Country Report Germany The Nordic Folk Churches and New Spirituality, Helsinki, 28-30 September 2015 Rev. Dr. Martin Affolderbach, Nuremberg/Germany
Country Report Germany 1. Arrival of Refugees and Interreligious Situation 2. Theology of Religion 3. Christian Muslim Relations 4. Anniversary of the Reformation and Inter-religious Affairs 4. International Co-operation Rev. Dr. Martin Affolderbach, Nuremberg/Germany
1. Arrival of Refugees and Inter-religious Situation - arrival of so many refugees in Germany (estimated number in 2015: around 800.000; nearly 300.000 asylum requests are pending) is currently the predominant topic in Germany - countries of origin: (1) Syria, (2) Albania, (3) Kosovo, (4) Afghanistan, (5) Iraq, (6) East-Africa and others - despite different causes of flight (i.e. political persecution, (civil) war and economical migration) all are taken into the asylum procedure - many refugees are well educated and from good living conditions (in particular those from Syria)
- response of population in Germany: on the one hand welcome culture and many voluntaries, on the other hand hate and burning asylum facilities - big challenge also for migrant communities in Germany; changing from emigrating to hosting communities: for example: Syrian community in Germany before the war around 20.000; only in 2015 roughly 200.000 refugees from Syria; increasing number of Oriental Christians - joint statement of Swedish Archbishop, Jackelén, and chairing Bishop of EKD, Bedford-Strohm, calling for a common European policy toward the refugee situation (Hanover, 21 Sept).
2. Theology of Religion - Chamber for Theology of EKD has elaborated a new statement on relations to other religions (Christlicher Glaube und religiöse Vielfalt in evangelischer Perspektive) in order to develop a theology of plurality as the previous statement from 2003 has been criticized for its quite defensive position.
3. Christian Muslim Relations - Annual talk of heads of EKD and Muslim Coordination Council in Munich; topics: reception of refugees as a human and religious task; role of religions according to the Constitution - Dialogue Manual, elaborated jointly by EKD and Muslim Coordination Council in Germany (Dialogratgeber zur Förderung der Begegnung zwischen Christen und Muslimen in Deutschland, 20 pages) was published in May this year covering (1) basic convictions, (2) issues and (3) practical hints. - personal footnote: Handbook on Christian Muslim Dialogue edited by Meißner/Affolderbach/Mohagheghi/Renz (around 500 pages; experiences of 50 years dialogue) sold out; 2th edition in print
4. Anniversary of the Reformation and Inter-religious affairs - The statement Reformation and Islam, drafted by a group of Islam experts within EKD, - see my more extensive report last year in Sigtuna on this matter - is still under debate. A final version is expected to be published end of 2015. - A series of inter-religious encounters and activities are foreseen for the Reformation anniversary in 2017
5. International Co-operation - EKD hosted the annual meeting of the European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL) (founded by the former Norwegian Archbishop Gunnar Staalset) adopting an action plan on tackling violent religious extremism - The European Arab Dialogue (organized mainly by the Protestant Academy Loccum and CEOSS, Egypt) is now administered by Sigtuna Foundation. - EKD is currently checking possibilities of co-operation with the University of Religions in Qom/Iran
Country Report Germany Many thanks for your kind attention! Rev. Dr. Martin Affolderbach, Nuremberg/Germany