten the Lu-
sitting within our
theran profile of our
church, all trainee min-
sters have to take various
courses aimed at strengthe-
church’s four walls”
ning their Lutheran identity. In
terms of soft skills, it’s impor-
tant to us that our pastors
are team players, can
Photo: Thomas Paulsteiner
approach people
Interview with Aaron Yap and that their
personal life-
style corresponds with
The focus of the activities of their preaching.
THOMAS PAULSTEINER
Mission OneWorld in Asia lies
How important is it
in founding and nurturing
A major part in founding parishes is for individual pastors to
parishes, theological training praying for God’s guidance, strength This is very important for volun- gain higher qualifica-
and mission. This is clearly and clarity to determine the concrete teers and staff alike. We highly value tions such as a
exemplified by the Lutheran steps that will move people’s hearts the “priesthood of all faithful” and master’s degree
Church in Malaysia (LCM). Bi- to join us. To start with, we form a encourage our parish members to in- or doctorate?
new Bible group with a few people, vest their time, gifts and talent. In
shop Aaron Yap offers closer
which has a very missionary aim. everyday life, normal parish mem-
insights in this interview. This is supported by an existing pa- bers have much greater contact with
rish that also offers financial aid for non-Christians than our minsters, for
Bishop Yap, the LCM is one of the dent from British Colonial rule in 1957. the first few years. However, the most example. This makes a solid
strongest Lutheran churches in Sou- As a church in a minority situation, important factor is the fundamental grounding in the Bible and
th-East Asia. It was founded under the Great Commission assigned in missionary, evangelical focus and in- personal witness quite
difficult circumstances, and has con- Matthew 28 is very important for us. ner conviction of all members of the crucial.
tinued to grow ever since. How im- Founding parishes is a cornerstone in parish.
portant is it to the LCM to found new our “Vision and Mission 2017-2021” Which skills and training are par-
parishes? strategy plan. We can’t just stay sit- What role does theological trai- ticularly important for your priests?
ting within our church’s four walls, ning for volunteers play in this pro-
Yap: Yes, we were founded during but are called upon to reach out to cess? Yap: Most of our pastors have stu-
difficult times, just a few years before people and invite them to seek faith died at local
Malaysia became inde- in Christ.
pen-
A M M + + +
TELEG R
+++
+++ OKTOBER +++ +++ PERSONELLE
laysia mit 25 kirchenleitenden Per-
„Wantok in Modern Times“ mit über VERÄNDERUNG ++++
sonen verschiedener Konfessionen
Photos (2): MEW
60 Teilnehmenden – ein sehr gut be- Rückkehr: Fam. Depner (aus Hong-
Demonstrationen in Hongkong be- besucht MEW, die Lutherstätten und
suchter Thementag. kong), Fam. Schwöbel und Stock/Sch-
einträchtigen auch den Unterricht am Rom. Ein starker Impuls für ökume- midt (aus Papua-Neuguinea), Alois
+++ MÄRZ +++ Lutherischen Theologischen Seminar. nische Offenheit und intensivere Zu- Schwarz (aus den Philippinen).
+++ JANUAR /FEBRUAR +++ Traugott Farnbacher wird feier- Lutherische Kirche in Korea zer- sammenarbeit wird gesetzt. +++ NOVEMBER +++
Letzte Dienstreise von Traugott Farn- lich in den Ruhestand verabschie- bricht fast an Korruption und inneren Studienseminar zur Predigtlehre und Aussendungen: Fam. Wiesgickl (nach
bacher nach Papua-Neuguinea und det. Thomas Paulsteiner wird Machtkämpfen. +++ JULI +++ zur lebendigen Gestaltung von Got- Hongkong).
auf die Philippinen, begleitet von neuer Leiter des Referats PPO. Ar- Upolu Vai, Principal des Pacific Theo- tesdiensten mit Teilnehmenden aus
Landesbischof Heinrich Bedford- nim Doerfer wird neuer Fachrefe- +++ APRIL +++ logical College (Fiji), hält Festpredigt Australien und den Philippinen bei Als Senior-Experts: Ehepaar Wild sowie
Strohm. rent für Papua-Neuguinea/Pazifik. Ökumenische Studiengruppe aus Ma- beim Fest der weltweiten Kirche. MEW und an den Lutherstätten. Hubert Schildhauer nach PNG.
12 13
Department for Papua New Guinea/Pacific/East Asia Department for Papua New Guinea/Pacific/East Asia
Magical
in Papua New Guinea, I feel life brea-
The LCM is also very actively invol- As a church in a minority situation the and the soul answer. As one of
ved in working with the Orang Asli. beleaguered by difficult political con- the main suppliers of mineral resour-
Why are you active in this field, and ditions, how can the LCM play a role ces and blessed with unimaginably
beginning
what special challenges and opportu- in public? beautiful nature, this country is also
nities does it present? exposed to the ingressions of major
Yap: We are part of our society and international conglomerates. The
Yap: The Orang Asli are the indige- don’t just focus on our own spirituali- big issues faced around the Pacific
nous people in Malaysia. The land ty. We play an active role in social are preserving creation, overcoming
originally belonged to them. In West welfare by running kindergartens, or- post- and neo-Colonialist structures,
Malaysia, they are currently the most phanages, institutions for people “Every beginning has something ma- preting it. This also unfurls a magical and justice. The Bishop of the ELC-
marginalised group. Their traditional with disabilities, right through to old gical” – people frequently focus on beginning for me. After all, I have to PNG, Jack Urame, is tackling them
land was stolen from them, their people’s homes and mobile clinics. this quote by Hermann Hesse as they freshly spell out my task alongside and helping to develop the Pacific’s
children have hardly any educational Ecumenically, we work closely with prepare themselves mentally to em- these people – today, in my time and specific responses.
opportunities, and there is very little other churches and are members of bark upon a new situation in life. life circumstances, to the best of my Pastor Matei Ibak from Karkar Island
public infrastructure. national Christian umbrella organi- This particular magic was besto- knowledge and conscience. is also working tirelessly on these
sations, where we advocate freedom wed upon me on 1 March 2019. After There are plenty of challenges. These issues. He’s an environmental acti-
We are called upon to counter these of religion and resist the increasing spending several years as a pastor in often arise from cultural differences, vist and theological thinker. Together
wrongs. In doing so, we place par- Islamisation of our country. With re- Franconia, the wide world opened up but magic also dwells there. Mission with young people, he is now onto
ticular value on making school edu- gard to other religions, we belong to once again for my field of work. I say has much to do with amazement – at their third big canoe constructed by
cation possible for children and tee- the “Malaysian Consultative Council “again”, as I got the chance to carry the ways in which God works and traditional design. The group uses
nagers. Within our church structure, of Buddhist, Christians, Hindu, Sikhs on from where I left off at an earlier moves people; at how people are these “advertising vehicles” to talk
the Orang Asli parishes form their and Taoism”, the only interfaith asso- stage of my life, after growing up as happy living different lives; in the re- with coastal communities about the
own district with a high level of self- ciation that represents all the religi- the child of missionaries in Papua alisation that I am also a part of God’s dangers of deep-sea mining, deep-
governance and self-organisation. ons practised in Malaysia, apart from New Guinea. wonderful creation. sea tailings and over-fishing. The
Islam. The countries bordering on the South 2019 was marked by encounters with land and the sea have a special signi-
The LCM is also conducts pro-ac- Pacific and their respective Lutheran many new people and my first two ficance. Since time immemorial, they
tive missionary work beyond What does “Lutheran identity” churches are now my counterparts in business trips to the Philippines and have formed the basis of life for the
Malaysia’s borders, for instance in mean today in a modern Asiatic con- nurturing partnerships with our regi- Papua New Guinea. locals, and it’s a matter of rediscove-
Myanmar, Vietnam and Madagascar. text? onal church. I am the personal contact Church President Antonio Reyes from ring respect for this creation.
What motivates the church in this di- and bridge to Germany for our staff. the Lutheran Church of the Philip- The global community of Christians is
rection? Yap: Grace. The grace bestowed We work closely and supportively to- pines (LCP) arranged an outstanding a very beautiful thing. This commu-
upon us by Jesus Christ is our primary gether in alliance with other partner first contact for me with “his” church. nion is Church – and what unites us
Yap: It was through the work of focus. We are highly conscious of churches in the Evangelical Lutheran I experienced joyous and lively spiri- is Jesus Christ. So much magic lies
earlier missionaries that we ourselves being members of the Lutheran World Church of Papua New Guinea. tuality in the congregations, but also even in every new day, which is also
encountered the Grace of God. We Federation and are deeply rooted in The magic persists – not only as it’s tensions between conservative and always a new beginning.
now wish to pass this on to others. Holy Scripture. At the same time, we the Pacific, or how we Europeans liberal wings in the LCP.
During recent decades, we have ma- have ecumenical ties with other like to interpret that. Not only for the Every time my feet touch the ground Arnim Doerfer
naged to found new Lutheran churches. We base the way that we chance to reconnect to my childhood
churches in Myanmar, Vietnam and worship on the Word and Sacrament, roots. Not because life here is suppo-
Yap: As the education level in our so- Madagascar and to build relations from which we derive our missionary sed to be more idyllic and better, nor
ciety keeps rising, we with Nepal and China. We thank God and diaconal thrust. Mission and de- because things seemingly wouldn’t
for the opportunity to partake in His aconry are an integral part of our Lu- function without me or I could save
encourage suitably gifted pastors to mission. theran identity. However, our paris- something there.
pursue higher academic qualifica- hes enjoy great freedom in designing The magic persists because I get to
tions. This enables us to discuss is- These international relations expand their services of worship and spiritual work in a fabulous team, in which
sues competently as a church. our own perspective and open up life. Differences should not lead to ar- the notion of partnership, friend-
new horizons – inspiring, strengthe- guments and divisions, but be percei- ship and the global Church of Jesus
ning and enriching our own parish ved as mutual enrichment. Christ is being tried and lived out.
life and growth along the way. Throughout, I keep on thinking time
Interviewer: Thomas Paulsteiner and again about inherited mission
Photo: Thorsten Krafft
and the very different ways of inter-
14 15
Pacific Information Desk Pacific Information Desk
30 years of information
and networking
From its base in Neuendettelsau, the Pacific Information Desk works to
Photo (2): MEW
create vigorous links between Germany and the Pacific region.
It’s hard to believe that the Pacific The idea of running a German- beautiful hula girls dancing on sandy
Information Desk in Neuendettelsau language office for information on beaches surrounded by palm trees set such as this May, when Daniel Orn, in my hand and perhaps not being one another about developments in
has existed for 30 years. This ecu- events in Oceania appealed to other against the azure-blue sea. Nor “doo- the only ordained pastor in Cambo- able to do anything. the Pacific.
menical initiative stemmed from the German mission agencies with links msday scenarios” of islands drow- dia, visited the Information Desk. He Besides personal encounters, the
Pacific Network Association, which to the Pacific, so they agreed to help ning in the rising sea, corrupt states, explained that he wanted to generate highlights of my job include getting I thoroughly relish my involvement
was founded in 1988 to campaign fund it and set up a group of patrons beloved Tongan kings, or the like. The opportunities for income for his 300 feedback on the Information Desk’s with Mission OneWorld and feel ex-
in Germany for a nuclear-free Paci- that to this day convenes twice a year. reporting is supposed to be balanced, parish members in Cambodia and publications. If someone calls and tremely at home in this big building
fic. After bringing together the many So although the Information Desk is and that can only be achieved by li- was thinking of farming chickens. He starts with the words “I’ve just read with all its departments. I get to col-
small protest groups spread all over situated in Bavaria, it works in the stening to many voices and using all asked if I knew anything about the an interesting article in ‘pazifik’…”, laborate with almost everyone here
Germany, the next step was to seek a name and on behalf of all patrons, the available media to read up on to- subject. I don’t – but the chicken farm this makes my heart race, as it shows at one point or another, whether
coordination hub for the association’s encompassing besides Protestant pics. Visitors from the Pacific are va- in the next town was happy to give us that my work is getting across and preparing a day focusing on a speci-
activities. The Bavarian Mission Agen- and Catholic organisations of course luable in this regard. How fortunate a personal guided tour of the chicken that some people really are “keen fic topic, such as “Wantok in modern
cy, as it was known back then, made also the only non-confessional non- that guests from the Bavarian part- coops and explain how chicken farms to stay on the case” of the Pacific. I times”, hosting a discussion on “over-
the ideal collaboration partner. The governmental organisation Pacific ner churches so frequently swing by work in Germany. consider the key role in my job to be coming trauma” at the Kirchentag in
Mission Agency itself also maintained Network, which itself by now has 220 little Neuendettelsau, giving me the networking these people from near Dortmund, or organising campaigns,
partnerships with churches in the Pa- members. opportunity to tap directly into their Our work also involves sad and de- and afar, enabling them to talk, ex- such as “One week without plastic”.
cific, namely Papua New Guinea and first-hand experience of economic, vastating aspects, such as the mee- change information and learn from Sometimes, conversations link to-
Fiji. After negotiations, the Pacific The Information Desk goes to every political and social change. This of- ting with human rights activist Theo pics and countries out of the blue
Information Desk was able to set up length to live up to its name, provi- ten brings about curious encounters, Hesegem from Wamena in West in a way that wouldn’t have
an office at the agency’s premises. By ding factual and well-researched Papua. He explained vividly how he seemed at all obvious. The
now, it even has two offices and a Pa- information on people, events and helps to locate the mass graves of the Info Point, Traugott Farnbacher, a fact that the basic right
cific library there. topics from the Pacific. I consider it Papuas murdered by the Indone- fond farewell into retirement. to clean water
particularly important to avoid sprea- sian military, recover the corpses The exhibition on “Land going under
ding South-Sea clichés. You won’t Agency). and deliver them to their families. in the Pacific – the effects of climate
find any reports about bare-breasted, Staff from Mission One- Meeting visitors like these calls change in the region” sparked discus-
World were invited to toast for a great deal of respect and sion at the Church of the Resurrection
the occasion with a glass of delicacy. In my job, I have to be in Fürth. visited Neuendettelsau and spoke at
German sparkling wine and of- able to bear the sense of im- a meeting about “The Preservation of
+++ MAY +++
+++ TELEGRAM +++
fered an overview of our every- potence of just sitting at a Cultural Identity in Changing Times”.
day work at a reception held at the desk with a pen Members of the Pacific Network de- Strathern is a well-established expert
Info Point. monstrated at Fliegerhorst in Büchel on Papua New Guinea, having com-
in the Eifel region against the statio- pleted decades of research into the
+++ FEBRUARY +++
the Pacific Information Desk opening +++ FEBRUARY +++ ning of nuclear missile warheads. country.
The Chamber of Industry and Com- its office on the premises of Mission At the BioFach trade fair in Nurem- +++ MARCH +++ The Pacific Network emerged from
merce invited specialists on Indone- OneWorld (previously the Mission berg, I spoke to cocoa farmers from Members of the Pacific Network and the movement for a nuclear-free Pa- +++ JULY +++
sia to a round-table discussion. I was Vanuatu and got to know the produ- the Austrian–South Pacific Society cific 30 years ago. Back then, regional The new cohort of IEF volunteers con-
able to speak unusually frankly with cers of Mount Hagen Coffee from the met in Passau to consider the “Long groups in the network were already ducted a workshop on climate chan-
the Vice Ambassador from the In- highlands of Papua New Guinea. shadow of colonial times”. One of the protesting against the nuclear tests ge and the repercussions of nuclear
donesian Embassy in Frankfurt about The Bishop of the Evangelical Luthe- questions discussed was whether and conducted by the French on Moruroa. tests in the Pacific. The Pacific volun-
the difficult situation in West Papua. ran Church of Papua New Guinea, in what context cultural relics from teers later wrote round-robin letters
Jack Urame, visited the Info Point. I museums should/must be returned to +++ JULY +++ and took part in campaigns against
+++ 1 FEBRUARY +++ interviewed him about MEW’s annu- their countries of origin. The American ethnologist couple Pa- the impact of climate change in the
We celebrated the 30th anniversary of al campaign “Creation – not for sale”. We bade the PPO Officer in charge of mela Stewart and Andrew Strathern countries where they were stationed.
16 17
Pacific Information Desk Department for Latin America – Central America
isn’t only an is-
sue for survival FRIEDERIKE DEEG
for Latin Ameri-
cans, but also for
the inhabitants
of isolated Paci-
fic island states
ALL-ENCOMPASSING:
Photo: privat
with low reserves
of fresh water at
aid and care for refugees in
the heart of an
atoll just goes to
show once again
how interlinked
Central America
our world is. And
the raw materials
used to make our
mobile phones
actually don’t just
come from Afri- The tannoy announces the departure times for the next flights. There is still some time until my flight to Germany, so I
can countries, but open my emails. A member of staff from the Lutheran Church in El Salvador has written to me and thanked me for our
Photo: MEW
also from Papua positive collaboration. As there is no particular reason for thanks, I wonder a little and read on. He reports that he had
New Guinea and to leave the country two weeks earlier because his children were threatened by Pandilla 18, a youth gang, that they
New Caledonia. would be murdered if they didn’t join up. The family tried to flee the danger by moving house, but they were located via
Informing people their workplace and the children’s university. The email closed with the words: “I plea to God that the situation
about such things Julia Ratzmann will change so my people will stop having to emigrate.” Tears well up in my eyes.
and identifying Head of the Pacific Information Desk
parallels with A few weeks later, I am sitting in my office and reading a message from one of the church workers in
developments in Honduras, reporting that at the end of September he no longer saw any alternative but to flee to Spain
other parts of the www.pazifik-infostelle.org – because of threats and extortion by Pandilla MS/13. They had kept on demanding more and more
world is the task money until he could no longer meet their demands and fled for his life.
of the Informati-
on Desk. Two personal life stories during the previous year from the very heart of two of our partner
churches that typify the fate of people in Central America. From one day to the next, their lives
+++ SEPTEMBER +++ can become endangered, people can lose their jobs and homes. For many,
New members of staff at Mission there is no alternative any more than to flee. The two church
OneWorld got to the chance to view workers escaped to Europe. But the majority of
artwork, some from the Pacific, on an on “China in the Pacific: opportuni- those who emigrate from Central America
“art tour”. ties – dependency – conflicts”. More remain on the continent. Some seek
+++ JULY +++ When the Nuremberg Human Rights than 60 visitors attended various pre- refuge in one of the wealthier
Upolu Vai, Director of the Pacific Award was presented to an activist sentations on the question of Chinese states in Central America, in-
Theological College of Suva (Fiji), from Chile, a short one-to-one dis- involvement in the planned maritime cluding Costa Rica. The dif-
gave a sermon on “Creation – not cussion arose about the meaning of silk roads in the Pacific. Afterwards, ficult situation for mem-
for sale” and reported to the Info “water” for the people of Oceania, at the reception, the string band Fas- bers of the opposition in
Point about adding contextual the- too. Fowod from Cologne set the audience Nicaragua has led to a
ology to the curriculum of the col- swinging with songs in Bislama ac- significant increase in
lege. +++ OCTOBER +++ companied on bamboo instruments the number of people
More than 60 people attended a and ukuleles. seeking protection
+++ AUGUST +++ one-day event focusing on “Wantok there.
On 6 August, a broad alliance of in modern times”, at which Profes- +++ DECEMBER +++
peace and human rights groups sor Mückler from the Austrian–South We spent two days on the Supervisory The Lutheran
in Nuremberg commemorated Pacific Society approached the topic Board of the West Papua Network dis- Church in Costa
the 73rd anniversary of the United from an ethnological viewpoint. cussing the worrying deterioration of Rica responded
States dropping atomic bombs on the human rights situation following spontaneously by
the Japanese cities of Hiroshima +++ NOVEMBER +++ racist attacks in the district of Nduga. building accommo-
Photo: Gilberto Quesada
and Nagasaki. Hiroshima sends out To mark its 30th anniversary, the Pa- By January 2020, the number of dead dation for refugees
a warning – even today! cific Info Point hosted a symposium exceeded 260. in the middle of the
18 19Department for Latin America – Central America Department for Latin America – Brazil
church grounds. Where the kitchen once was, now stands a house. So the
multi-purpose hall for meetings and worship lies at the heart of the complex,
between the accommodation and the church offices.
Seek peace …
At Christmas, the church’s administrative workers had a surprise in store for
the nigh-on twenty children who had found refuge on the church land. Every-
one had noted on a long list who was bringing hotdogs, a rice dish, ice cream,
My peace I give
to you.
cake and the obligatory piñata that takes centre stage at every children’s party
in Central America – a papier maché figure filled with treats that all the child-
ren take turns in hitting with a stick until it bursts and disgorges the sweet
contents.
Thanks to some cash donations by staff, there were even gifts for the children. As the sound of Schweinfurt’s samba group “Ritmo Can-
For an entire afternoon, the kids were able to forget their predicament and eat, dela” filled the room, the little girl happily began to
drink, play games, get their faces painted and simply have a good time.
dance. She smiled at the other girl taking her
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria provided financial aid for the re- hand, and both danced enthusiastically –
fugee hostel project. Besides accommodation and provisions, the people there each in their own way, but completely
are also help with bureaucracy and offer psychosocial support. But more im- in harmony. More people “caught
portant than all the practical aid is the human warmth offered by the locals, as the bug” and started to dance,
demonstrated at last year’s Christmas party.
smile or clap. This scene in
Friederike Deeg the assembly hall of the Gu-
stav Adolf Congregation in
Schweinfurt summed up
the theme of the 23rd Bra-
zilian Day: “Seek peace …
Photo: Gilberto Quesada
My peace I give to you.”
This slogan is a combination
of the annual verses from the
Evangelical Church of Lutheran
Confession in Brazil (IECLB) and the ELCB:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” (John
Photo: pixabay
14:27) and “Seek peace and pursue it!” (Psalm 34:14).
+++ TELEGRAM +++
+++ EL SALVADOR +++ Volcán and the “Casa Esperanza” Communion of Lutheran Churches in in a programme run by the • The head of the Social Welfare De- +++ HONDURAS +++
• Nayib Bukele was elected as Pre- project for the homeless. Central America (CILCA) was presen- ACT Alliance for Peace and Reconci- partment changed twice during the • The Christian Lutheran Church of
sident. There were different opinions ted to the public for the first time. liation. year, presenting major challenges to Honduras (ICLH) published a state-
on this outcome within the church in • Reverend Balduino Gómez, the el- the church. ment in June about the political and
El Salvador. dest son of Bishop Medardo Gómez, +++ NICARAGUA +++ +++ COSTA RICA +++ social crisis in the country, one week
succumbed to a severe illness in June. • Repression of the government’s • The Lutheran Church in Costa Rica • A state-sponsored football and ed- in advance of the 10th anniversary of
• Hans-Jürgen Johnke reached retire- • Celebrating the anniversary of the opponents continued, although an (ILCO) built a hostel for refugees on ucational project for children went the coup against the left-liberal Pre-
ment age and immediately got him- episcopate in August, 14 new pastors amnesty law saw many political pri- the grounds of the church office. The very successfully. sident Manuel Zelaya. Months pre-
self re-seconded as a senior expert were ordained after completing the soners freed in June. initiative was awarded the “Seal of viously, people had already started
on the church’s advanced theologi- church’s own advanced theological Integrating Lives 2019” by the United • A volunteer from the South-North protesting against the planned priva-
cal training programme and to work training programme. On the same • The Lutheran Church “Faith and Nations High Commissioner for Refu- Programme came to Bavaria for the tisations in the health and education
in the “El Buen Pastor” parish in El occasion, the joint song book for the Hope” in Nicaragua (ILFE) took part gees. first time. sectors.
20 21Referat Lateinamerika
“Shalom” was the thread that wove world?
its way throughout the day – in de- The service of worship was my perso-
votionals, singing, talks, group work, nal highlight on Brazilian Day. Bles-
discussions and worship, during the sing hands at my induction and many
course of which I was inducted as an warm wishes gave me power and
ecumenical staff member at Mission hope for my service at Mission One-
OneWorld. Afterwards, World. Our children
there was still time for a recepti-
on and the chance to meet and min-
+++ TELEGRAMM +++
gle.
The Reverend Silfredo Dalferth gave
the main talk on “Peace from a the- +++BRASILIEN+++
ological perspective”. Peace is a core Diego and Letícia had travelled
subject in the Bible, a strategy for from Hamburg and Heidelberg • Jair Messias Bolsonaro was inaugu-
justice. For this very reason, the bi- for the occasion, while my wife rated as the new President, his politics
blical concept of peace is particularly Rose Mari sent us her prayers polarising people in society and the
relevant to the current situation. Revd and thoughts from far away church. In March, the Church Council
Dalferth also referred to key initiati- in Brazil. I got to preach the published a manifesto clearly signal-
ves launched by the church, such as message of peace in the ser- ling the desire of the IECLB (Evangelical
the World Council of Churches’ Inter- mon and while celebrating Church of Lutheran Confession in Bra-
national Ecumenical Peace Convoca- the Lord’s Supper. The image zil) for freedom, to protect the envi-
tion. for the annual theme at the ronment and for social justice.
IECLB depicts people building
I was asked to deliver a report on bridges. This is also my task, • The church’s new Presidium stron-
the current situation in Brazil, and as and so I preached: “I am hap- gly advocated dialogue and reconci-
I had only just returned from there, py to be here. In the certain liation, publishing a monthly pastoral
I was able to provide the audience knowledge that God encir- letter.
with bang-up-to-date information. cles the globe with His peace,
The population in Brazil is divided I dream of a new world. I wish • In June, Revd Hannes Kühn, his wife
and polarised, particularly after the to use my service to build bridges Andrea and their daughter, who was
election campaign, erupting in vio- and help create spaces of peace born in January, returned from São Luis
lence. The new government has re- and justice.” to Speichersdorf in Germany.
acted in the form of a new munitions
law aimed at legalising the use of Geraldo Grützmann • The number of volunteers in the
firearms by “good citizens” in “self- North-South Programme increased from
defence”. The IECLB published a dif- 2 to 4 in the 2019/20 cohort.
ferent response in its own statement.
The document entitled “We have a • The partner consultation between
duty to the Gospel” was widely pu- the ELCB and IECLB on “Poisonous
blicised. agricultural chemicals and God’s Cre-
ation” was held from 27 September to
Working groups deliberated the pre- 1 October, attended for the first time,
sentations in more detail during the besides members of the church leaders
afternoon, sharing examples of peace and church offices, by a representative of
efforts, particularly projects for peace each of the 18 synods.
in Rio de Janeiro, the work of vari-
ous churches, the CAPA’s activities • The IECLB started planning to celebrate
with families of smallholders, and the 200th anniversary of the Lutheran
COMIN’s programmes with indige- Church in Brazil in 2024.
nous peoples. The overriding questi-
on was: How can churches and their
Photo: pixabay.de
members instil peace around the
22 23Department for Mission and Intercultural Studies Department for Mission and Intercultural Studies
unscathed. The African philosopher
Achilles Mbembe put it this way: “The
+++ TELEGRAM +++
Intercultural opening –
world is turning black.” What he me-
ans with this is not racial divisions, as
in the times of slavery in America or +++ APRIL +++
colonialism, but between poor and Women from Nairobi visited Wassertrüdingen and Wittenberg.
Christianity goes
rich – and these struggles will affect In Mödlareuth, some people at the museum explained how awful it was
everyone. In the heart of Germany, when the Red Army marched into the village and split it into the Feder-
globalisation is sitting on our night- al Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. A Kenyan
stand, constantly, and it will keep on woman asked: “So what brought the Russians here?” It seemed she knew
global – everywhere
changing everything. We all live toge- nothing about European history. I got the impression that she knew more
ther on this one planet and have no than we would wish. And I also know a few bits of history from Kenya,
alternative. Peacebuilding is what we how during the Mau-Mau war there in the 1950s many people were forced
need more than ever, together with to live behind barbed wire until independence finally came and the British
fair and sustainable distribution of government at least officially handed over power.
resources, including for the future.
+++ JUNE +++
We need the inner mission (there
Sara Neidhardt came
used to be: outward and inner missi-
In-Sight into world mission – the exhibition in Neuendettelsau clearly
on) of opening up our congregations
depicted worldwide church. The whole world in one room, with many
and church interculturally, making
chances to delve more deeply into numerous topics that concern us. Many
cultural changes in the country a po-
visitors came and got to see what present-day mission is about. In this
sitive thing. Or has the church alrea-
regard, we want to remain at the cutting edge of educational practice in
dy developed into a migration-free
Photo: MEW museums.
niche? The Holy Spirit will certainly
continue to act also in Europe.
+++ JULY +++
GOTTFRIED RÖSCH
What was new to me was that when Farewell to Ulrike Hansen
guests arrive from all over the world, A Head of department with many years of experience left Mission One-
they are keen to visit Wittenberg. Why, World. She had been particularly actively involved and effective in issues
I had wondered, in the world, if I hap- relating to the gender debate and women’s rights – worldwide, with
pen to be in Germany … Wittenberg? enduring concepts and hands-on.
Martin Luther and the Reformation.
Fair enough. Hero worship and reas- +++ JULY/AUGUST +++
surance, or contemplating Reforma- International Summer School on “Peacebuilding in a multifaith world”
2019 was my first year as head of And then along came this intercultu- out with violence. Can religions com- A group of open-minded and inquisitive people, all hungry to learn, ga-
department, requiring vision for the ral challenge. The parish pastor beca- bat this? We all agreed throughout
way forward: Mission Respect. Chri- me a head of department, working in intensive exchange, discussion and
stian witness is called for with ecu- a set-up with many offices, meetings learning that religions can extricate
menical scope – both in Bavaria and and protocols. How nice that, in the themselves from the fray, and instead
elsewhere. Precisely because the hi- process, Mission OneWorld always make a contribution towards peaceful
story of mission often went hand in has lots to offer in terms of interesting solutions to conflicts of interest. Faith
hand with colonialism, nationalism people and endless new impressions. can help, can bear fruit. We shared
and racism, that which the EKD per- And there are many highly motivated many examples, drew inspiration and
forms nowadays stands for Christian staff here! Worldwide Christianity in identified concepts – also encoura-
witness in a multifaith world centred multiple forms. ged, for example, by an appointment
on mutual respect between all. at the Foreign Office that reinforced
Many of the staff in Mission and Inter- our belief that religious communities
In 2018, I was still a parish minster, cultural Studies were involved in the around the world can be very much
and very contentedly so – the many major project of running the Interna- perceived, especially positively, as
baptisms, the funerals, the Sunday tional Summer School on “Peacebuil- political protagonists.
mornings, the series of confirmation ding in a multifaith world”. Tensions
classes, the trust that complete stran- all over the world – between poor This, as global tensions are also be-
gers invest in you, the numerous net- and rich and with a bitter struggle for coming noticeable in Europe and the
works of volunteers who want to get resources – are being enflamed eth- global battle for resources is being
up and set the ball rolling together. nically and religiously and then borne harshly fought. No region remains
Photo: MEW
24 25You can also read
