The CPCE’s strategy envisages that highly competent individuals will accompany the work processes. In the first months of 2025, the Council, in consultation with the churches, appointed the members of the specialist and staff advisory committees. This meant that the first meetings could be convened in the fall.
Technical Advisory Board on Liturgy
Under the coordination of Council member Annette Gruschwitz and the previous liturgy advisor Jochen Arnold, the advisory board met online on September 10. In addition to getting to know each other, the liturgical tasks of the CPCE were discussed in general terms. The focus is on the consultation on pastoral care, which will be convened on November 2-5, 2026, at the Zentrum Verkündigung in Frankfurt am Main. There was also an exchange of ideas on the next event, the hybrid presentation of the newly published CPCE volume “Praxis und Theologie des Abendmahls” (Practice and Theology of the Lord’s Supper), which will also be presented at the Zentrum Verkündigung on February 19.
Advisory Council on Education
On September 18, 2025, the CPCE Advisory Council on Education met for its first face-to-face meeting in Frankfurt am Main, following two previous online meetings. One of the main topics of the meeting was the development of a curriculum for Protestant religious education in primary schools in the European Schools. Another key topic was the granting of teaching permits for Protestant religious education at European schools – a process that requires clear criteria and church support. The discussions made it clear that education is a fundamental concern of the Protestant tradition, which raises the question of how Protestant educational work can be sustainably strengthened and made more visible today.
Advisory Council on Ecumenism
The Advisory Council on Ecumenism of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) met in Vienna on September 18 and 19, 2025, for its first in-person meeting this year, following online meetings in March and June. The Advisory Board reviewed the CPCE’s strategic priorities, including preparations for the April 2026 consultation on the theme of “Ministry – Ordination – Episkope,” and focused on preparing a statement by the CPCE Council on the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. Reports were shared on the dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church, which began in 2022, on the start of a new round of talks with the European Baptist Federation, and on relations with Anglican and Orthodox churches. In addition, a new doctrinal dialogue on doctrinal diversity in the church community was initiated.
Advisory Board for Public Relations
The Advisory Board for Public Relations supports the CPCE office in raising its profile, promoting its publications more effectively, and jointly considering which channels are best suited to reach which target groups. The members are Willi Wild, a long-standing church journalist who also reported on the CPCE General Assembly in Sibiu in 2024. Deputy Council member Klára Tarr Cselovszky, who is very familiar with the CPCE as a long-standing member of the Council and Presidium, has also agreed to support the Advisory Board. We are also very pleased to have Klaus Rieth (former deputy council member), who volunteered to lead CPCE public relations at the General Assembly. From the Swiss Reformed Church, media representative Michèle Graf-Kaiser, who is very familiar with the local media and church scene, will also be contributing. Theologian Thomas Flügge is also a member of the Public Relations Advisory Board. He has been responsible for the website and layout of CPCE publications for many years and knows the CPCE very well as a former head of public relations. There have been two online meetings so far. The first face-to-face meeting will take place in Vienna in December.
Many thanks to everyone involved in this work!