Kirche im Fokus: Protestanten wollen Zukunft nicht Extremisten überlassen

Die Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD) aims to strengthen intergenerational dialogue amid profound changes in democracy and decisively confront populists. EKD President Kirsten Fehrs emphasized during the opening of the EKD Synode in Würzburg that democracy requires debate but also respect for political opponents. The church should not only debate populists and extremists but respond with a clear agenda of its own, Fehrs said.

The church will act independently of any party, but must be able to name injustice and political failings. Fehrs expressed willingness to consider an AfD bans procedure, while the church must remain in conversation with people who have distanced themselves from democracy, not leaving the future to extremists. Fehrs expressed deep concern over liberal democracy currently facing serious attacks.

Steinmeier is a guest at the 7th meeting of the 13th Synode of the EKD, which runs from November 7th to 11th in Würzburg. The theme of the meeting is "Together forward - The Church as a workshop for democracy education and intergenerational learning as a manifestation of lived faith." Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected as a guest on Tuesday.

The Synode is the church parliament of the EKD. There are nearly 17.4 million people affiliated with the EKD. Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, called for society to name injustice even when it requires great courage. "When someone speaks out, it makes it easier for others to do the same," Schuster said.

Teachers should intervene when students are insulted racially by classmates, and one should not hesitate to speak up against antisemitism in friendly circles, at work, or in associations. The Synode also addresses consequences of the findings from the independent Forum study published early in 2024. According to the study, at least 2,225 children and youth and 1,259 probable perpetrators were documented as victims of sexualized violence.

"We are not deciding anything new today about the topic of sexualized violence, where victims of sexualized violence have not been heard," promised Synod President Anna-Nicole Heinrich. The report on the Forum on Sexualized Violence is scheduled for Monday. This marks the end of the six-year legislative period of the 13th Synode.

The new church parliament will be constituted in April 2027. Heinrich has already announced she will not run again for the presidency. The president leads the Synode and presides over the Precedency.