The General Assembly of the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) has invited its regional groups to explore the relationship between church and democracy. Against the backdrop of a growing influence of anti-democratic political forces in many European societies, this topic is particularly timely. Recent meetings of several regional groups have taken up the discussion.
In September 2026, the Conference of Protestant Churches in Latin Europe (Conférence des Églises protestantes des Pays latins d’Europe – CEPPLE) held its Assembly in the Swiss canton of Grissons. The meeting focused on “Democracy and the Church”. Representatives of churches from Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland heard a lecture by Olivier Abel, who offered thought-provoking theological and philosophical reflections on democracy and the role of the church. Participants discussed a number of his ideas and shared perspectives on developments in the societies in which their churches serve.
The CEPPLE Assembly also elected a successor to Gianni Genre, who had served as president of the regional group for four years. Tünde Lamboley, a member of the Synodal Council of the Evangelical Reformed Church of the Canton of Fribourg in Switzerland, was elected the new president of CEPPLE.
Also in September, the so-called Kontaktgruppe of the Conference of Churches on the Rhine met in Strasbourg. The group brings together church leaders working at an intermediate level of church administration. Christoph Weber-Berg from the Swiss canton of Aargau spoke about democracy in Switzerland. At the same meeting, Professor Fritz Lienhard of Heidelberg delivered a lecture on theology and theological education in times of change.
Theology in times of change is also a recurring theme in the work of the regional groups. On 12 October, their leaders met online to update one another on their activities and discuss what these initiatives might mean for the CPCE as a whole. They also explored ways to strengthen connections and cooperation among the work being carried out across the regional groups.
Further information:
https://cepple.eu/actualites/cepple/tunde-lamboley-nouvelle-presidente-de-la-cepple/