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European Bulletin
CHURCH OF ENGLAND
COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
CHURCH HOUSE LONDON
EUROPEAN BULLETIN – No 53
30 July 2008
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. News from CEC: “Choose Life” Liturgy
3. Anglo – German Exchange Visit
4. 2009 Kirchentag
5. News from Leuenberg
6. Church Twinning Website: Change of Website Address
7. TaizéYoung Adults Meeting in Brussels
8. WCC Internship Programme 2009
1. INTRODUCTION
This holiday season edition of the bulletin recalls some recent events and publications and looks ahead to some events for the autumn and the New Year.
If readers are on their travels soon our best wishes for journeys and meetings.
Francis Bassett
Assistant Secretary CCU
The Bulletin is sent out on a mailing list: Please advise us if your email address changes, or if you do not wish to receive the Bulletin. CCU is not responsible for the content of external web sites mentioned in this Bulletin.
- NEWS FROM CEC: “CHOOSE LIFE” LITURGY
The European Christian Environmental Network (ECEN) has produced “Choose Life” an anthology of liturgical material on climate change from the UKfor the Creation Time 2008from September 1 to the second Sunday of October.
In the final Message at the Sibiu Assembly participants expressed the need
for protection of God’s Creation in the following words: “Concerned about God’s creation, we pray for a greater sensitivity and respect for its wonderful diversity. We work against its shameless exploitation, from which the ‘whole creation awaits its redemption’ (Rom 8:22), and we commit ourselves to working for reconciliation between humanity and nature”. These words were then followed by Recommendation Ten: “We recommend that the period from the 1st September to the4th of October be dedicated to prayer for the protection of Creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles that reverse our contribution to climate change”.
The material includes prayers of gathering, confession and absolution, reflections on scripture, affirmation of faith, intercessions based on the psalms, all age thanksgiving and a hymn “Choose Life” set to a tune from the Genevan Psalter by Louis Bourgeois.
The anthology is edited by Roddy Hamilton, Ruth Jarman, Robin Morrison and Eleanor Todd with Michael Davidson and Ruth Bell. It is dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Lukas Vischer.
For more information see http://www.ecen.org/
3. ANGLO-GERMAN EXCHANGE VISIT
Events to commemorate the centenary of the 1908 Anglo- German peace talks took place in May at St Katharine’s Limehouse and in Cambridge. The CTBI website (www.ctbi.org.uk) has as PDF documents for downloading a background paper by Dr Keith Clements and papers by Oberkirchenrat Dr Oliver Schuegraf, Pastor Armin Besserer and Revd Dr Charlotte Methuen. The direct link is:
4. 2009 KIRCHENTAG
The 2009 Kirchentag will be taking place in Bremen from Wednesday 20th May until Sunday 24th May.
The theme will be based on the text Genesis 3:9, "Mortal, where are you?".
In its German version "Mensch, wo bist du?", this question is addressed to Mensch, the general term for a human being, both male and female. The question is derived from the oldest story in the Bible, from those chapters that raise the big questions about human life. Where does the human person come from? What is the place of humankind in creation? Where does freedom arise? What do you use your freedom for? For what do you take on responsibility? What have you set your heart on? Where are your fellow human beings? These themes will be explored through bible study, seminars and lectures, discussions and debates.
Information about the 2009 Kirchentag in English can be found on the UK website www.kirchentag.org.uk together with practical information about the event. (It is also on the German website - www.kirchentag.de- with some pages in English.) There can be found information about how to contribute to the Kirchentag as stand-holders or by making presentations. Details for participants about registration will appear in the autumn. British prticipants can be accommodated from Tuesday 19th until Monday morning 25th.
You can ask questions about any aspect of the Kirchentag by getting in touch with Robin Blount on 01303 250028 or robin.blount@virgin.net
5. NEWS FROM LEUENBERG
Recent press releases from Leuenberg include:
* CPCE welcomes the “White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue” recently adopted by the Council of Europe
* A serious test for the European Union. Statement by the CPCE President following the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in the referendum held in Ireland.
* “Freedom and Responsibility go hand in hand” Co-President Stephanie Dietrich speaks about religious freedom and the right to criticism of religions.
* EU report on European education systems reveals that discrimination (including on the ground of religion) as a factor for early dropping out of school
* Hearing at PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) about “honour crimes”
* European Bible Week in Berlin 22 to 26 October 2008
For more details see www.leuenberg.net
6 . CHURCH TWINNING WEBSITE: CHANGE OF WEB ADDRESS
Please note that the European Church Partnership Church Twinning Website (web master Robin Blount) has changed its web address to:
7. TAIZÉ YOUNG ADULTS MEETING IN BRUSSELS
The next big Taizé gathering for young adults will be held in Brussels at the end of the year.
From 29 December 2008 to 2 January 2009 , thousands of young adults will be welcomed to Brussels by major church leaders in Belgium.
In November there will be preparation meetings in Oxford, Portsmouth, London, Peterborough and Dewsbury. A friar of the Taizé community will be taking part in these meetings.
On 31 December after the evening prayer for peace in the parishes, there will be a New Year celebration in each neighbourhood, during which the groups from each country share something of their own culture.
For further details (including preparations programmes) see the Taizé website
8. WCC INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME 2009
The World Council of Churches (WCC) will welcome five young people (aged 18-30 years) to serve as interns in its Geneva offices from February 2009 to January 2010. Interns bring valuable experiences to the WCC at the same time as they undertake several modules of ecumenical learning.
The next 12 months' internship period begins in February 2009. In Geneva, the interns will be assigned to one of the WCC working areas. They will carry out their tasks in co-operation with programme staff and under individualized supervision. During their stay in Geneva each intern is expected to plan an ecumenical project to implement in his or her home context when they return in February 2010.
The next generation of interns’ areas of work will be 1. accompanying churches in situations of conflict; 2. youth and ecumenical relationships; 3. visitors programme and media relations; 4. faith, science, technology and ethics; and 5. the WCC Commission on Faith and Order.
Successful candidates are people committed to the ideals of the ecumenical movement, who will bring their energy, commitment and a fresh vision to their specific work assignment. Applicants must send, along with their application, background information about their church or Christian youth network that will help them in implementing their proposed ecumenical project.
For more details see WCC website at:
http://www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/wcc-internship-programme-2.html
With all good wishes from the CCU staff for the summer holiday season,
Francis Bassett
Assistant Secretary CCU
Visit the CCU website at: www.cofe.anglican.org/info/ccu
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