On the Basis of Our Christian Faith, We Work To

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n the basis of our Christian faith, we work towards a humane, socially conscious Europe, in which human rights and the basic values of peace, justice, freedom, tolerance, participation and soli- Odarity prevail. (Charta Oecumenica, Guidelines for the Growing Cooperation among the Churches in Europe) With this mission in mind, the Church and Society Com- mission (CSC) of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) carries on its work through its secretariat based in both Brus- sels and Strasbourg and everywhere in Europe through the witness and commitment of men and women in the OKRin Antje Heider-Rottwilm Mr Yury Ryabykh Co-moderators member churches. It is our conviction that churches today should actively participate in shaping Eu- rope and European society. The Church and Society Commis- sion does this by encouraging a Christian contribution to the political, social and economic life of the continent. Our witness in Europe is also expressed by engaging member churches in acting together for the common good in Eu- rope and by fostering greater ecumenical dialogue, co-operation and fellowship among member churches of CEC. We are grateful for the support and the encouragement we constantly receive from our member churches and for their extensive cooperation. These are the messages we want to send out with this annual report, as well as giving an account of our activities in 2004. The Church and Society Commission is a strong partner of the European Institutions. In co-operation with these institutions and other partners, including non-Christian religious communities and NGOs, the CSC aims at promoting and advocating a Europe of solidarity, reconciliation and human dignity. We are pleased to present this annual report.We hope that you find it makes interesting reading.

Visit our website www.cec-kek.org

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EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 2 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004

Rev. Rüdiger Noll Director

European integration s far as the process of Eu- tober 2004, it is now being submitted to means much more than ropean Integration is con- the Member States for ratification. cerned, 2004 was an excit- In several member states referenda just enlarging ing and important year. On will be held in the course of 2005 and and deepening A 1st May ten new member 2006. states joined the European Union – the Finally, the European Council in De- the European Union biggest wave of enlargement ever. For the cember 2004 decided to start accession first time, states from beyond the divid- negotiations with Turkey.Prior to the de- ing “Iron Curtain” became members of cision, the European Commission con- the Union. cluded that Turkey had “sufficiently”pro- For many, 1st May symbolizes the new gressed to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria Europe and the end of Cold War divisions. for accession. In June, the 25 Heads of State and Go- vernment of the enlarged Union adopt- The Church and Society Commis- ed the Draft Treaty Establishing a Con- sion (CSC) of the Conference of European stitution for Europe.The “EU Constitu- Churches (CEC), as an interlocutor be- tional Treaty”, as it has become known, tween its 125 (Anglican, Old Catholic, Or- stands for a deepening of the Union. It thodox and Protestant) member churches makes evident that the Union is more and the European Institutions, was heav- than just an economic space; it is driven ily involved in these developments. by values and objectives. Though all of the above-mentioned events After the Heads of States and Govern- relate to the EU, Europe is bigger than the ments signed the Constitution on 29 Oc- European Union. CEC always had a pan- impa 04 18-05-2005 13:18 Pagina 3

This first annual report of the CSC of more direct and quicker communication. CEC can only elucidate some of the im- On numerous occasions, staff and Com- portant European developments that the mission members visited member chur- CSC addressed in the course of the year. ches or organised meetings in Brussels, The selected topics are to be seen just as Strasbourg or elsewhere, which linked re- highlights of a much broader scope of presentatives, most often church leaders, work. from member churches with representa- 2004 was not only an important year tives from the political institutions. for the European integration process, but also for the CSC itself. The newly elected We are grateful for the close coop- Church and Society Commission of CEC eration with our member churches and met for its first plenary meeting in Wavre, partner organisations.We are also grate- near Brussels. It adopted a 6-year work ful for the support which we receive from programme, which covers 15 priority ar- the members of the Church and Society eas (cf. www.cec-kek.org). The work pro- Commission, its Executive Committee gramme was developed through an un- and Moderators as well as from the many precedented and highly participatory con- representatives, who offer their time, re- sultation process with member churches. sources and ideas in our working groups The Commission also applied the new set and meetings. European vision and a substantial num- of working mechanisms and methods in Religion is not just private; it is also a ber of member churches from beyond the order to address the priority issues of the public matter.As the Barmen Declaration EU. Therefore, the CSC does not only re- work programme. from 1934 states:“As Jesus Christ is God’s late to the European Union, but also to In parallel, the capacity of the CSC rose comforting pronouncement of the for- the Council of Europe, the Organisation by increasing the staff to currently eight giveness of all our sins, so, with equal se- for Security and Cooperation in Europe Executive staff (including two co-opted riousness, he is also God’s vigorous an- (OSCE), the UN and NATO. In its dialogue staff members) and five assistants. It is nouncement of his claim upon our whole with the EU the CSC always reflects its especially notable that the Community of life...We reject the false doctrine that there pan-European constituency and vision. Protestant Churches in Europe (Leuen- could be areas of our life in which we berg fellowship) seconded the Rev.Dr Di- would not belong to Jesus Christ...” This European integration, however, eter Heidtmann to the CSC staff team. He is why churches engage themselves in could be the headline under which many, will have a special responsibility to report their societies and this is why they gave if not all, of the activities of the CSC could back through the Community of Prote- the CSC the mandate to support their be summarised. stant Churches in Europe to Protestant own efforts as well as to engage in the Eu- As terminology, European integration member churches.An important new fea- ropean integration process. means much more than just enlarging ture of the CSC is the increased commu- The draft of the EU Constitutional Treaty and deepening the European Union. It nication and cooperation with member recognises this public role and the contri- raised issues such as: How can the social churches. In 2004 the meeting of Secre- bution of churches and religious commu- standards in Europe be kept and taries of European churches with re- nities explicitly in article I-52(3):“Recog- strengthened? How can fundamental sponsibility for Church and Society issues nising their identity and their specific con- rights be protected? How do security, became an annual feature. In most of the tributions, the Union shall maintain an peace and reconciliation in Europe relate working areas networks were established open, transparent and regular dialogue with to each other? using modern means of technology for these churches and organisations.”

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he progress of European by the CSC together with other ecu- quences of the economic processes. Sol- integration marked 2004 menical partners in Brussels, was an idarity between people, countries and re- with several significant mo- event which enabled the churches to gions needs to play a shaping role in the ments. The EU enlargement make their active involvement and their future Union. T by ten new countries and the contribution to development in Europe The concrete study of some impacts adoption of the EU Constitutional Treaty visible. of EU enlargement is the aim of the were two the most significant events. On We are grateful to the Reformed project which has been launched in 2004 these occasions European churches and Church in Hungary for the excellent co- jointly between CSC, Theobalt (Network CEC took the opportunity to communi- operation in organising the conference of the churches around the Baltic Sea) cate to the wider public their position on focusing on the consequences of EU en- and the Churches’ Commission for Mi- the deep changes occurring in the de- largement and the response of the chur- grants in Europe (CCME). velopment of European society and per- ches, which took place in April 2004. Free movement of persons as a chal- spectives of further continuation. Church leaders from the EU new mem- lenge and an opportunity in the Baltic Sea ber states and candidate countries un- region is central to the project, continu- The EU enlargement was welcomed derlined that economic prosperity and ing also into 2005. To look at the EU en- by the Church and Society Commission economic growth must not be the only largement as it affects rural areas is also on the occasion of its annual meeting, aims of European integration. an important con- which coincided with the day of en- The process of European integration cern largement – 1st May 2004.“For many needs to be a process with a human years European integration has been an face, taking into account important part of the agenda of the chur- the social con- ches across the continent”, states the doc- se- ument adopted at the meeting. The history of Christianity and developments in Europe are deeply linked. The worship service marking the EU enlargement, organised impa 04 18-05-2005 13:18 Pagina 5

“Since reconciliation is at the heart of the Gospel, the overcoming of geographical and psychological borders between peoples and nations is central for the churches as they have a special cal set-up in the Union and in Europe as role to play in the development of rural to Christian a whole, but also the living conditions of regions in Europe. responsibility” the many EU citizens and people who live The conference organised in May on the continent. 2004 in Strasbourg by CSC, the Chur- Therefore, the CSC started an exten- ches’ European Rural Network (CERN) respective regions and are able to raise sive process of consultation on this issue and the Evangelical Rural Youth Acade- the concerns of the communities and amongst the CEC member churches in my of Altenkirchen (Germany) under- people living in rural regions. 2004. The process resulted in a final lined that churches fulfil not only dia- statement in which was expressed the po- conal and pastoral tasks in services they The relationship of the European sition regarding this substantial theme. provide in rural regions, but also carry Union to Turkey is an issue of immense Through the statement, a contribution of out additional tasks: they have a partic- importance for future development in Eu- the churches was made to the debate ular role to play in protecting and pre- rope. The possible accession of Turkey to about the relationship of the EU and serving the values and identities of the the EU will not only influence the politi- Turkey, which culminated in the closing months of 2004.

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n 29 October 2004, the 25 Heads of State ing and lobbying system in the history of the CSC was set up, and Government of the EU member states which was to guarantee that the CSC was in touch with major signed the Draft Treaty Establishing A Con- decision-makers throughout the process. stitution for Europe (often referred to as the OConstitutional Treaty). This was the first ma- Together with other Brussels-based offices of churches, the jor stage in a long and still-ongoing process. CSC monitored every session of the Convention.After each ses- At a time when the further development of the European sion of the Convention, CSC and COMECE organised oral and Union and the European integration process seemed to stall, written briefings for member churches and partner organisa- the Heads of State and Government meeting in Laeken in tions. CSC staff also maintained permanent contact with the December 2002 called for a reform towards a better divi- Presidium, Secretariat and members of the Convention. sion and definition of competences in In the course of the process,CSC pre- the European Union, a simplification pared several submissions to the Con- of the Union’s instruments, more vention and the EU Presidencies, sep- democracy, transparency and effi- arately or together with other organi- ciency.“In short, citizens are call- sations,covering issues such as the va- ing for a clear, open, effective, dem- lues and objectives of the EU, the so- ocratically controlled Community cial dimension, the inclusion of the approach, developing a Europe Charter of Fundamental Rights into which points the way ahead for the world.An ap- the Constitutional Treaty,the participation of civil so- proach that provides concrete results in terms of more jobs, ciety,the role of the churches and a reference to God and/or Chris- better quality of life,less crime, decent education and better tianity in the Preamble.Submissions of CEC can be found at the health care. There is no doubt that this will require Europe CEC (www.cec-kek.org) or the EU forum website. to undergo renewal and reform.” Altogether, the Convention and the EU member states were largely receptive to the concerns of the churches. Many values Addressing these challenges in the EU framework cul- and objectives promoted by the churches found their way into minated in drafting the Constitutional Treaty by a 105-mem- the Constitutional Treaty. ber Convention on the Future of Europe between February Article I-52, after explicitly leaving church-state relations in 2002 and July 2003.Members of the Convention represented the competence of the member mtates, recognises the identity the governments of member states and of candidate coun- and the special contribution of churches and organisations of tries,national Parliaments,the European Parliament and the faith and conviction in the European integration process. The European Commission. The Convention was an experiment European Union therefore legally commits itself to an “open, of a new form and a new participatory style of working. transparent and regular dialogue” with the churches and the When the Convention had finished its work, the govern- communities of faith and conviction. ments continued to negotiate amendments under the Italian and Irish Presidencies for much of 2003 and 2004. The Constitutional Treaty is now subject to testing by Looking at the list of challenges and expectations estab- member states, as to whether appropriate responses have been lished at Laeken, it is evident that the churches had to be in- made to the challenge set down in Laeken. Since October 2004, volved in the process. Many of the challenges addressed issues the member states have been invited to affirm the Constitu- which for long have been of concern for the churches and on tional Treaty through a process of ratification. In several Euro- which churches have gained substantial experience. pean countries referenda will be held in the course of 2005 and On behalf of its member churches, the CSC invested many 2006. The CSC is in the process of publishing a briefing paper of its resources and much of its capacity in monitoring and in order to support the churches’ involvement in national de- accompanying the development of the Constitutional Treaty bates and to support them with an assessment of the contents and its adoption process. The most sophisticated monitor- of the Constitutional Treaty.

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EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 8 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004 Relations with the

he Conference of European Churches is a recognised Non-Governmental Organi- sation (NGO) in consultative T status with the Economic and Social Committee of the United Nations and in participatory status with the Council of Europe. It enjoys a similar recognition with the Institutions of the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) which both do not yet have an “official” status for NGOs, but which are receptive to and even invite contributions from certain NGOs. With the arrival of Rev Matthew Ross on the CSC staff, more intensive relations were also developed with the NATO.

The European Union as an institu- tion has do be clearly distinguished from other inter-governmental organisations, in that it does not just function as an inter- governmental body. Member States have passed certain competences to the Union, which in these areas sets law superior to member state law. It is, therefore, unsur- prising that the Church and Society Com- mission devotes much of its energy and resources to monitor and lobby the In- stitutions of the European Union, i.e. the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council,on behalfof its member churches. The Strasbourg office monitors ses- sions of the European Parliament and cir- culates briefing papers and important documents to an ever-growing distribu- tion list.There are various ways in which the Brussels-based CSC staff are in touch with the Institutions. These range from public statements and letters to the institutions to the participation in hearings and consultation processes. One permanent feature of the contacts impa 04 18-05-2005 13:18 Pagina 9

Political Institutions

between CEC, COMECE and the European actively participates in the NGO com- dom of Religion and Belief.The Panel tries Institutions are the “dialogue meetings”, munities and enjoys direct contacts with to promote freedom of religion and belief which take place once or twice a year. In many departments of the Council of Eu- according to OSCE standards and reviews 2004, a dialogue meeting was organised rope. Of special importance is CEC’s per- situations in European countries. in co-operation with CCME, which cen- manent observer status with the Coun- tred around issues of migration. cil’s Steering Committee on Bioethics.

The other permanent feature is the In June 2004, a CEC delegation CEC/COMECE meetings with the re- headed by the President Rev Jean-Arnold spective EU Presidency, which (until now) de Clermont paid a high level visit to the changes every six months. In the latest of Council of Europe. The delegation was this series, 2004 saw meetings with Prime received by several heads of departments Minister Bertie Ahern from Ireland and and by the Deputy General Secretary, Ms. Vice Prime Minister Gerrit Zalm from the Maud de Boer-Buquicchio. During this Netherlands. The agenda of such meet- visit, CEC was encouraged to apply for an ings is always developed along the prior- observer status on the Steering Commit- ities of the churches and the respective tee for Human Rights – a long-standing Presidencies for that year. request on the part of CEC.After the ap- Most often, direct contact with civil plication was filed, the Steering Commit- servants and decision makers are the tee expressed some hesitations to accept most important points of entry.At the a “religious organisation”as observer. In 2004 CSC meeting of Church and Soci- the meantime, however,the application ety Secretaries from European churches, has been reconsidered and there are signs several prominent members of the new- of a positive response. ly elected European Parliament present- The Council of Europe also suggested ed their and their parties’ priorities. In more regular contacts between CEC and preparation for the elections to the Eu- the Committee of Ministers, which is In relation to the United Nations, ropean Parliament, the CSC, together with presently under examination. Themes for CEC cooperates with the World Council other Brussels-based organisations, pub- an annual meeting on this level around of Churches and the Geneva and New lished a briefing paper for churches. themes of common interest are discussed. Yor k-based confessional bodies. Though Although the Constitutional Treaty of In the framework of the Organisa- many CEC member churches participat- the European Union has not yet been rat- tion for Security and Cooperation in ed in the 2004 Advocacy week in New ified, discussions have already Europe (OSCE),CEC participated in the Yor k , which is organised by the World begun as to how to imple- Human Dimension Implementation Meet- Council of Churches, a staff participation ment article I-52(3), in ing (Warsaw) and the Conference on “Tol- proved to be impossible this year. which the Union com- erance, and the Fight against Racism, CEC participates also in the UN NGO mits itself to an “open, Xenophobia and Discrimination” (Brus- community and is member of the NGO transparent and regu- sels). Such meetings, notwithstanding Committees on Human Rights, Freedom lar dialogue” with the their intrinsic value, provide excellent op- of Religion and Belief and Disarmament. religious communities. portunities for direct discussions with del- 2004 finally saw a joint visit of a World After long discussions, egations of Participating States. Council of Churches and CEC delegation the Council of Europe has In addition to participation in meet- to NATO in order to discuss NATO poli- boosted the status of NGOs from a ings, the Director of the Church and So- cies, in particular in view of the renewal “consultative” to a “participatory”status. ciety Commission also serves as moder- of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty The CSC, through its Strasbourg office ator of the OSCE’s Advisory Panel on Free- in 2005.

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EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 10 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004

n March 2000, the EU Heads of State and Government agreed to make the EU “the most competitive and dynam- ic knowledge-based economy in the Iworld, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.” However, at the end of 2004, the EU Commission had to state the failure of its project known as the “Lisbon-strategy”: “Europe’s citizens are concerned about jobs, growth, the environment and a prop- er social net. The existing lack of economic growth affects all of us, our pensions, salaries and our standard of living.”

Europe is facing a huge difference of living standards ranging from Norway, the leading country in UNDP’s Human Development Index to very poor countries in South Eastern Europe.At the end of 2004, more than 19 million men and women in the EU were unemployed, bringing the rate of unemployed people close to 9% in the entire Union. The situation in the neighbouring countries is often even worse. The result is increasing poverty for those who remain excluded from economic growth, education and social security systems. Families are in particular affected by the risk of social exclusion. According to an UNICEF report, even in rich countries 5% of children are growing up in poverty; in other European countries poverty affects every fifth child. (Innocenti: Child poverty in rich countries, 2005). The intention of EU Commission Pres- ident Barroso is to turn the Lisbon strat- “Solidarity within is humankind’s chance society and solidarity for survival” between societies (Jürgen Moltmann) impa 04 18-05-2005 13:18 Pagina 11

egy around and concentrate on achiev- ing the central aims of growth and em- ployment. But many observers in Brus- sels are worried that the third pillar of the Lisbon Strategy, the social sector, might only be seen as an obstacle for economic growth in Europe. President Barroso tried to tackle these critics by underlining that the renewed Lisbon strategy’s overarching goal is sustainable development, comparing the three pillars of Lisbon priorities to children:“If one of my children is ill, I focus on that one, but that does not mean that I love the others less”. We believe in equal responsibility for all our children.You cannot starve the social child, because the economic one is sick. Economic policies will not thrive without strong social policies.

According to the Gospel, it is an integral part of the calling of the Church to care for the well-being of all people, that they all may enjoy life in its fullness. Therefore, churches offer social services and seek to combat social exclusion. Churches are today the biggest provider of social services in the EU. Therefore Church and Society Com- mission is working on Social Issues in close cooperation with Eurodiaconia, the European federation of diaconal institutions. In 2004 we established a Joint So- cial Policy Working Group, especially working on the development of services in the internal market.At the same time we have carefully monitored developments in economic and social policy in the EU and Council of Europe’s work on the basis of the European Social Charter.

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EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 12 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004 Peace, security a

ixty years since the end of and continuing tensions between Israel misused as a basis for conflict must be a World War II, Europe is still and Palestine were the dominant peace serious concern for all religions. not free from conflict. Many and security issues in 2004. For the European Union, 2004 was parts of the world are afflict- dominated by the accession of ten new Sed by warfare – the deploy- Popular, if simplistic, perceptions member states and the signing of the ment of troops from some European na- of a clash of civilisations between an Is- draft European Constitutional Treaty.The tions in Iraq remains deeply controver- lamic east and a secular West place a con- key security issues for the EU were re- sial. This, along with the fear of terror- siderable onus on Europe’s churches to flected in the European Security Strate- ism (tragically realised in Madrid on 11th work for peace and reconciliation. The gy (agreed in December 2003) and the March 2004), the crisis in Darfur, Sudan erroneous impression that faith can be security aspects of the draft European

“He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4) impa 04 18-05-2005 13:18 Pagina 13

and reconciliation

Constitutional Treaty (notably articles I- tion in Europe (OSCE) has been consid- from police training in several south east 16 and I-41). There is considerable un- erable. The 1993 budget was 12m, by European and central Asian states to ad- ease in some of Europe’s churches over a 2003 this had grown to 185.7m.It is ac- dressing racial hatred on the internet. A perceived greater military role for the EU. tive in arms control,preventive diploma- major review of the OSCE will be under- In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the EU took over cy,early warning,conflict prevention,cri- taken in 2005. military peacekeeping duties (EUFOR – sis management and post-conflict reha- Operation Althea) from NATO (SFOR) on bilitation; in 2004 OSCE election moni- The United Nations published a re- 2nd December 2004. tors were active in countries as diverse as port “A more Secure World: our shared The recent growth in the role of the Ukraine and the USA. responsibility.”This paper is a major study Organisation for Security and Co-opera- The diverse 2004 programmes ranged on the peacekeeping, peace making and the security role of the UN. In Kosovo, the United Nations and NATO remain heavily committed, through the UN Mis- sion in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Koso- vo Force (KFOR) respectively. The need for non-violent conflict res- olution is an important guiding princi- ple underlying the CSC’s work on peace, security and reconciliation.A response to the UN Secure World paper is being draft- ed.A network of church-related peace and reconciliation organisations is also en- visaged. Together w ith the World Council of Churches, CEC has been involved in ecumenical initiatives in the Balkan region, including the promotion of dialogue. The Brussels office is seeking to play a greater advocacy role in promoting peace and reconciliation; a meeting took place in Ju- ly with Dr Erhard Busek, Special Co-or- dinator of the EU’s Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.A CEC delegation to Ser- bia (including Kosovo) was originally en- visaged for mid-2004 but deferred until February 2005 (including a meeting with the head of UNMIK). Addressing the injustices that cause resentment – sometimes expressed vio- lently – remains critical to the mission of the church. The message of Christ: “blessed are the peacemakers” and “life in all its fullness”remains the Church’s model for reconciliation.

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EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 14 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004 What’s more?

he Church and Society The WG on EU Legislation contin- pharmaceutical industry. A publication Commission is challenged ues to monitor developments in EU leg- on the consultation, including major pol- to address a wide range of is- islation in order to assess their effects on icy and discussion documents published sues stemming from the role the churches. by the Working Group, is in preparation. T it plays vis-à-vis the European Major issues in 2004 included the im- The Working Group’s present plan in- Institutions. The 2003 CEC Assembly in plementation of the Anti-Discrimination cludes work on issues such as ageing and Trondheim (Norway) adopted a new work Directive in the various EU member the quality and dignity of life, human en- programme for 2004-2009. 2004 repre- states, as well as the implementation of hancement and human modification, sented a vital moment in the life of the article I-52 (Status of churches and the cloning and stem cell research and re- Church and Society Commission as new open, transparent and regular dialogue forms of health care systems. issues were taken up and new working with the EU Institutions). methods put in place. The WG on Human Rights and Re- Long-term Working Groups (WG) The WG on Bioethics and Biotech- ligious Freedoms continues to assist were established on issues related to (1) nology engaged in the follow-up to its member churches in implementing reli- European Integration, (2) EU Legislation, 2003 consultation on “Human Life in Our gious freedom and appropriate state- (3) Peace, Security and Reconciliation, Hands? The Churches and Bioethics”, church relations. The Working Group will (4) Bioethics and Biotechnology, (5) Hu- which brought together representatives also emphasize on ways and means to en- man Rights and Religious Freedom and from CEC member churches and politi- hance social, economic and cultural (6) Social Issues. cians as well as representatives from the rights. impa 04 18-05-2005 13:18 Pagina 15

Conference of European Churches 2004

Finance and Administration General Secretariat Communications

Churches in Solidarity Churches in DialogueWomen’s desk Church and Society

• to promote dialogue and encounter with- •To support the efforts of women's net- •To help the churches study church and in and between the churches in Europe; works and co-operate with them on society questions from a theological and • to focus especially on the dialogue issues of gender justice and equal par- social ethical perspective, especially between the Orthodox Churches and the ticipation of women in church and soci- those with a European dimension Churches of Reformation; ety • to represent the member churches of • to improve the cooperation in mission all • to protect the right of migrants and CEC in their relations with political insti- over Europe; fight trafficking and new forms of slav- tutions working in Europe • to facilitate building up a network of all ery especially of women, •To monitor policy developments in the theological faculties; • to continue dialogue with ecumenical international institutions and organisa- • to develop the Ecumenical formation in partners on serving human needs tion (EU, CoE, OSCE, UN) all churches; together in the field of diaconia/social • to work on a common basis for the inter- service, and to support the work of ecu- religious dialogue; menical partners through co-operation • to reflect on new possibilities for sharing and networking forms of spirituality from each other tra- dition.

The Group of CSC Partner Organ- Beyond the European Commission the closely with the European Christian En- isations involved in Education also group also engages in a dialogue with the vironmental Network (ECEN), for which continued to meet under the umbrella of Council of Europe. it, inter alia, provides the secretariat. the Church and Society Commission. Other areas addressed by the CSC For the inter-religious dialogue in view Following the announcement of the work programme include Globalisation, of the European Institutions, the CSC par- EU programmes on “European Citizen- Sustainable Development, Environmen- ticipates in several inter-religious initia- ship” and “Lifelong Learning” the group tal Issues, Agriculture and Rural Life, tives; first and foremost in the CEC/CCEE started a dialogue with the European Gender Equality and Inter-Religious Di- Committee for relations with Muslims Commission on the involvement of chur- alogue. and the “Soul for Europe” Initiative, but ches in the implementation of these pro- On environmental issues, the Church also in the European Council of Religious grammes. and Society Commission co-operates Leaders.

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EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 16 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004 The Church and Society Commission goes public

February October Memorandum on Euthanasia as Contribution to the OSCE Human contribution to the debate at the Dimension Implementation Meeting Parliamentary Assembly of the in Warsaw from Ms Corinna Council of Europe Schellnberg on behalf of CSC and EKD: Religious Freedom and the March situation in Turkey Statement on the occasion of the meeting with the Irish Presidency of Speech to CEPPLE Community of the EU on the need for European Southern European Protestants on the Union’s support for dialogue with Church and Society contribution to religious communities, Dublin European policy developments

April Public Statement on the Accession of Briefing Document for Churches about Turkey to the EU “Accession of Turkey the elections to the European to the EU is a matter of values, not Parliament religion”

Message from the President of the Statement in cooperation with Conference of European Churches Eurodiaconia regarding the Proposal (CEC), the Rev.Jean-Arnold de for a Directive on Services in the Clermont (France), during the Internal Market and White Paper on ecumenical service held in Brussels to services of General Interest mark the enlargement of the EU with 10 new members on 1 May 2004 Statement on the occasion of the meeting with the EU Dutch May Presidency, Den Haag on “Values as the Statement on the occasion of the EU basis for the European Project enlargement”, May 1 2004, expressing “joy and gratitude to God for the November achievement of the enlargement of the Contribution presented by the CSC on European Union (EU) by 10 new behalf of several Brussels-based countries” church offices to the Hearing of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of June the European Parliament on the Statement to the General Assembly of Constitutional Treaty of the EU the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Belfast on the European Constitutional December Treaty and its impact on Churches Answer to the Questionnaire of the EU Commission DG Social (Social September Protection Committee) on Social Statement to the Church and Nation Services of General Interest Committee of the Church of Scotland, Perth, UK on European Affairs and the role of the Churches impa 04 18-05-2005 13:19 Pagina 17

Events (co-)organised

March June Human Rights Training for Central and Consultation on European Values (in Eastern Europe (in co-operation with co-operation with Theobalt and CCME LWF) Visby, Sweden Bratislava,Slovakia Dialogue meeting with the EU Meeting with the Irish Presidency Institutions on matters related to Dublin,Ireland migration and asylum (in co-operation Visit of Rev. Jean-Arnold de Clermont with CCME and COMECE) and OKRin Antje Heider-Rottwilm to Brussels, Belgium the European Economic and Social Committee and Group of Policy July Advisors to the President of the Meeting with the Stability Pact for European Commission. South East Europe Brussels, Belgium Brussels, Belgium Soul for Europe General Assembly Brussels, Belgium September Meeting of Church and Society Staff of European Churches April Brussels, Belgium Consultation of churches from EU Accession countries (in co-operation Installation service and Reception for with the reformed church in Hungary) Matthew Ross and Dieter Heidtmann Budapest, Hungary Brussels, Belgium Plenary meeting of the Church and Dialogue meeting with the European Society Commission Commission DG Education and Culture Wavre, Belgium Brussels, Belgium Worship service to mark the EU enlargement October Brussels, Belgium Meeting with EU Presidency Den Haag,The Netherlands May Ecumenical celebration at the European Consultation on Agriculture and EU Parliament enlargement (in co-operation with the Strasbourg,France Evangelical Rural Youth Academy of Meeting with Ambassador Magheru – Altenkirchen and CERN) Council of Europe Strasbourg,France Strasbourg,France Consultation on migration (ask Doris) Liebfrauenberg,France November Meeting of the Steering Group of the Ecumenical Service with EPP Group of South-East Europe Ecumenical European Parliament Partnership (co-organised with the Strasbourg,France WCC Europe Desk and SEEEP partner South-East Europe Ecumenical organizations) Partnership Durres,Albania Belgrade,Serbia

EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 17 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004 impa 04 18-05-2005 13:19 Pagina 18

EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 18 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004 The Church and Society Commission of CEC

The Church and Society Prof. Dr. Hans-Balz Peter Strasbourg Beirath Schweizerischer Evangelischer Rev. Alfredo Abad Heras Kirchenbund Claudia Bandixen Spanish Protestant Church Mme Françoise Prager-Bouyala Church of Aarau Rev. Dr. Zoltan Bona Fédération Protestante de France Joachim Brandt Reformed Church in Hungary Dr. Charles Reed Church of Reinland Kirchenrat Joachim Brandt Church of England Jean-François Collange Strasbourg Beirat Mr Yury Ryabykh Lutheran Church Alsace-Lorraine Ms Anthea Cox Russian Orthodox Church Rudolf Ehrmantraut Methodist Church UK Rev. Dr. David Sinclair Church of Palatinate Vice-President Christian Drägert Church of Scotland Jean-Jacques Fritz Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland Rev. Hana Tonzarová European Parliament Prof. Karsten Fledelius Czechoslovak Hussite Church Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Denmark Rev. Prof. Alexandru Gabriel Gherasim Romanian Orthodox Church Rev. Gunnar Grönblom Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland Rev. Antje Heider-Rottwilm OKR'in Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland Ms Anita Jakobsone Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Latvia Archimandrite Arsenios Kardamakis Ecumenical Patriarchate M.Mag. Katerina Karkala-Zorba Church of Greece Prof. Dr. Ulrich Körtner Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria Rev. Fr. Hovakim Manukyan Vardges Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church Rev. Dr. Lennart Molin Mission Covenant Church of Sweden/Christian Council of Sweden Rev. Evert Overeem Protestant Church in the Netherlands Ms Lidia Palac Evangelisch-Augsburgische Kirche in Polen Rev. Tony Peck European Baptist Federation impa 04 18-05-2005 13:19 Pagina 19

Working Groups and working groups members

Mario Heinrich Working Group on Bioethics David McClean Council of Europe (moderator) Kirsti Aalto Church of England Jean-Gustave Hentz Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland Lutheran Church Alsace-Lorraine Joanna Mizgala Svend Andersen Evangelical-Reformed Church in Poland Susanne Labsch Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland Church of Baden Gerhard Robbers Stavros Baloyannis Evangelical Church in Germany Halvor Lervik Church of Greece Council of Europe Rüdiger Stotz Donald Bruce Evangelical Church in Germany Enno Strobel Church of Scotland (moderator) Sophie Van Bijsterveld Reformed Church Alsace-Lorraine Andrea Dörries Protestant Church in the Netherlands Evangelical Church in Germany Anton Ilyin Working Group on Human Staffh Russian Orthodox Church Rights and Religious Freedom Rev. Rüdiger Noll Mireille Jemelin Kirill Frolov Director, Brussels Swiss Protestant Federation Russian Orthodox Church Rev. Richard Fischer Karsten Lehmkühler Alexandru Gabriel Gherasim Executive Secretary,Strasbourg Luth. & Ref. Churches Alsace-Lorraine Romanian Orthodox Church Canon Alexander Gordon Elena Masarovicova Ebbe Holm Strasbourg,France Ev. Church of the Augsburg Confession (co-moderator) Rev. Dr Dieter Heidtmann (SK) Baptist Church of Denmark Executive Secretary,Brussels Anna Rollier George Krippas Rev. Dr Peter Pavlovic Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy Orthodox Church of Greece Study Secretary, Brussels Stefan-Ioan Stratul Peter Krömer Rev. Matthew Ross Romanian Orthodox Church Ev. Church of the Augsburg Confession Executive Secretary,Brussels Egbert Schroten Austria Ms Donatella Rostagno (moderator) Anne Lagerstedt Executive Secretary,Brussels Protestant Church in the Netherlands Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Women OKRin Sabine von Zanthier Working Group on EC Associated staff, EKD office Brussels Tony Peck legislation European Baptist Federation Mr Karsten Weyer Lisbet Christoffersen Intern, Brussels Ingvill Thorson Plesner Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Denmark (co-moderator) Altana Filos Church of Norway Support staffh Greek Evangelical Church Corinna Schellenberg Ms Véronique Dessart Gunnar Grönblom Evangelical Church in Germany (Brussels) Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland Peter Southcombe Ms Véronique Engels Peter Kresak United Reformed Church in UK (Brussels) Ev. Church of the Augsburg Confession George Tsetsis (SK) Ms Lois Hough-Stewart (co-moderator) (Brussels) Gianni Long Orthodox Church of Greece Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy Ms Marie-Madeleine Linck Andrzej Wojtowicz (Strasbourg) Maria Lundqvist-Norling Ecumenical Council of Churches in Church of Sweden Poland Ms Charlotte Vander Borght (Accountant, Brussels)

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EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 20 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004

Working Group Working Group Working Group on Social on European Integration on Peace Issues (in cooperation with Zoltan Bona and Security Eurodiaconia) Reformed Church in Hungary Christine Busch Iveta Berkolde Elfriede Dörr Evangelical Church in Germany ELCL Diaconia Centre,Riga Ev. Church of the Augsburg Confession Paula Devejian Jean-Michel Hitter Romania Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church Féderation de l’antraide protestante, Serge Fornerod Miklos Menessy Strasbourg Swiss Protestant Federation Ecumenical Association of Churches in Jens Kreuter David Gill Romania Evangelical Church in Germany Evangelical Church in Germany David Mumford Göran Larsson William Jourdan Church and Peace Salvation Army,Sweden Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe Anette Månsson Ian Manson Vakhtang Kipshidze Church of Sweden Church of Scotland Russian Orthodox Church Georgy Roshchin Martin Schenk Jitka Krausová Rusian Orthodox Church Ev. Church of the Augsburg Confession Ecumenical Council of Churches in Czech Karl-Reinhart Trauner Austria Republic Ev. Church of the Augsburg Confession Stephanie Scholz Lena Kumlin Austria Diakonisches Werk der EKD (co-moderator) Donald Watts David Sinclair Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland Presbyterian Church in Ireland Church of Scotland Ignatios Sotiriadis John Edward Williams Margaretha Svensson-Paras Church of Greece Methodist Church in Great Britain Ecumenical Centre,Sundbyberg,Sweden Costas Zorbas Christina Vayas Church of Greece Church of Greece Pavel Vychopen Diaconia of the Ev.Church of Czech Brethern impa 04 18-05-2005 13:19 Pagina 21

Our resources

he two tables below sum- budget if you add contributions of mem- butions for the Commissions’ staff. Ad- marize the expenses and the bers, of the Rhine Churches, the staff ministrative expenses (printing, tele- income of the Commission made available by Churches and the part phone, postage...) represent less than 10% for 2004. The contributions taken from the general budget. of annual expenses. T made by the member Chur- As far as the annual expenses are con- The balance between expenses and in- ches to the income must be stressed: this cerned, the greatest portion by far is tak- come on an annual basis is ensured by a support represents more than 95% of the en by salaries and social security contri- transfer from the general budget of CEC.

Church & Society Commission Income Church & Society Commission Expenses 41% contributions member 13% meetings, conferences

1% other 5% government boards 16% earmarked contributions 7% rent

15% contribution CEC general budget 3% equipment, computer costs 12% staff paid by member churches 8% administration cost

7% travel costs 15% contributions churches on the Rhine

60% salaries & social charges

Final situation Church and Society Commission 2004 Income Expenses Member churches Contributions 305.564,57 Meetings, conferences 97.232,95 Other income 8.419,71 Gov. Boards/consult 34.624,01 Earmarked contributions 116.619,68 Rent 54.615,42 Contribution CEC Geneva 111.965,03 Computer costs-Equipment 19.305,36 Staff paid by memberchurches 86.962,34 Administration costs 60.184,50 Contributions Churches on Rhine 109.353,66 Travel 27.865,29 Salaries / Social Charges 445.057,46 TOTAL 738.884,99 TOTAL 738.884,99

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EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 22 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004 CEC Member Churches

Albania Estonia Hungary Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Estonian Evangelical-Lutheran Church Baptist Union of Hungary Albania Estonian Evangelical-Lutheran Church Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hungary Abroad Evangelical-Methodist Church in Hungary Armenia Estonian Methodist Church Reformed Church in Hungary Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church Finland Iceland Austria Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Iceland Old-Catholic Church in Austria Orthodox Church in Finland Evangelical Church of the Augsbourg Ireland Confession in Austria France Church of Ireland Evangelical Church of the Helvetic Church of the Augsburg Confession of Methodist Church in Ireland Confession in Austria Alsace and Lorraine Presbyterian Church in Ireland Methodist Church in Austria Evangelical-Lutheran Church of France Old-Catholic Church in Austria French Reformed Church Italy Malagasy Protestant Church in France Baptist Union of Italy Belgium Reformed Church of Alsace and Lorraine Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Italy United Protestant Church in Belgium Federation of Evangelical Baptist Churches Methodist Church in Italy Waldensian Church Bulgaria of France Baptist Union of Bulgaria Georgia Latvia Methodist Church in Bulgaria Evangelical-Baptist Church of Georgia Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Latvia Pentecostal Assemblies of Bulgaria Latvian Evangelical-Lutheran Church Germany Abroad Croatia Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Baptist Union of Croatia Germany Liechtenstein Church of God in Croatia Evangelical Church in Germany Evangelical Church in the Principality of Evangelical Pentecostal Church in Croatia Lithuanian Evangelical Lutheran Church Liechtenstein Evangelical Church in the Republic of in Germany Croatia Lithuania United Methodist Church in Germany Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Lithuania Reformed Christian Church in Croatia Union of Evangelical Free Churches in Cyprus Germany (Baptists) Luxembourg Church of Cyprus Alliance of Protestant Churches in Great-Britain Luxembourg Czech Republic Baptist Union of Great Britain Baptist Union in the Czech Republic Church in Wales Netherlands Church of the Brethren (Congregational) Church of England Mennonite Church in the Netherlands Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren Church of Scotland Old-Catholic Church of the Netherlands Evangelical-Methodist Church in the Congregational Federation of the UK Protestant Church in the Netherlands Czech Republic Council of African & Afro-Carribean Remonstrant Brotherhood Moravian Church in the Czech Republic Churches Norway Old-Catholic Church in the Czech Republic Lutheran Council of Great Britain Church of Norway Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands & Methodist Church in the UK Slovakia Presbyterian Church of Wales Poland Silesian Evangelical Church in the Czech Salvation Army - UK Territory/Ireland Baptist Union of Poland Republic Scottish Episcopal Church Evangelical-Reformed Church in Poland Czechoslovak Hussite Church Shiloh United Church of Christ Apostolic Evangelical Church of the Augsbourg Worlwide Confession in Poland Denmark United Reformed Church in the UK Old Catholic Mariavite Church in Poland Baptist Union of Denmark Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Denmark Greece Polish Catholic Church (Old-Catholic) Greek Evangelical Church United Methodist Church in Poland Orthodox Church of Greece impa 04 18-05-2005 13:19 Pagina 23

Portugal Sweden Church Mission Society Lusitanian Catholic Apostolic Evangelical Baptist Union of Sweden Churches Commission for Migrants in Church Church of Sweden Europe Methodist Church of Portugal Mission Covenant Church of Sweden Churches Together in Britain & Ireland Presbyterian Church in Portugal United Methodist Church of Sweden - Churches Together in England Annual Conference Churches Together in Wales Romania Conference of European Pastors’ Evangelical Church of the Augsbourg Switzerland Associations Confession in Romania United Methodist Church in Switzerland Council of Churches in the Netherlands Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Romania Federation of Protestant Churches in Ecumenical Association of Academies and Reformed Church in Romania Oradea Switzerland Laity Centres in Europe District Old Catholic Church of Switzerland Ecumenical Association of Churches in Reformed Church in Romania Romania Transylvania Dictrict Ukraine Trans-Carpathian Reformed Church Ecumenical Council of Churches in Romanian Orthodox Church Hungary Russia Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Euro-Asiatic Federation of the Unions of Slovak Republic the Evangelical Christian-Baptists Ecumenical Council of Finland Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Ingria in Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Russia Women Russian Orthodox Church Ecumenical Institute for the Nordic Region Ecumenical Youth Council in Europe Serbia/Montenegro Estonian Council of Churches Evangelical-Methodist Church in European Alliance of YMCAs Macedonia European Baptist Federation Evangelical-Methodist Church in European Contact Group on Urban Serbia/Montenegro Industrial Mission Reformed Christian Church in European Federation for Diaconia Serbia/Montenegro European Forum of Christian Men Serbian Orthodox Church European YWCA’s Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy Confession in Yugoslavia French Protestant Federation International Areas Gustav Adolf Foundation Slovak Republic Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Intereuropean Commission on Church and Evangelical Church of the Augsbourg European Continental Province of the School Confession in the Slovak Republic Moravian Church International Association for Christian Evangelical Free Church in the Slovak Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Russia Education Republic and Other States International Prison Chaplains’ Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands & United Methodist Church - Central & Association/Europe Slovakia Southern Europe Irish Council of Churches Reformed Christian Church in the Slovak United Methodist Church - Nordic and Portuguese Council of Churches Republic Baltic Area Protestant Working Group on Adult Slovenia Salvation Army International Education in Europe Evangelical Church of the Augsbourg Headquarters - Europe Zone Society for Ecumenical Studies and Inter- Orthodox Relations Confession in the Republic of Slovenia CEC Associated Organisations Spanish Committee on Cooperation Action of Churches Together in Scotland Spain between the Churches Christian Council of Norway Spanish Evangelical Church Union of Evangelical Free Churches Christian Council of Sweden Spanish Reformed Episcopal Church World Student Christian Federation Church and Peace (Europe)

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EUROPE ON THE MOVE: THE CHURCHES’ 24 COMMITMENT TO EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Annual Report of the Church and Society Commission 2004 Who we are

he Church and Society Mandate and Methods • The CSC bases its actions on its work Commission is one of the Our mandate programme through flexible and ad commissions of the Confer- • To foster g reater ecumenical dialogue, hoc working mechanisms and meth- ence of European Churches co-operation and fellowship between ods more information on http://www. T (CEC). The CSC links CEC’s CEC member churches on Church and cec-kek.org 125 member churches from all over Eu- Society issues • In the implementation of its agenda, rope and its associated organisations with • To create a space for member churches regular communication between CSC the European Union Institutions, the to meet and find ways to act together and its member churches and the In- Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and for the common good in Europe stitutions are of crucial importance the UN (on European matters). It engages • To encourage and sustain a Christian its member churches and associated or- contribution to political,social and eco- Long term working groups ganisations in studies and projects rele- nomic life in Europe have been established for the vant to church and society and thus sup- • As a strong partner of the European following priority areas ports and strengthens the common wit- Institutions, to advocate and promote of the 2004-2009 ness of European churches. a Europe of solidarity, reconciliation work programme: The CSC was established in 1999 as a and human dignity • European Integration result of an integration process between • EU Legislation CEC and the European Ecumenical Com- How we work • Peace, Security and Reconciliation mission for Church and Society (EECCS), • The Church and Society Commission • Bioethics and Biotechnology both of which had a long-standing record (CSC) monitors developments in the • Human rights and Religious Freedom of working in the field of church and so- European Institutions and makes in- • Social Issues (a joint Working Group ciety. CEC was founded in 1959 as a puts to the institutions on behalf of its with Eurodiaconia) bridge-building organisation between the member churches churches in eastern and western Europe. • CSC acts through its working groups The CSC will also address 1979 can be regarded as the founding which study church and society issues the following themes with date for EECCS, which was established as and engages member churches in con- appropriate working a representation of churches vis-à-vis the sultations and projects on specific top- mechanisms: European Institutions. ics • Globalisation Following this integration process, the • The CSC closely cooperates with other • Sustainable Development CSC received a special status within CEC. church-related organizations and NGOs • Environmental Issues Its work programme as well as its work- such as CCME, Eurodiaconia, APRO- • Agriculture and Rural Life ing mechanisms and methods are deter- DEV and COMECE • Gender Equality mined by a 24-erson Commission in • Education agreement with CEC’s Central Commit- • Inter-religious Dialogue tee. The Commission Plenary meets once Acronyms a year, and elects the CSC Executive Com- APRODEV Association of World Council of ECEN European Christian Environmental mittee. In consultation with the General Churches related Development Network Secretary of CEC it can make public state- Organisations in Europe EURODIACONIA European Federation for Diaconia CCME Churches’ Commission for Migrants in LWF Lutheran World Federation ments on issues within its remit. Europe NGOs Non Governmental Organisations The CSC has secretariats in Brussels CEC Conference of European Churches OSCE Organisation for Security and and Strasbourg and maintains strong CERN Churches’ European Rural Network Cooperation in Europe COMECE Commission of the Bishops’ THEOBALT Network of the Churches around the links with the CEC headquarters in Gene- Conferences of the European Baltic Sea va.The Directorate of the CSC is based Community UNDP United Nations Development CPCE Community of Protestant Churches in Programme in Brussels. Europe UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund CSC Church and Society Commission WCC World Council of Churches