The Rhine flows into the Churches. State-sponsored ecumenism in Germany. The Church of Germany on the horizon.

Minister President Rhein thanks churches for their social commitment- 

Cathcon- Yes, he is called Rhine!  He even flows through the Pope's office....

Hesse's Minister President Boris Rhein has thanked the churches for their commitment to the reception and integration of refugees.

"The accommodation and integration of refugees presents us all with challenges that we can only overcome together. The Christian churches make a very important contribution here, practising Christian charity and working for the inner cohesion of society. Their commitment in the educational and social sectors is exemplary," said Minister President Boris Rhein in Wiesbaden on Wednesday. At the traditional top-level meeting, the representatives of the Hessian state government and the leaders of the Protestant churches and the Catholic dioceses exchanged views on church and political issues.

Church gives many people support and confidence

In the face of war and crises, Rhein referred to the important role of the churches: "Times continue to be challenging. We still have war in the middle of Europe, the Corona crisis has left its mark on society, and inflation is also causing many citizens great concern. The churches in particular are a central anchor point here; they give many people support and confidence."

At the ecumenical meeting, Rhein also praised the constructive cooperation with the churches, which had been very intensive, especially during the pandemic, but had also worked excellently on other social issues. Demographic change not only poses challenges for the churches, but also has an impact on the communities. "A decline in membership, church closures and the conversion of parish halls are issues that not only affect the churches, but also the municipalities. In many places, solutions are being sought together. Less-used community halls are being opened up for community activities, for example, which can have a positive impact on life in rural areas," said the head of government.

State government receives representatives of the Churches in Hesse

Churches strive for sustainability

The Bishop of the Protestant Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (EKKW), Dr Beate Hofmann, presented the activities of the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck in the field of sustainability: "Under the motto '7 years - 700,000 trees', we want to contribute to the growth of around 700,000 new trees on the territory of our regional church by 2030". The campaign, which was successfully launched a few weeks ago in various congregations in the EKKW, is intended to make people aware of the importance of the forest again. This is not a one-off planting or sowing campaign, but rather sustainability and learning experiences: "In this way we want to make a sustainable contribution to climate protection and the integrity of creation."

Church President Dr. Dr. h.c. Volker Jung of the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN), also addressed the issue of sustainability and explained the efforts of the Protestant Church to contribute to climate protection. It is "impossible to detach the church's mission from the current challenges of climate change". The church's commitment against global warming is "part of the credibility of our message". According to Christian understanding, the world is a gift of God. This means that people are given responsibility for this world and for life in this world. The Hesse-Nassau Church is on the way to a climate protection law, which should reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the church by 90 percent by 2035 and completely by 2045.

Cathcon: The Protestants are clearly more obsessed with environmentalism than Christ and the Catholics more obsessed with Synodalism than Christ.

Reappraisal a major topic

Dr Georg Bätzing, Bishop of the Diocese of Limburg, addressed the current debates and reappraisals within the Roman Catholic Church: "I am very grateful for the Synodal Path, which lay people and clergy have walked together since December 2019, and which has been a success despite all the criticism. We have learned a lot and we have passed resolutions by a majority and thereby assumed responsibility for the future of the Church in our country. This Path will now continue in a different form. We want to use all our strength to campaign for the implementation of the resolutions. For the Diocese of Limburg I can say that we will do this after the deliberations in our committees. We want change and a new culture in the Church. We owe that to the victims of sexual abuse and to our faithful."

Bishop Dr Peter Kohlgraf from the Diocese of Mainz also spoke about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church and referred to the study published in March on coming to terms with it in the diocese of Mainz: "The EVV study published in March is an important contribution to coming to terms with it in the diocese of Mainz, which is by no means complete. The study has shown that we are not starting from scratch. Our efforts for transparent intervention, reappraisal and prevention continue consistently. I thank the Hessian state government for actively supporting our efforts to come to terms with the past by sending Dr Kristina Schröder to the diocese's independent commission for coming to terms with the past."

The Bishop of Fulda, Dr Michael Gerber, referred to current developments in society as a whole and the role of the churches as a unifying element: "Especially in a time of growing polarisation, it is important to strengthen the initiatives that work for integration and togetherness. Fulda connects' - the motto of this year's State Garden Show can also be interpreted as a reminder of the task that the state, the churches and many other social forces have, especially in the current situation. Many evolved structures of co-operation between State and Church hold great potential to cope with this task."

The State Government was represented at the top-level meeting by almost all state ministers.

Catholics- no laity after all!

Bishop Dr Georg Bätzing, Diocese of Limburg, Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference

Bishop Dr Michael Gerber, Diocese of Fulda

Vicar General Christof Steinert, Diocese of Fulda

Bishop Professor Dr. Peter Kohlgraf, Diocese of Mainz

Auxiliary Bishop Vicar General Dr. Udo Bentz, Diocese of Mainz

Stephanie Rieth, Plenipotentiary of the Vicar General, Diocese of Mainz

Diocesan Administrator Dr. Michael Bredeck, Archdiocese of Paderborn

Deputy Vicar General Prelate Thomas Dornseifer, Archdiocese of Paderborn

Canon Dr. Wolfgang Pax, Commissariat of the Catholic Bishops, Wiesbaden

Protestants

Church President Dr. Dr. h.c. Volker Jung, Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN)

Deputy Church President Ulrike Scherf, EKHN

Senior Church Councillor Dr. Lars Esterhaus, EKHN

Bishop Professor Dr Beate Hofmann, Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (EKKW)

Prelate Burkhard zur Nieden, Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (EKKW)

Vice-President Dr. Katharina Apel, Evangelical Church of Kurhessen- Waldeck

President Dr. Thorsten Latzel, Evangelical Church in the Rhineland (EKiR)

Vice-President Dr. Johann Weusmann, EKiR

Oberkirchenrat Jörn Dulige, Commissioner of the Protestant Churches in Hesse at the Seat of the State Government

Source