Topic overview:

• Editorial
• From Regional Groups
  
• From Member Churches
• 50th anniversary of the Leuenberg Agreement
• Announcement

Leuenberg Anniversary on the River Rhine

At its General Assembly in Strasbourg the Conference of Churches on the Rhine discussed peace ethics and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Leuenberg Agreement.

Meeting of the Regional Group South East Europe

Not only discussions, but also texts - the CPCE Regional Group South East Europe dealt with the topic of church and democracy from 8 to 11 May 2023 in Visegrád (Hungary).

Meeting of the leaders of the Regional Groups of CPCE

At the beginning of May, leaders from the four CPCE regional groups met with representatives from the Presidium and the Head Office in Munich. The regional groups play a key role in the realisation of church communion, but are also involved in various study processes. In particular, the theme "Church and Democracy" is to be addressed by all regional groups. The meeting served to exchange information - also in view of the current anniversary 50 years of the Leuenberg Agreement and the coming CPCE General Assembly in late summer 2024.

Synod of the ELCI Celebrates Leuenberg Agreement

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Leuenberg Agreement at its Synod in Catania/Sicily. In a keynote address, General Secretary Mario Fischer presented how the Leuenberg Agreement is filled with life in the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe.

At the Synod of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia Rita Famos, President of the Evangelical Refrmed Church in Switzerland and CPCE Council member, brought the greetings of CPCE in a devotion. She awarded the CPCE anniversary medal to the Westphalian Church for providing the CPCE study secretary, Prof. Martin Friedrich, for over twenty years.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Leuenberg Agreement, CPCE has issued an anniversary medal to be given for special services. General Secretary Mario Fischer awarded the first medal to Prof. Dr André Birmelé. He has had a strong influence on the theological work of CPCE and has taken part in all General Assemblies of the Leuenberg Church Fellowship and later CPCE. Other medals have since been awarded to Dr. h.c. Thomas Wipf and Dr. h.c. Andreas Hess, as well as Prof. Dr Karol Karski. Wipf was Executive President of the CPCE in the years 2006-2012 and Hess developed the service character of the CPCE through the work area of interchurch aid. Karski had great significance for the reception of CPCE work in Poland.

On the subject of "50 Years of the Leuenberg Agreement – Heritage  and Challenges", an international theological conference was held at the Christian Theological Academy in Warsaw on 24 May 2023. Prof. Dr Karol Karski was awarded the anniversary medal for his services. Among other things, he had published the most important CPCE theological texts in Polish in 2017.

CPCE at the German Protestant Kirchentag 2023

The CPCE team will be pleased to welcome you at the „Markt der Möglichkeiten“ in Hall 9 of the Nürnberg Trade Fair, Stand C-14 from Thursday to Saturday 10:30 to 18:30. We offer the following workshops and events:

• Euro-Waisen – Kollateralschaden europäischer Einigung
• Beziehungsreichtum – die Diaspora der Kirche als gemeinsame Aufgabe
• German-English Communion Service

Contents and details can be found on the CPCE website: