Bulletin September 2005 3 Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland ■ Evangelical Church in

Global Campaign Against Poverty: Poverty is a Scandal

Germany

»Profile-based ecumenism«: EKD representatives meet with Pope Benedict XVI 3 Stunned dismay at the death of Brother Roger 4

Europe

The 2006 Eastern Europe journalism award 10

Overseas

Six Months after the Tsunami: Hope for Saiphul Environmentally Friendly Reconstruction in Indonesia 14 Niger: no reprieve from the hunger crisis – »We share what we have« 19

Ecumenia Worldwide

Preparations for the Third European Ecumenical Assembly Head of EKD sends Invitation to come to Germany 20 Editorial

Dear Readers, Germany

It’s Friday afternoon in the centre of Cologne, the streets are cordoned »Profile-based ecumenism«: off, and everything has come to a standstill. The streets leading to the EKD representatives meet Palace are filled with young people hoping to catch a glimpse of the with Pope Benedict XVI 3 man about to drive down the street, in the car named after him. Their cheering begins long before the Popemobile arrives, taking Benedict XVI Stunned dismay at the death to the ecumenical meeting at the Bishop’s Palace. of Brother Roger 4

An hour later, the EKD participants at this meeting, held on the fringes Implementing the Goals of the of World Youth Day, all agree: even if talks could only be brief, the Millennium Declaration – meeting was important. Discussions were intense, open, fraternal, and Position Paper of the EKD Advisory looked to the future. Bishop Wolfgang Huber, Chair of the EKD Council, Commission for Sustainable raised some issues of importance to non-Roman Catholic churches. The Development 5 delegation reported that the Pope listened attentively and gave a clear outline of his picture of the future of ecumenism. Poverty is a Scandal – Bishop Huber on the Global A memorial service was held for Brother Roger, Prior of the ecumenical Campaign Against Poverty 5 community of Taizé. The Eucharist was celebrated in accordance with the Roman Catholic rites. Representatives of Protestant churches, Hermann Barth to be the new including EKD Council Chair Bishop Wolfgang Huber, were excluded President of the Church Office from fellowship at a central point of the service. Burkhard Guntau new Vice-President 6 Taken together, we can learn from these two events. As Protestants we shall continue to pronounce the basic principle that all baptised Fighting Poverty must take Christians admitted to take communion according to the order of their Priority own church, are invited to celebrations at the Lord’s Table. However in Brot für die Welt presents its current ecumenical discussions, progress is not only made through com- 2004 Annual Report 7 ing closer on particular issues. Progress is also made when differences are more clearly identified, and when these differences and the good Greater Promotion of reasons for them are respected. It is this profile-based ecumenism that Sustainable Agriculture we now need. Brot für die Welt presents Hunger Report 8 With these two pictures in mind from a week in summer 2005, I send you my best wishes, »The existence of nuclear weapons is an intolerable risk« – Wolfgang Huber on Hiroshima Day 9

A new director – EMW Council elects pastor from 9

Christof Vetter New pastor for the Church of Reconciliation at the Dachau concentration camp memorial site – Björn Mensing of Bayreuth to succeed Willi Stöhr 9

Editorial Board: Editorial office: Bulletin Christof Vetter (Chairman), Silke Fauzi, Pressestelle Dr. Dagmar Heller, Peter Weigand, Kirchenamt der EKD Bulletin all Kirchenamt der EKD; Herrenhäuser Str. 12 · D-30419 Hannover of the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland. Ilonka Boltze (EED); Fon: +49-511-2796-267 Address: Kirchenamt der EKD Dr. Thomas Schiller (epd); E-Mail: [email protected] Herrenhäuser Str. 12 Ute Dilg (Brot für die Welt); Translation: Language Service of D-30419 Hannover Barbara-Maria Vahl (Diakonisches Werk der EKD); The Lutheran World Federation and of Fon: +49-511-2796-0; Fax: +49-511-2796-777 Freddy Dutz (Evangelisches Missionswerk). the World Council of Churches Content/Germany

Europe »Called to Hope« Yara wants to be a Wolfgang Huber at the Christian Computer Scientist The 2006 Eastern Europe Encounter Days in Prague 13 Colombia: Hope for the Future Thanks journalism award 10 to Education closing the Gap 15 Overseas Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel to Land dispute – conflicts take over APRODEV Presidency EKD sends couple as pastors to over land use intensify in from 2006 Hong Kong 13 Northern Argentina 17 Brot für die Welt’s Director elected at Annual Assembly 11 New German pastor sent to A visit to Christians in Singapore 14 North Korea 18 International youth conference on Bonhoeffer held in London 11 Letter from Pastors Helps Niger: no reprieve from Pacification the hunger crisis – Relief aid abroad – A conference Bishop for Foreign Affairs Rolf »We share what we have« 19 of European pastors abroad held Koppe thanks Christian Churches in Löwenstein 11 in Bolivia 14 Ecumenia Worldwide

Conducting Transparent and Six Months after the Tsunami: Preparations for the Third Open Discussions Hope for Saiphul European Ecumenical Assembly Consultation of the German and Environmentally Friendly Head of EKD sends Invitation to Finnish Church Leadership 12 Reconstruction in Indonesia 14 come to Germany 20

»Profile-based ecumenism«: Schneider, President of the EKD Synod, Barbara Rinke, and the Chair of the EKD Council. They EKD representatives meet with wished Pope Benedict XVI God’s constant guidance Pope Benedict XVI in his ministry. In an address given at the meeting on 19 August, Huber said, »Even if Protestant In the run-up to the World Youth Day in Cologne Christians could not join in the cry of »habemus and with all of the excitement surrounding the papam« but rather said »habent papam«, they were Pope’s visit, representatives of the Evangelical still very moved by the choice of such an eminent Church in Germany (EKD) were repeatedly asked theologian from Germany«. For the ecumenical fel- whether Protestants were envious of such a leader lowship of Christians, the events in Cologne were and his potential to mobilize people. »Not at all,« also a reason to reflect on which ecumenical tasks stated Bishop Wolfgang Huber, Chair of the EKD are currently a priority, or should be a priority. Council, »I am quite happy to say, ‘You have a Pope, and we don’t.’« He added that the Evangelical Church uber said that some experienced the current in Germany was pleased, in the same way that state of ecumenical dialogue between the Roman Catholic Christians in Germany were, that H churches as being like a »sputtering engine«, Pope Benedict XVI’s first major foreign trip was to as »eroding things held in common« or even as an the World Youth Day in Cologne. »This has brought »ecumenical Ice Age«. Huber added that, »on the the Pope to the country of the Reformation«. other hand, we have to recall that the experience of things held in common in local churches and in dis- At this first meeting since his pontificate began, cussions at regional level is deep and stable. representatives of the non-Roman - However, these experiences of things in common, 3 es included Rhineland Church President Nikolaus must also be echoed by efforts to arrive at theolog- ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Germany

ical understanding and by the actions of the church Stunned dismay at the death leadership.« For the responsibility to search for ecumenical unity remains undiminished »that they of Brother Roger may all be one«, as John’s Gospel says. Bishop Wolfgang Huber, the Chair of the EKD he Chair of the Council emphasized that Council, reacted with stunned dismay and personal »much speaks for characterizing the present sadness to the violent death of Brother Roger. In a T ecumenical situation as a phase of »profile- first reaction, the Council Chair expressed the true based Ecumenism«. The common ecumenical feelings of sympathy of many Protestant Christians upheaval of the past few decades, is being followed in Germany. In these difficult hours, said Huber, it by a time of consolidation and assessment of was important to support the Taizé community, achievements. Following the discovery of much the- which the Protestant leader, Roger Schutz, had ological consensus and the overcoming of earlier founded and then shaped for over half a century. prejudices held on both sides, now the question is Encounters, personal exchanges, and communal how each of the individual convictions and basic prayer had had a defining effect on the lives of principles of the churches have been clarified and many and become unforgettable for them. Brother established within the ecumenical process. This Roger was a person of reconciliation, solace and process also includes recognizing that in some areas faith-based trust. there are clear differences and opposing positions. But like in any intense encounter the dual recogni- tion both of the closeness achieved and of the remaining differences, actually need to be held together; truth demands that neither sides be for- gotten.

Huber added that openly addressing and discussing these differences was no grounds for feelings of res- ignation. He said, »Rather it is a sign of hope that the churches, in their ecumenical co-operation, will not be able to avoid addressing the central issues surrounding their understanding of the Church and the way they determine the relationship between the clergy and the congregation.« There was a need to be willing to undertake in-depth theological work so Frere Roger Schutz, Prior of the Taizé Community, was murdered that there could be a genuine and truthful exchange during evening service on August 16th (Photo: epd) about the concepts of ministry and communion, the apostolic succession, and the role of women in the ministry. s the founder and Prior of the Taizé commu- ven if we cannot yet see all of the paths nity, Brother Roger enabled countless num- leading to a future profile-based ecumenism, A bers of people to find a spiritual home. E baptism connects the churches in a »sacra- Many Protestant parishes regularly hold services mental band of unity«, as does the proclamation of based on the liturgy of the Taizé Brothers and wor- the gospel, »If you abide in my word, you are truly ship using the community’s songs. Brother Roger’s my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the path in life was marked by a commitment, deeply truth will set you free« (John, 8:32).»Therefore, in rooted in faith, to reconciliation among peoples and this struggle for the truth, it is up to Protestants to religions. It was this concept of self that led to the point to the irrevocable certainty of the freedom of development of the independent ecumenical profile individual Christians«, concluded Huber. ■ of the community in Burgundy.

After Roger Schutz, a Swiss Protestant, founded a community with like-minded people in 1940 in 4 ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 France, hid Jews from the Nazis and gave shelter to increase public interest in the upcoming decisions refugees, the community he founded grew into a to be taken by the international community. source of ecumenical togetherness. he General Assembly of the United Nations he scene of Brother Roger receiving com- adopted the Millennium Declaration at the munion from the then Cardinal Josef T turn of the century. The aim was to launch a T Ratzinger during the memorial service for resolute struggle against abject living conditions. Pope John Paul II has become a final and defining Approximately 150 countries, including Germany and image of his ecumenical commitment. The violent other major development aid donors, pledged to death of the 90 year-old during the Roman Catholic work towards these goals. The Millennium World Youth Day highlighted the ecumenical con- Development Goals set out clear targets. The nection in an inconceivably tragic way. ■ Advisory Commission’s position paper recalls that in the process, concrete tasks and obligations were established for both industrialised and developing countries, most of which have specific deadlines. Furthermore, the Millennium Declaration contains a Implementing the Goals of the fundamental global political consensus on guidelines Millennium Declaration for sustainable development. According to the EKD, the goal must remain that of enabling all people to Position Paper of the EKD Advisory Commission live a life free of humiliation and want, both now for Sustainable Development and in the future. ■

The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has appealed to the German political leadership to keep the pledges made concerning the worldwide reduction of poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, Poverty is a Scandal depletion of environmental resources and gender discrimination. The EKD sets out its position in Bishop Huber on the Global Campaign Against the paper »Steps Toward Sustainable Poverty Development. A position paper of the EKD Advisory Commission for Sustainable n July 2nd, churches, non-governmental Development on the September 2005 organisations, artists and stars called for a Extraordinary Session of the United Nations O global day of action to fight poverty. The General Assembly«. The EKD Advisory visible signs of this global endeavour included Commission for Sustainable Development’s paper hanging white bands saying »Make Poverty History« was presented to the public on Saturday, July on public buildings and Live-8 concerts held in nine 2nd in Berlin by Bishop Wolfgang Huber, cities on four continents. In Berlin, the day of Chairman of the EKD Council. action started with a press conference at which supermodel Claudia Schiffer, the rock singer Herbert The 24-page text calls on the federal government Grönemeyer, the Roman Catholic Bishop Cardinal to keep the pledges made within the framework of Georg Sterzinsky, and the Council Chairman of the the United Nations Millennium Declaration. The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Bishop EKD believes that new initiatives will be required in Wolfgang Huber, spoke out against poverty. At the order to ensure the financing of the measures nec- beginning of the press conference, the Council essary for achieving the Millennium Development Chairman declared »Poverty is a scandal! Every day Goals. The EKD member churches are also being around the world 24,000 people die as a result of asked to maintain their commitment to the Church hunger and malnutrition—that, in a world with development service and to continue to contribute enough resources to feed all humankind. to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The position paper states that the EKD wishes to The Churches’ Joint Statement on the Economic and cooperate with all those working for the implemen- Social Situation in 1997 states, »All social, political tation of the Millennium Development Goals. The and economic action and decision-making should EKD Council also hopes that, both within the be gauged by the extent to which it concerns, ben- 5 churches and beyond, this position paper will efits and empowers the poor.« Justice, peace and ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Germany

the integrity of creation, the equal dignity of every alisation in a socially and environmentally responsi- individual and the »primary option for the poor« ble manner. have to become guiding principles for social and political action around the world. Churches have The Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany emphasised this point over and over again. (EKD) has emphasised that, in the run-up to the United Nations General Assembly, political leaders he EKD welcomes and supports the need to pave the way for binding obligations which Millennium Declaration adopted by the will entail concrete steps towards implementing the T United Nations General Assembly at the Millennium Development Goals. dawn of the new century. This declaration sets out clear timetables and objectives for the reduction of In the same spirit, we call upon the political leaders poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, the depletion of of Germany to fulfil the pledges made within the environmental resources and gender discrimination. framework of the Millennium Declaration. The Global Campaign Against Poverty aims to help to ensure that this Millennium Declaration is also We also believe that new initiatives are needed in followed up with decisive action. Through the work order to ensure the necessary financing for meas- of organisations such as Brot für die Welt (Bread ures aimed at achieving the Millennium for the World) and the Church Development Service Development Goals. (EED), Protestant churches have had a long tradition of development cooperation which is directed to The EKD is willing to cooperate with everyone the needs of the most vulnerable. working towards the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. To this end, the The Evangelical Church in Germany is also taking an Advisory Commission for Sustainable Development active part in fundamental discussions on the of the EKD Council has drafted a position paper on process of globalisation. For this reason Protestant the Millennium Development Goals which we are churches are grateful to the United Nations General presenting to the public today. Assembly for their Millennium Declaration and the objectives it contains. he Global Campaign Against Poverty is part of an international movement which wants Based on the measures taken to date, however, can T to provide the decisive impetus. People in 60 we really expect the declared objectives to be countries are working through national campaigns achieved? to fight for the idea that »We could be the genera- tion that takes the decisive step in the fight against What additional efforts are required in order for the poverty.« ■ obligations voluntarily assumed by states to be transformed into binding policies? The German version of EKD Text 81 is available at: The governments of the industrialised countries http://www.ekd.de/EKD-Texte/ have a duty to make their contribution to achieving 2059_ekd_texte_81.html the Millennium Development Goals. This contribu- tion includes:

– greater and improved development cooperation – global fair trade Hermann Barth to be the new – comprehensive debt relief for poor countries President of the Church Office

There is an urgent need for the global community Burkhard Guntau new Vice-President to develop tangible ways to improve living condi- tions in the Southern hemisphere. Consistent imple- The theologian Hermann Barth will be the next mentation of the Millennium Development Goals President of the Church Office of the Evangelical would be credible proof that the international com- Church in Germany (EKD). On Thursday, June 30th, munity has the will and the capacity to shape glob- the decision was made by the EKD Council and 6 ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 the second state law examination. Since 1996 he has been the director of the legal department of the Church Office.

alentin Schmidt has been President of the EKD Church Office since 1997. After passing V the second state law examination, Schmidt, a native of Hanover, began his career in 1971 as an advisor to Martin Neuffer, who was at the time, the chief executive of the state capital of Lower Saxony. Later he assumed the leadership of the Legal Affairs Office, a position he held until 1985 when he became the director of the of the City of Hanover’s main administrative office. In early 1992, Hermann Barth (left) to be successor of Valentin Schmidt (right) Schmidt left his service in the state capital to (Photo: epd) become the director of the Union of Municipalities of Greater Hanover, before then moving to the Church Office. Valentin Schmidt will celebrate his agreed upon with the EKD Church Conference. On 65th birthday in February 2006. ■ 1 March 2006 the current vice-president and direc- tor of Section II »Theology and Public Responsibility« will take over the office of President from Valentin Schmidt, who will retire. Burkhard Guntau will assume the leadership of Section I Fighting Poverty must take »Legal and Administrative Department« in his Priority capacity as Vice-President. Section III, »Ecumenical Relations and Ministry Abroad« will be led by the Brot für die Welt presents its 2004 Annual EKD’s Bishop for Foreign Affairs Rolf Koppe. Report

Hermann Barth was born in 1945 in Ludwigshafen. In the year 2004 Brot für die Welt (Bread for the After completing his studies in Protestant Theology in World) received approximately 54 million Euro in Heidelberg, Edinburgh and Tübingen, he was an assis- donations for development projects in Africa, Asia, tant lecturer from 1970 to 1977 at the Old Testament and Latin America. »This means that we have section of the Department of Protestant Theology at reached our goal of keeping donation levels basical- the University of Hamburg. From 1977 to 1978, ly stable after last year’s excellent results« said Hermann Barth was an assistant pastor in the Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel, Brot für die Welt’s direc- Evangelical Reformed Church, after which he worked tor. At the Protestant development agency’s press until 1985 as a parish pastor in Kerzenheim (Rhine- conference in Berlin, she also called upon the feder- land-Palatinate). Dr Barth has worked in the EKD al government to make the fight against poverty Church Office since 1985. First he held the post of the focal point of their development cooperation. Advisor on the Public Responsibility of the Church until 1993, and since then he has served both as the Poverty is not an abstract problem director of Section II and as one of the vice-presi- In the run-up to the G-8 summit in Scotland and dents. the UN General Assembly in New York in September, she appealed to the federal government urkhard Guntau was born in 1948. After and the international community to change their completing his studies in Law, he served for outlook. She said that poverty is not an abstract B many years in the legal service of the problem which can be solved using technical German states of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, means. Instead, she said, the poor, along with their and most recently as the Vice-President of the rights, needs, and capabilities, have to be placed at Higher Administrative Court and of the the centre of the debate. »Unfortunately, develop- Constitutional Court of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. ment aid still comes second after foreign and eco- He is a member of the state examination board for nomic policy interests,« noted Füllkrug-Weitzel. 7 ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Germany

Furthermore, Füllkrug-Weitzel added, in light of the and the effectiveness of different measures used to sobering fact that little progress had been made to fight it. The study introduces and provides a critical date towards implementing the Millennium analysis of concepts such as genetic engineering, Development Goals, a consistent focus on poverty eco-farming and sustainable farming, economic lib- was urgently needed. The Millennium Goals aim to eralisation of the agricultural market and cuts in reduce the number of people living in abject pover- agricultural subsidies in the European Union. ty by 50 percent by the year 2015. Particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of starving and The report’s results indicate that people suffering poor is still growing. »If we still want to achieve the from hunger do not form a homogeneous group. Millennium Goals, we urgently need more money to They include groups of young people with the be made available for development aid,« empha- capacity to work, as well as people with no poten- sized Füllkrug-Weitzel. For this reason Brot für die tial to help themselves, such as refugees or AIDS Welt welcomed the agreement adopted by the EU orphans. The causes of hunger and its manifesta- member states to meet the 0.7 percent target for tions are numerous, and there is no general state development aid by the year 2015. »We call panacea for hunger. Instead the various causes of upon the next federal government to take this obli- hunger have to be addressed individually. The just gation seriously and not to back-pedal because of distribution of food, land and water are crucial, as financial difficulties and pressure to save money«. is taking account of the environmental and societal aspects of the local situation and the living condi- Long-term assistance in the tsunami region tions of the target group. Donations for the year 2004 came to approximately 1.4 million Euro, 2.6 percent less than in the previ- he fight against poverty faces particular ous year. Füllkrug-Weitzel attributed the slight challenges, for example in regions with high decrease in donations to the tsunami disaster on 26 T rates of HIV infection. IDCCS (Inter Diocesan December 2004. She said, »Since Brot für die Welt Christian Community Services), Brot für die Welt’s is a development agency, not known for emergency project partner in Kenya, is currently researching aid, we understandably faded slightly into the back- how to fight poverty under these more difficult cir- ground in the time just after the flood.« Füllkrug- cumstances. IDCCS operates in a southwestern Weitzel highlighted Brot für die Welt’s long-term region of the country where, because of HIV/AIDS, projects in the tsunami region in which the aid human life expectancy is approximately ten years agency focuses its effort to rebuild and further lower than in other parts of the country. IDCCS is develop the region primarily on the rights of disad- looking particularly at the situation of people with vantaged population groups such as the fishing AIDS. One important question to ask is, »What crops community, small-scale farmers, or ethnic minori- must be grown in order to help them to keep their ties. In the year 2004, Brot für die Welt had a total strength longer?« The longer an HIV-infected person of 1000 projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. is healthy and strong enough to work in the fields The focal points of their work are in rural develop- and is not dependent on care, the better the nutri- ment, peace-building, health and education. ■ tional situation of the entire family. Another impor- tant aspect is to develop farming methods which help the family members of the ill and deceased to manage their work in the fields while still being Greater Promotion of able to provide for themselves and the ill. Sustainable Agriculture The »Faces of Hunger« study shows that sustainable farming and eco-farming can increase production Brot für die Welt presents Hunger Report and significantly improve the nutritional situation, particularly of people for whom subsistence farming The Protestant aid agency Brot für die Welt (Bread does not provide a sufficient living. For these people for the World) has presented a study entitled »Faces in particular, each seasonal drought is a disaster. of Hunger«. The study uses personal stories to illus- Having a diverse selection of local crops which can trate the ways in which hunger and poverty shape be harvested several times a year makes farmers human lives. Studies commissioned by Brot für die less susceptible to the consequences of disaster. ■ 8 Welt in eleven countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America provide insight into the causes of hunger

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 »The existence of nuclear A new director – weapons is an intolerable risk« EMW Council elects pastor Wolfgang Huber on from Berlin Hiroshima Day Rev Christoph Anders is to be the new Director of the Association of Protestant Churches and In an address to mark Hiroshima Day, Bishop Missions in Germany (EMW). The 45 year-old will Wolfgang Huber, Chair of the EKD Council, said that succeed Reverend Herbert Meissner, who retires at »all the evil that humans’ destructive fury can the end of October. devise« appears to have been contained in the atomic bomb released on Hiroshima on 6 August Anders, who has studied in Brazil among other 1945. Humanity consoles itself with the thought places, has been a parish minister in Berlin since that, since Hiroshima, atomic bombs have never 1999. Before that, he worked at the Berlin Mission again been deployed. »But the risk of these as the Theological Secretary for Cuba/Latin America weapons being detonated by accident exists; in and East Asia. He will take up his position at the fact, it is intolerably high.« start of 2006. Christoph Anders is married and has three children. The number of nuclear warheads around the world speaks for itself, declared Huber. He said that there The EMW is an umbrella organization and special- was no good reason to limit the discussion to North ized association of Protestant churches, Protestant Korea or Pakistan’s nuclear weapons. »Anyone who Free Churches and regional mission agencies, as wants to prevent or stop these countries from hav- well as of individual mission associations and of ing nuclear weapons should themselves be prepared organisations for ecumenical, mission and develop- to disarm.« The nuclear policies of the Cold War are ment-related co-operation with Christians and still in place, and the UN conference in May 2005 churches abroad, and for ecumenical awareness- to review and improve the Comprehensive Test Ban raising in Germany. Its members include twelve Treaty was a failure. »Nuclear destruction could still Protestant mission agencies, six mission associa- come as a result of the actions of a few, or of the tions, five Free Churches and the Evangelical decision – or to be clearer – the incorrect decision, Church in Germany. EMW has 34 employees. ■ of an individual.«

The Council Chair appealed for the issue of nuclear weapons to be anchored once more in the public’s mind and conscience. »Only if the urgency of the New pastor for the Church of problem is understood can we hope for change«, and only then would the failure of the Reconciliation at the Dachau Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty not be the final concentration camp memorial word. Huber said that we should think not only about how to eliminate the potential causes of the site - Björn Mensing of use of nuclear weapons, but »we also have to elimi- Bayreuth to succeed nate the possibility of their use.« Willi Stöhr oncerning Germany’s desire for a perma- nent seat on the UN Security Council, Björn Mensing of Bayreuth will be the new pastor C Bishop Huber said, »If our country is declar- of the Church of Reconciliation at the Dachau con- ing its willingness to assume greater responsibility centration camp memorial site. He was elected by within the framework of the United Nations, it also the Electoral Committee to succeed Reverend Willi has to clearly express the meaning of this responsi- Stöhr, who will move on to assume the directorship bility in view of the existence in our world of of the Protestant City Academy in Nuremberg. Rev nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass Mensing took up his new duties on 1 September, destruction.« ■ and his inauguration on the 30 October 2005 will take place at the same time as a meeting of the 9 ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Germany/Europe

international Board of Trustees of the Church of The 2006 Eastern Europe Reconciliation. journalism award ith a PhD in History, Björn Mensing has already intensively studied the Nazi dic- The twelfth Annual Eastern Europe Journalism W tatorship and the role of the churches Award will be made on 5th March 2006 by the cam- at that time. His book, Pfarrer und paign »Hoffnung für Osteuropa« (Hope for Eastern Nationalsozialismus (Pastors and National Europe), in cooperation with the Evangelical Church Socialism), was published in 1998, documenting in Germany, the Institute of Journalism of the widespread support of the Protestant clergy for Dortmund University and the »Gustav-Adolf-Werk«. the Nazi regime. In 2004, the German television The title of this year’s context is »Border experi- channel ARD broadcast a documentary on the ences«. same topic entitled »Pfarrer unterm Hakenkreuz« (Pastors under the Swastika), which Mensing ince the collapse of communism, borders played a major role in producing. In 2002, with with and within Eastern Europe have Heinrich Rathke, he co-published Widerstehen S changed. The Iron Curtain between East and (Resistance), a book about the Christian resistance West has fallen, other borders like those of the fighters of the 20th century. In his new position at European Union have shifted, but above all new the Church of Reconciliation, he wants to encour- borders have been added in the territory of the for- age a better networking of the churches’ work at mer Soviet Union and in the Balkans. For people in memorial sites. He believes that memorial sites Eastern Europe the drawing up of new borders is will increase in significance as »sites of authentici- linked with many different kinds of experiences. ty« in years to come, because at the same time Participants in the Eastern Europe Journalism Award there will clearly be fewer opportunities to meet are asked to write about these varied experiences. contemporary witnesses. he title »Border experiences«, does not only The theologian, born in Lüneburg in 1962, has been refer to the borders between two countries, the Director of Studies at the Evangelisches T but also to borders in the broader sense and Bildungswerk (Protestant Educational Association) also includes the experiences and circumstances of in Bayreuth/Bad Berneck since 1996. Now he and people who have reached their physical or psycho- his wife Dagmar, a religion teacher, and their three logical limits or borders. Rather than concentrating children will move to Upper Bavaria. After his expe- only on physical borders, participants can also write riences in the Upper Franconian region, the 43 about the borders that are drawn in our minds due year-old cycling fan is looking forward to the hills to prejudices and stereotypes and of how to over- and valleys of the Pre-Alps, which he is already come these borders. The experiences portrayed by familiar with from his time as a minister-in-training the participating Eastern European Journalists have and parish pastor in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and no fixed borders according to the rules of the com- Gauting. petition. The experiences written about may have taken place anywhere in the world, for instance in he Church of Reconciliation was built in Western Europe. 1967 on the site of the Dachau concentration T camp at the initiative of former concentra- ubmissions must be made in the language of tion camp prisoners. In addition to worship services, the published original and in a German the church offers group tours, exhibitions, events S translation. Your article must have been and pastoral counselling. In addition to the pastor, published in a European country before the closing members of the team include a deacon and two date of the contest. Articles should not be longer volunteers who work for »Aktion Sühnezeichen« than five pages and written for the printed media (Service for Reconciliation). The Church of or Internet. Any journalist born and living in former Reconciliation’s work receives support from the Eastern Bloc countries, who is 45 or younger in the Evangelical Church in Germany, the Evangelical year 2005, may participate. Journalists who are citi- Lutheran Church in Bavaria, and the Munich Church zens of Germany, Austria and Switzerland cannot District. ■ participate in the contest. Good German language 10 skills area necessary pre-condition for entry, the ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 prize cannot be awarded if these prove not to exist. a significant influence on the development and effec- All contributions must have been received by tiveness of the network and on the decision-making November 15 2005. ■ process. She has been a member of the steering com- mittee of APRODEV since 2004. ■

Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel to take over APRODEV Presidency International youth conference from 2006 on Bonhoeffer held in London Young people aged 15 to 19 from Germany, Sweden Brot für die Welt’s Director elected at Annual and England came together for four days in June to Assembly discuss the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. They worked with texts (the baptismal sermon for he director of Brot für die Welt (Bread for the Bonhoeffer’s godson Dietrich Bethge), spiritual writ- World) and Diakonie Emergency Aid has been ings and Bible passages cited by Bonhoeffer, as well T elected as the organization’s new president as with a documentary film. A small exhibit gave by its executive committee at the APRODEV them an impression of Bonhoeffer’s stay in London (Association of World Council of Churches Related from October 1933 to April 1935. The event was Development Organizations in Europe) annual held at the German Church of Sydenham, one of assembly in Vienna. She will begin her term in the two parishes where Dietrich Bonhoeffer worked January 2006. as a pastor. The Bonhoeffer statue in the series of martyrs of the 20th century on the facade of APRODEV is the Brussels-based umbrella organiza- Westminster Abbey was the starting point for their tion of World Council of Churches-related aid agen- tour of London. The programme also included a cies in Europe. It is a lobbying body which sees its musical, a visit to one of London’s markets, and a role as one of bringing the concerns and voices of meeting at the German embassy. Discussions, time Southern and Eastern churches and partners of spent together, and the trilingual worship service Christian aid agencies to bear on development and organized by the young people created an atmos- human-rights policy issues in the debate on devel- phere of mutual understanding and a »shared mis- opment policy and in the relevant EU committees. sion for the world« which is sure to carry the search APRODEV’s activities include such important areas for ecumenism forwards in a way which Bonhoeffer as security and trade policy and the fight against would have approved of. ■ AIDS.

»I’m very grateful for the trust that’s been shown in me and I will try, with all the strength I have, to make the concerns and problems of our partners Relief aid abroad – heard in Brussels,« said Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel A conference of European following her election. »I know from my years of experience as director of Brot für die Welt and pastors abroad held in Diakonie Emergency Aid how important it is, and Löwenstein how the development policy debate cannot happen without our partners in the South and the East.« he increasing mobility of German speakers throughout Europe and the growing number In 2000, Cornelia Füllkrug-Weitzel took over the of German senior citizens moving to the coun- leadership of Ecumenical Social Welfare at the T tries of Southern Europe are posing new challenges Diakonisches Werk (Social Welfare Agency) of the for the diaconal work of German-language Protestant Church in Germany (EKD). She is also the Protestant congregations in non-German-speaking director of Brot für die Welt, Diakonie Emergency Aid European countries. Are they a complement to or and Hope for Eastern Europe. Since 2002, she has competition for the core tasks of proclamation and also been a member of the leadership committee of 11 pastoral care? This was one of the issues examined Action by Churches Together (ACT), and therefore has ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Europe

by the Conference of European Pastors Abroad held the kingdom of God in the many different contexts by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) in late from Tenerife to Kiev. ■ July at its conference centre in Löwenstein, near Heilbronn. The organizer of the conference, Antje Heider-Rottwilm, who is the Director of the European Department of the EKD Church Office, wel- comed 51 pastors and their families who have been Conducting Transparent and sent by the EKD to other countries within Europe. Open Discussions They met to evaluate their experiences in pastoral work, in particular in social work, in Krasnoyarsk, Consultation of the German and Finnish Church Oslo, Athens, Mallorca and many other European Leadership locations. Finnish and German church representatives agree ev Jürgen Gohde, President of the EKD Social »that the European constitutional project« has to Service Agency, spoke about the significance move forward in an appropriate manner. This was R and European interconnectedness of diaco- the conclusion the two delegations came to at the nia today and in the past. Legation Councillor end of the sixth consultation between the Wolfgang Drautz of the German Foreign Office pre- Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the sented a report on his field of expertise entitled Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), held from »Relief Aid for Germans Abroad«. Walter Gebhardt, June 9th to 12th. The representatives of the two Director of the European Institute of the ‘Diakonie churches met at the Tetrimäki Conference Centre in Neuendettelsau’, presented the plans and interests Vehmersalmi (Eastern Finland) under the leadership of large diaconal organizations abroad, for example, of EKD Council Chairman Bishop Wolfgang Huber regarding work with partners in Romania, or and Archbishop Jukka Parma. The delegations hope Spain. Together conference participants drew up that dialogue between the European institutions goals for the diaconal work of pastors in German- and churches and religious communities, as provid- speaking congregations abroad. These goals includ- ed for in the Constitutional Treaty, will soon begin ed the provision of assistance in emergencies and and be »conducted transparently and openly«. taking action in ecumenical solidarity. The representatives of the Finnish and German This meeting of German-speaking pastors minister- Protestants particularly welcomed the work of the ing in European countries abroad is an important Conference of European Churches (CEC) which, on opportunity for the pastors involved in this special the one hand, raises within the churches issues of mission to contact and exchange experiences with political debate in the European institutions, and each other. At the same time, the conference serves on the other hand presents the churches’ positions to guide the clergy and provide them with an to the European institutions. opportunity for further training. Describing his feel- ings Rev Klaus Fleckner, who is serving in Ispra- The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has Varese in Italy, said »It is very important for me to 4,378,410 members in nine dioceses with 562 speak to my colleagues from around Europe at this parishes. This figure represents more than 80 per- conference. Anyone who, like me, is working as a cent of all Finns. Orthodox Christians are the sec- pastor far away from other colleagues, needs ond largest group after the Lutheran churches, with opportunities for personal exchange in addition to 57,000 members. The delegations from Finland and further training.« Germany shared the hope that the discussions between the EKD and the Evangelical Lutheran uring the opening worship, Rolf Koppe, the Church of Finland would also have a beneficial EKD Bishop for Foreign Relations, interpreted effect on »links with the Orthodox churches at the D Psalm 150 from the point of view of a European level as well as within the World Council German-language congregation abroad in Europe. of Churches«. It was in this spirit that the represen- He encouraged the participants to fulfil the man- tatives of the Protestant churches took the time to date of Jesus Christ and to preach the good news of visit the Finnish Orthodox monastery, Valamo. ■ 12

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 »Called to Hope« EKD sends couple as pastors to Hong Kong Wolfgang Huber at the Christian Encounter Days in Prague On the basis of an agreement with the German Speaking Evangelical Congregation in Hong Kong The Christian churches bring their hope to influence the EKD which gives financial support to expatriate the building of Europe said Bishop Wolfgang Huber, congregations and selects candidates for ministries the Council Chairman of the Evangelical Church in abroad, has appointed and commissioned Pastor Germany (EKD), on Saturday, 18th June, in his Sven Salzmann and Pastor Ute Reckzeh to serve the keynote address at the Christian encounter days in German Speaking Protestant Congregation in Hong Prague. Christians from different confessions had travelled from six countries in Central Europe to meet in the Czech capital for the Encounter Days with the theme »Called to Hope«. The Council Chairman of the EKD placed special emphasis on the need for Christians to act to make Europe not just an economic community but also a community of common values.

ishop Huber recalled that the churches of Europe had made a »common commitment« B in the form of the Charta Oecumenica. The Charta had been signed by many European churches since its initial proposal by the Conference of European Churches and the Roman Catholic Council of European Bishops’ Conferences in April 2001. Sixteen German churches had become signatories at the 2003 Ecumenical Kirchentag in Berlin. Building on the biblical foundation of Christian Ute Reckzeh (left) and Sven Salzmann will be serving as pastors hope a beginning had thus been made. He said that in Hong Kong now this commitment needed to be made more widely known and to be put into practice. The Charta Oecumenica was an expression of the hope that Christians had. That hope included both co- Kong from August 2005. They will succeed Rev operation between churches and the role of church- Christoph Hildebrandt-Ayasse and his wife Rev. es within society. Cornelie Ayasse who have left Hong Kong after fin- ishing their 6-year term as ministers of the German The Bishop said that he could see »signs of paralysis Speaking Congregation, which is a member of the and resignation« in current developments in Europe. Hong Kong Christian Council. Sven Salzmann who »The economic crisis continues,« he said, »and eco- was born in 1962 studied Theology at the University nomic and social decline will be with us throughout of Hamburg, spent a year at the Lutheran Europe for a long time. Political enthusiasm has Theological Seminary in Hong Kong and was been debilitated; the European Constitutional ordained in 1994 as a Pastor of the North Elbian process has become stuck.« It was in this situation, Church (Northern Germany). He worked as a pastor he said, that the Christian hope was needed. The of his Church in different congregations. His wife, hope of living together peacefully in Europe could Ute Reckzeh was born in 1964 and studied not be based merely on »the lowest common Theology in Hamburg and Marburg as well as at the denominator of national self-interest«. It was quite Faculty of the Waldensians in Rome (Italy). She was right to subject the European Constitution to criti- ordained in 1995 and served as a pastor in different cal examination, but it would also be dangerous, congregations before going into specialized ministry having done that, to draw back into our own as a hospital chaplain. The couple have a five-year- national shells. ■ old daughter. ■ 13

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Overseas

New German pastor sent to great joy« at the joint witness of the Bolivian churches. On June 1st, the Christian churches in la Singapore Paz had written an ecumenical pastoral letter, entitled »Come together«, to the public, the gov- The German Speaking ernment, to social and civil action groups and to Protestant the churches themselves. In doing so, they wished Congregation of to »play a prophetic role in this difficult situation«, Singapore, which was including »a commitment to protect life and pro- founded in 1972 in mote a greater participation in social develop- affiliation with the ments«. local Orchard Road Presbyterian Church, olf Koppe told the Bolivian churches that the maintains close links EKD had been »seriously concerned« for with the EKD. After a R Bolivia during the »critical circumstances« of six-year-term in recent weeks, but was now happy to hear news that Singapore, Rev. »the situation [had] since calmed down«. The letter, Wolfgang Leuschner which was sent to ten church leaders and to Heinz- will be returning to Martin Krauss, the German pastor in La Paz, contin- Germany. His pastoral ued: »We are all too aware that this by no means Markus Beile is appointed as new German pastor in duties included visits marks the end of the troubles, but, most likely, just Singapore to the German expatri- a breathing space before new conflicts are sparked. ate communities in Nevertheless, the swearing-in of the interim Malaysia and the Philippines. The Council of the President brings with it opportunities to create a Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has now process of change with respect for life and an end appointed Pastor Markus Beile to serve the German to senseless killing.« ■ Speaking Congregation in Singapore from August 2005. Markus Beile who was born in 1964 studied Theology at the University of Heidelberg in Germany and at the University of Vienna in Austria. He also trained as a secondary school teacher. In 1992 he Six Months after the Tsunami: was ordained in the Protestant Church of Baden (Southern Germany). He worked as a pastor in sev- Hope for Saiphul eral congregations including one year abroad in the German Speaking Congregation in Barcelona Environmentally Friendly Reconstruction in (Spain). Rev. Beile is married to Ulrike Indonesia Lummerzheim. The couple have two daughters, Franziska (9 years) and Katharina (7 years). ■ Saiphul is standing in the middle of a wasteland. You can still just make out the footprint of a house. This is Lamno, on the west coast of northern Sumatra, where the 22-year-old used to live with his parents and his six bothers and sisters. He made Letter from Pastors Helps his living running a small coffee bar. His parents Pacification had a rice field right next to the village. That is, until 26 December 2004. Bishop for Foreign Affairs Rolf Koppe thanks Christian Churches in Bolivia »First came the earthquake – that didn’t do too much damage,« recalls Saiphul. »Then the wave n ecumenical pastoral letter from all the came and just tore us all away. I was swept more Christian churches in Bolivia has »made a than two-and-a-half miles, right up to the edge of A real contribution to pacification« of the the forest. I only survived because I managed to conflict in the Latin American country. In a note of hang onto an empty oil barrel. When I came to, I solidarity and thanks, the Bishop for Foreign was just surrounded by bodies. I thought, this must 14 Affairs of the Evangelical Church in Germany be the end of the world.« (EKD), Rolf Koppe, expressed »deep gratitude and ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Now he lives on a transitional accommodation site ploughs. This will, admittedly, earn him only around of wooden huts built by the Indonesian govern- half of what he could earn through illegal felling, ment. Out of his whole family, only he and two of but the work is less hard. What is more, it does not his brothers are left. Like many other young men in cause flooding, of which Saiphul has seen so much the wake of this disaster, boredom and lack of work recently as a result of the felling. made Saiphul susceptible to the great temptation of earning some quick money through illegal log- nd the young Indonesian has a second job, ging. He spent weeks illegally felling valuable tim- as well. Together with the other survivors ber from the already stricken rainforest – all for 10 A from his village, he is clearing a field devas- a day. tated by the tsunami. As soon as it is cleared, they plan to sow it with groundnuts, which will act as a From motor saw to motor plough natural fertilizer, enriching the soil with nitrogen. Now, though, Saiphul and his friend Hamed have The first harvest can be made 100 days later, and changed tack. Now they earn their living with a then the field will be ready to be sown with rice. motor plough they have received from an Indonesian partner organization of Diakonie Saiphul is also beginning, very gradually, to believe Emergency Aid, by ploughing the rice fields of in a future. »Of course, it still hurts to have lost my farmers in the area for money. Diakonie’s partner family,« he says. »But the work here and the aid organization has supplied a total of seven such we’re getting – they give me hope.« ■ ploughs in order to provide tsunami victims with an income. Peter Wingert/Gesine Wolfinger

he aid programme also includes environmen- tally friendly reconstruction of houses. T Houses are being built out of bricks that Yara wants to be a Computer come from energy-efficient, local production. In agriculture, the focus is on recultivating existing Scientist land instead of using slash-and-burn techniques in the rainforest. Project director Frank Momberg Colombia: Hope for the Future Thanks to developed the plan together with the Lamno village Education closing the Gap leaders, whom he has known since long before the disaster. Its central premise is that there should be Yara Diaz breaks down in tears. Only a moment ago no reconstruction at the expense of the rainforest – the 15-year-old schoolgirl had been talking and even if that means it take a bit longer. laughing about the life she had near the village of Villa Esperanza – the resplendent mango trees, the Including local people splashing river, the family mule, her two elder »There’s this huge pressure to spend the money brothers… Suddenly, she breaks down. »They killed quickly,« explains Momberg. »I think that’s com- my brother,« she sobs. pletely wrong. The right thing to do is to plan for the long term and include the local people.« The 24-year-old was shot in the middle of the Diakonie Emergency Aid is following the same street. »That was their revenge,« says the young girl approach in other reconstruction projects in India, quietly. Yara’s father had refused to co-operate, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Somalia. The regions either with the guerrillas or with the paramilitaries affected by the tsunami will need support for at or with the army. Yara’s brother was a militiaman. least another two years. Thanks to the great out- In Tolima Province, the Colombian army only con- pouring of generosity that followed the tsunami trols the cities and larger towns; the countryside disaster, many aid projects have been possible: belongs to the guerrillas. Diakonie Emergency Aid alone received 43 million, of which around 25 million have so far been Her other brother disappeared without a trace the awarded to a total of 39 aid projects. same morning – he is thought to be hiding in fear. Their mother said she was going into town; she For the first year, Saiphul’s wages are being paid never came back. »I don’t know what’s happened to from Diakonie Emergency Aid funds; after that, he her,« says Yara Diaz. Her father shoved a few things 15 will be paid by the owners of the rice fields he into a bag and the two of them fled. ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Overseas

they must care for have many and varied problems: there are many families like Yara’s, torn apart by the civil war that has raged for nearly 40 years.

Closing gaps in education Many children are traumatized by the brutality, rapes and massacres they have witnessed. Their flight has pulled them out of normal school life and they have missed significant years of learning. One such young man is Cristian Camilo. In 1999, the paramilitaries came to his village, about three hours’ drive from Bogotá, demanding something to eat. There was no food in the village.

»They gave us three days to get out,« says the 15- Yara (right) and her friend find new hope after having lost their year-old, wearing a dirty, threadbare Real Madrid homes (Photo: Hans-Ulrich Dillmann) shirt. He wants to be a professional football player and play in goal when he grows up. His family spent a year in temporary accommodation. Only since he has been in Soacha has he been back to school. ow she lives in Casuca, an area of the city of Soacha near the Colombian capital, »We help young people to close the gaps in their N Bogota. Tiny huts made out of thin corru- learning and to integrate back into normal school gated metal and cardboard squeeze in next to sim- life,« says Sandra Rivera. »Our children receive care ple, unplastered houses made of cheap clinker from child psychologists. We support families with bricks. More displaced people poor into the area their accommodation problems and other life issues. every day from the many hotspots in Colombia’s But most importantly,« the psychologist and teacher civil war. It’s estimated that, out of a population of stresses, »we make sure that the kids are off the 42 million, the country has over one million streets and a bit better protected.« »desplazados« (displaced people). Life is dangerous Caring for the children of desplazados For even in Casuca, life is dangerous for these It’s early afternoon in Casuca. The happy sound of young people. The right-wing United Self-Defence children’s laughter bursts out of a narrow four-story Force of Colombia rules the streets here. They house: it’s a school run by the Corporación Infancia demand protection money from the owners of small y Desarrollo (CID), and lessons are over. The charity shops and try to recruit young people. They call set up the school in conjunction with Diakonie their terror »social cleansing«: boys with long hair Emergency Aid, with funds from ECHO, the are forced to cut it off, earrings are ripped out. Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Dissenters are shot and left in the streets as a Commission. warning.

The school teaches 375 boys and girls every morn- Cristian has had his own unpleasant experiences ing and provides them in the afternoons with a with the »Paras«. Once, he was playing football with place to spend their free time. Yara sits in front of a some friends after six in the evening, when sudden- screen in the computer room. She wants to be a ly some men dressed in black came up and threat- computer scientist when she grows up. »It’s so ened to shoot them for being out on the street too much fun,« she says, as she explains a tricky com- late. Sandra Rivera says he didn’t stop shaking for puter game to the girl sitting next to her. days. ■

»We care for the children of the desplazados,« Hans-Ulrich Dillmann explains Sandra Lucia Rivera, director of the CID fam- ily program »Our Future Is Today«, which was initiat- 16 ed by Diakonie Emergency Aid. The children whom

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Land dispute – conflicts over people, a particularly poor and vulnerable sector of the population, so that they can demand their land land use intensify in Northern rights and organize themselves in such a way that Argentina the Argentinean state will accept them as a negoti- ation partner. The aim is to enable them to enjoy The small white truck is the sole spot of colour in self-determination. the bleak forest clearing. Stones prevent it from rolling away. It is treated well by the people who live »We are no longer afraid.« in the clearing, since it is a hostage. The forest dwellers seized it when employees of large compa- he indigenous people in Pozo Nuevo have nies fenced off portions of the forest. »We protested thrown off their otherwise reserved nature, that they were taking away our land«, explained Jose T typical of the Wichi, and are making their Galarza. The 75 year-old is the Cacique, or head of demands loudly and clearly. Even the women are the village, in the Wichi community of Tonono. The doing so. Luisa Perez asks, »They’re taking our land people occupied the forest clearing in Pozo Nuevo away. What are we supposed to live on?« and cut the fences. »They must negotiate with us at Desperation is written on her face. She, her hus- long last«, demands Galarza. By »they«, he means not band, and their children live under a plastic tarpau- only the large agri-businesses that want to cultivate lin. They sleep on a few blankets that barely keep soya and corn there for export, but also politicians out the cold of the Argentinean winter. »We are not from the provincial government who support the going to stop resisting«, she declares. »We are no work of these businesspeople. longer afraid.«

Land Ownership is a question of culture he Wichi in Santa Maria, a town farther north on the Paraguayan border, still live far n the region of the Gran Chaco in northern T away from the deforested areas. The forest Argentina, like in other parts of Latin America, on the Rio Pilcomayo, a river that flows through the I land disputes continue to intensify between the region, is still largely intact. The men regularly go indigenous groups on the one hand, and the white out hunting and fishing, while the women prepare population and agri-businesses on the other. For food, collect berries or make belts and bags from centuries, the Wichi and other peoples have wan- natural fibres. But here, too, the Wichi traditional dered the vast forests of the Gran Chaco. They lived way of life is threatened. The cows and goats from hunting, berry collecting, honey, and fishing. owned by the Criollos, the white livestock breeders They grew sweet potatoes in small gardens. It is a and small-scale farmers, eat the forest bare. The very modest, poor life compared to western stan- amount of game is diminishing, and large areas are dards, but it corresponds to their culture and their already damaged. Add to that the mistrust between values, which they are trying to defend with the indigenous people and the Criollos. Both feel increasing desperation. that they are right, and both claim the same living space, but they use the land so differently that In this land dispute, two different and almost irrec- cohabitation is virtually impossible. oncilable cultures. The Argentinean state awards ownership titles to individuals who are then permit- Is resettlement a solution? ted to reap economic benefit from the land. The idea that land can be owned, however, is foreign to In order to promote dialogue between the two the Wichi. Volker von Bremen, an ethnologist, groups and find a solution to the conflict, the local explains, »The indigenous people would say, ‘That is partner organizations of Bread for the World and the territory on which we live.’ They do not tradi- Misereor, Fundapaz and Asociana, are organizing tionally have a claim to ownership, but rather just what is known as a Mesa Ampliada, a round table. make use of what is presently in front of them.« The In addition to the representatives of the interests of ethnologist works on behalf of two church relief the indigenous people and the Criollos, the provin- agencies, Bread for the World and Misereor, in the cial government and the Argentinean Foreign region of the Gran Chaco in the border area where Ministry will also participate in the negotiations. Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay meet. The aim of The aim is to solve the land dispute on the the projects in the region is to promote a peaceful Pilcomayo through controlled resettlements sup- 17 solution to the land dispute. Bread for the World ported by both groups as well as by the govern- and Misereor provide assistance to the indigenous ment. This process will be monitored by the Inter- ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Overseas

American Commission on Human Rights, to which Pyongyang was well attended but not over crowd- the Wichi filed a complaint. Under international ed. The hymns with their familiar 19th century tunes law, they have a right to their traditional way of life were chosen from a Korean hymnal of the 1930’s and their ancestral lands. re-printed in North Korea. The readings of the les- sons came from a modern translation of the Bible t the beginning, it wasn’t easy to get indige- recently published in North Korea. An excellent nous people and Criollos to sit down at the choir and soloists sang well-rehearsed hymns dur- A same table together, reports Pablo Frere, an ing the service. The guests from Germany were employee of Fundapaz. Now, however, after lengthy invited to address the congregation with a word of negotiations, the two groups have come quite close greeting but were not given the opportunity to to achieving an agreement. »The problem is that the engage in any personal conversation except with provincial government has no interest in a peaceful the pastor and official representatives of the KCF. solution to the conflict,« explains Frere. »It has its own plans for the land.« There are plans to imple- he delegation from Germany was very ment large-scale infrastructure measures that both impressed by the size and quality of the the Wichi and the Criollos reject. They stress, »First T recently finished Theological Seminary build- the land dispute has to be solved. Not until then ing which is surrounded by well-tended strawberry will further development of the region be possible«. fields and orchards on the premises of Bongsu church. Only a dozen candidates for pastoral min- Meanwhile, the situation in Pozo Nuevo has contin- istry are enrolled for a five-year course. ued to intensify. The police stormed the clearing, shot rubber ammunition into the air, and injured several The visitors noted with interest that the church and people, some seriously. One such person is Jose the theological seminary were the only public Galarza. The small white truck was confiscated. ■ places where portraits of the leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il could not be seen on any wall. Another characteristic of Christian gatherings seems to be that members of the congregation remove the omnipresent badges with the face of A visit to Christians in the »dear leader« from the lapels of their coats or North Korea jackets before entering the church.

At the invitation of the Korean Christian Federation There are obviously no particular activities for chil- (KCF), the EKD’s Asia Secretary Rev Paul Oppenheim dren or young people, nor was any meeting or serv- visited the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea ice advertised in the vicinity of the church. The del- (DPRK) together with a delegation of the Protestant egation also had a meeting in the smaller Chilgok Korean Association in Germany in May 2005. church and attended a weekday gathering of a In his welcoming address the KCF’s Chairman Rev house church on the third floor of a block of flats. Kang Yong Sop stressed the very special relationship The house church group described its type of serv- that has developed between the KCF and the ice as the normal form of Christian life in North Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) who have Korea ever since nearly all church buildings were hosted North-Korean delegations in 1989, 1997, destroyed by bombs during the Korean War. They 2001 and 2004. During their visits to Germany KCF insisted that there were no theological differences representatives had always met with delegations between those who met in the two existing church from churches in South Korean. Another such buildings and those who gather in one of the 500 encounter, organized by the Evangelical Church of house-churches affiliated to the KCF. Generally the Hesse and Nassau (EKHN), will take place in group meets to watch a video of a sermon or pres- Frankfurt in October 2005. It will be attended by a entation from South Korea. The hymns are taken KCF delegation as well as by Presbyterians from from the same traditional hymnal used in the Kwangju District in South Korea. churches.

uring its visit to North Korea the delegation The visitors gained the impression that those who from Germany attended a worship service on are allowed to attend official church gatherings all 18 D Sunday morning as well as a weekday meet- come from traditional Christian families. There were ing of a house church group. The Sunday morning no signs of missionary activity. According to KCF service held at the Bongsu Protestant Church in staff the main problem for Christians in North ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Korea is the fact that their religion is associated with the USA and its hostile attitude toward North Korea. Social programmes and humanitarian aid channelled through the KCF help improve the image of Christians in society. A Christian bakery and a noodle factory, which distribute their products free of charge to educational institutions are funded by various Churches abroad. Such humanitarian action, along with certain development projects run openly by foreign Christian organizations apparently meet with the approval of the government.

n spite of some timid attempts at free-market economy the country seems paralyzed. Its ideo- logical and political isolation has brought the I The people of Akoradji are waiting for millet. economy to a standstill. The determination of (Photo: Daniel Auf der Mauer/HEKS) Christians around the world not to abandon the population of North Korea to its fate finds its expression in many different ways. The regular on foot from a village 30 kilometres away to be financial support which Koreans living in Germany with her in the city, because there was nothing left give to the KCF as well as the EKD’s links with the to eat in the countryside. Undernourished and ill KCF and the Churches of South Korea are examples from eating wild plants on a daily basis, the young for their commitment to the process of peaceful woman was taken with stomach pains to a clinic reunification of Korea. ■ and died there shortly thereafter.

ishatou Aboubakar’s four other daughters have also come to her, seeking refuge. She Niger: no reprieve from the A said, »Now seven of us live together in one room, and we share what we have.« The urban pop- hunger crisis – »We share ulation is also suffering from hunger. Most people have long since sold their animals and belongings, what we have« including their furniture, in order to have money for food. Aishatou Aboubakar and her daughters are Grass, leaves, and water from rain puddles: this is fighting to survive by collecting edible leaves and what hundreds of thousands of people are eating to selling them at the market. »Thank the Lord we still stay alive in Niger. The West African country is suf- have a goat,« she says, pointing to the baby bottle fering from one of the worst food crises in decades. in her hand. God willing, she will at least ensure After drought and a plague of locusts destroyed the that her grandchild survives. majority of the millet harvest and pastureland last autumn, the situation in Niger has grown even Standing in line for a sack of millet more acute, and this in a country where even in good harvest years 40 percent of the children are ne can only make speculations about the undernourished. Although it now rains once a week true number of victims of the hunger crisis and the landscape is turning green, the harvest is O in Niger. According to estimates by relief still at least a month away in many areas. organizations, thousands have already succumbed to hunger or the diseases that result from it. A woman Urban starvation from the village of Akoradji, a one-hour car ride from Tahoua, complains, »No one in this valley has »My youngest daughter died 20 days ago, and now I eaten properly for three months«. Akoradji is one of am taking care of her little girl«, says Aishatou the villages now receiving relief supplies. Over 1000 Aboubakar. With a tiny, one month-old baby on her people gathered on the village square. Many of them back, the 62 year-old grandmother sways through walked up to 15 kilometers on foot when they heard the tumult of a food distribution in Tahoua, the about the distribution. The women said, »We’ve been 19 provincial capital. A month ago, her daughter came waiting here since early yesterday morning«. ▲

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005 Overseas/Ecumenia Worldwide

Action by Churches Together, to which Diakonie in Wittenberg. With this invitation, the EKD Council Katastrophenhilfe (Emergency Aid) also belongs, has is taking into account the plans of the CEC and of so far distributed 600 tons of millet with the help the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences of local partners in Niger. Five tons of powdered (CCEE) for the preparation of the Third European milk, 475 tons of animal feed, and 4250 salt blocks Ecumenical Assembly, which is to be held in Sibiu, will be added to that. In addition, 13 grain collec- Romania from 3 to 8 September 2007. tion centres have been set up. Bachir Barké Doka, the local coordinator, said, »We have now reached The CEC and the CCEE are planning that the Third over 80 villages with our aid«. European Ecumenical Assembly – following Basel (1989) and Graz (1997) – be held in a region where The future looks bleak Orthodox churches are in the majority. The Assembly is to be prepared in three stages: an ini- The work in Niger, however, is far from finished. tial meeting in Rome in January 2006, following Arachmat Uaissan, a mother of eight from the vil- which local, regional and national meetings are lage Iduk, says during a millet distribution, »What planned. The results of these meetings are to be worries us even more than the current hunger crisis collated at the pre-assembly meeting which may be are thoughts of next year«. Since most of the seeds held in Wittenberg at the beginning of 2007, in were used for food and the men have left for the order then to put the programme together for the cities in search of income, only a few fields have Third European Ecumenical Assembly in Sibiu. been planted. n his letter to Keith Clements, the Bishop he coordinator, Bachir Barké Doka, says, »We writes: »The Council is delighted that the run-up know already now that the harvest will be I to the Third European Ecumenical Assembly will T meagre this year, too«. Therefore, he says, the provide a further opportunity to breathe life into long-term projects being carried out in 30 villages the Charta Oecumenica and to strengthen the com- are particularly important. Wells, irrigation canals, mitment of churches, communities and groups to simple dams and natural fertilizers should help the the ecumenical witness of the churches in Europe. rural population to increase the harvest yields and Dean Siegfried Kasparick of Wittenberg, and Bishop better survive the drought. The aim is to expand the Axel Noack, Protestant Bishop of the Evangelical projects to other villages, explains Bachir Barké Church of the Province of Saxony – which includes Doka, »because we can assume that in the future, Wittenberg – are also delighted to be able to host the trend will be for less and less rain to fall in this important inter-church event in a city that is Niger«. ■ so significant to Protestantism.« ■

André Ruch/HEKS (Swiss Interchurch Aid)

Preparations for the Third European Ecumenical Assembly

Head of EKD sends Invitation to come to Germany

The head of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Bishop Wolfgang Huber, has written to Keith Clements, outgoing General Secretary of the Conference of European Churches (CEC), inviting him to Germany for a pre-assembly meeting for the Third European Ecumenical Assembly. The Bishop 20 writes that the pre-assembly could well take place

EKD Bulletin No. 3/2005