CPCE President Thomas Wipf and General Secretary Michael Bünker on a visit to the protestant churches in the Middle East – church cooperation strengthens hope – planned intensifying of Christian-Islam dialogue.

Press release 1/2009

“Impressed by the cooperation and solidarity of the Christian churches in the Middle East”: that was the reaction of Thomas Wipf and Michael Bünker, President and General Secretary of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe, CPCE, during their visit to the General Assembly of the Federation of Middle East Evangelical Churches, FMCEE, in the past week in Beirut (Lebanon). Conversations with church delegations from Iraq, Iran, Sudan and Egypt as well as visits among others to Tarik Mitri, Lebanese Minister for Information, brought the CPCE representatives in touch with the situation of the Christian churches in the Middle East. Everyday marginalisation, eruptions of violence and especially the lack of economic perspectives lead above all to the emigration of young people. “Sadness at this can be felt everywhere. In spite of the pressure of this situation, the churches are lively. Cooperation and solidarity between the protestant churches are an important sign of hope”, was Wipf’s conclusion.

A high-level round of Christian-Muslim dialogue thematised in conversation with the CPCE delegation the challenges to religions living together in the Middle East. The exchange brought valuable insights and should be continued on a regular basis. “Church fellowship does not allow itself to be limited by cultural and geographical differences”, thus CPCE General Secretary Bishop Michael Bünker. In view of the uncertainty of many Europeans in the face of Islam, the CPCE churches could learn much from their sister churches in the Middle East. These are “experienced in living together with Muslims”. “We have lived together in peace for centuries and we want to hold firmly to that in spite of all political difficulties”, said Abbas El Halabi, chairman of the Arab conversations group of the Muslim-Christian dialogue.

FMEEC is an important partner for the CPCE, Bunker added. In its founding document of 2006 FMEEC had expressly appealed to the Leuenberg Agreement, the theological basis of CPCE. Bunker advocated increased cooperation and deepened exchange of information between the two organisations. In recent years CPCE had repeatedly transmitted peace appeals, among others for Iraq, to its 105 European member churches in 29 countries.

“Europe shares responsibility for peace in the Middle East. The CPCE churches have the task of reminding people of that.” Wipf emphasised this in his greeting to the General Assembly. As citizens of a continent “from which in the 20th century racism and war were carried into the whole world, we Europeans must engage ourselves for a peaceful life together of Christians, Muslims and Jews”, Wipf added.

Note: the Federation of Middle East Evangelical Churches, FMEEC, was strengthened in 2006 with the “Amman Declaration”. To it belong fifteen protestant churches from Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Iraq, Sudan, Tunisia and Algeria. With their signatures to the Agreement the churches grant each other pulpit and table fellowship and commit themselves to common witness and service. The Amman Declaration appeals to the Leuenberg Agreement. CPCE and FMEEC regard themselves as sister organisations.

Vienna/Bern, 18th January 2010

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At present 105 Protestant churches in Europe (including five South-American churches originating from Europe ) belong to the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE). Lutheran, Reformed, United and Methodist along with pre-Reformation churches such as Hussites and Czech Brethren grant each other pulpit and table fellowship on the basis of the Leuenberg Agreement of 1973. The Secretariat is housed in the Severin-Schreiber-Gasse 3, A-1180 Vienna, office@leuenberg.eu, tel. +43.1.4791523.900, fax .110 The CPCE press officer is Dipl.theol. Thomas Flügge (Bern), tel. +41.31.3702502, t.fluegge@leuenberg.eu.

18.01.2010 Thomas Flügge

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