European Ecumenical Assembly

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European Ecumenical Assemblies are events that are held jointly by churches of different denominations in Europe in order to promote the unity and ecumenical cooperation of churches of different traditions.

The previous European Ecumenical Assemblies were carried out jointly by the Conference of European Churches and the Council of European Bishops' Conferences . The first of these meetings took place in 1989 in Basel held the second in 1997 in Graz , the third in 2007 in Sibiu - Sibiu . In addition to the official delegates, numerous other participants were also involved in the meetings.

First European Ecumenical Assembly 1989 in Basel

The theme of the First European Ecumenical Assembly was “Peace in Justice”. In the background stood the psalm verse "Justice and peace kiss" (Ps 85:11). The gathering took place as part of the conciliar process for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. The final document of the assembly was of great importance for the further development of ecumenism in Europe. Participants from Eastern Europe report that they were particularly impressed by the three-country march that led through Germany, France and Switzerland and the experience of open borders.

Second European Ecumenical Assembly 1997 in Graz

The theme of the Second European Ecumenical Assembly was “Reconciliation - God's gift and source of new life”. Here, too, a final document was adopted, but the recommendations for action for future ecumenical cooperation in Europe, which were proposed by the working groups of the assembly and received by the assembly, were more effective.

Important fruits of these recommendations for action are, for example, the Charta Oecumenica and the European Christian Environmental Network .

Third European Ecumenical Assembly 2007 in Sibiu (Hermannstadt)

The Third European Ecumenical Assembly took place at the invitation of the Romanian churches from September 4 to 9, 2007 in Sibiu , which this year was European Capital of Culture together with Luxembourg .

The motto of the meeting was "The light of Christ shines on all". The meeting in Sibiu was the last of four stops on a route. The first stop was the opening event in January 2006 in Rome . The second station will be conferences and meetings on the topic that will take place in the churches in 2006 and 2007 at national, regional and local levels. The bundling of this process was then the task of the third station, a meeting from February 15 to 18, 2007 in Lutherstadt Wittenberg . About 2500 participants from all churches were expected in Sibiu .

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