U.S. and German church leaders gather to strengthen their ecumenical witness

In a changing world fraught with political divisiveness, leaders from the United Church of Christ and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) met in Washington D.C. the week of May 27 to strengthen their witness to God who changes not.

UCC General Minister and President Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson called the gathering “timely and needed” as both parties “plan for deepening the ecumenical witness of Kirchengemeinschaft” — meaning “common communion” or “church fellowship.”

The UCC General Synod declared a relationship of Kirchengemeinschaft in 1980-81 with the then Evangelical Church of the Union. This was the home church of early German American settlers who would later establish the Evangelical Synod of the United States, one of the branches on the UCC family tree.

Four decades later, the communion remains not only strong, but increasingly vital to UCC Conferences and Landeskirchen (EKD regional churches) as the challenges of racism, Christian nationalism, wars and conflicts, coupled with the ongoing work of revitalizing dwindling congregations, are shared both sides of the ocean.

“There are many synergies with the modern German church and the UCC, and many points of common interests,” said the Rev. Martha Koenig Stone, senior pastor, Henrietta United Church of Christ, Henrietta, N.Y.

Koenig Stone pointed not only to European migration which has led the EKD to becoming more diverse, but also to the continuing conversation for both groups on how to be authentically welcoming in an increasingly multicultural world.

“We have insights that can be instructional for our German siblings as well as many things we can learn from their experiences,” she said, adding too that the “common communion” goes beyond sharing of knowledge and experiences.

“There have been many German pastors who have done a year of field ed, called a Vikariet, in UCC congregations. And when floods struck our area, EKD sent financial support to assist in the clean up,” said Koenig Stone.

Thompson would call these examples “signs of visible unity.”

“This partnership held between our Conferences and Landeskirchens is one of many ways the church lives into expressions of answering Jesus’ prayer ‘that they may be one,’” said Thompson.

The shared challenge of Christian nationalism

Over the course of the week-long gathering, UCC and EKD partners strengthened their “firm commitment” to one another, said Dr. Peter Makari, global relations minister, Europe and the Middle East, for Global Ministries for the United Church of Christ and The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

“It was a joy to renew ties, to dialog on areas of mutual mission and concern, and to think creatively about the next steps,” he said.

The Rev. Michael Neuroth, director of the UCC’s Washington Office of Public Policy and Advocacy said he and his team were honored to host EKD Vice President and Head of the Department for Ecumenical Relations and Ministries Abroad Bishop Petra Bosse-Huber and the delegation from EKD.

“It was rewarding to finally be able to meet together in person and share with these partners the work of the UCC in the public square,” said Neuroth, noting how plans for this gathering began before the start of the global pandemic in 2019.

Among the work shared was the UCC’s “Our Faith Our Vote” campaign, particularly of interest to EKD delegates, who, like their U.S. counterparts, are grappling with the rise Christian nationalism and its impact on upcoming elections in the European Union and various Federal States in Germany.

“The rise of Christian nationalism is an issue we are commonly facing, learning about in our respective contexts, and determining how we can be a witness of Christ’s love in the midst of the hate and vitriol which accompanies Christian nationalism,” said Thompson. “Our work together in this bilateral relationship, as a part of the World Council of Churches and the World Communion of Reformed Churches, provides us with the opportunity to be a part of the ecumenical bodies addressing and speaking out against this toxic theology which is causing hurt and harm.”

‘We must keep dreaming’

The gathering ended with a worship service giving thanks and lifting praises for the long-standing partnership between the UCC and EKD. Hymns were sung in German and English. Prayers for the world were lifted, and a video featuring teen confirmands from Baden, Germany, sharing their statements of faith, was played.

Thompson preached from the prophet Joel, recalling the season of Pentecost that had just begun at the time of the Washington D.C. gathering.

Speaking on Joel 2:28-29, where we are told “sons and daughters will prophecy, your old men will dream and your young men shall see visions,” Thompson reminded those worshipping in person and online, that “we have to keep dreaming…we must keep dreaming…we must keep holding a vision for the future that lies ahead.”

With that vision in mind, Thompson and Bosse-Huber then signed a declaration deepening the UCC and EKD’s commitment to Kirchengemeinschaft. (You can read the full declaration below.)

The declaration noted how Kirchengemeinschaft “has embodied an effort towards reconciliation, peace, justice, and the integrity of creation.” It also recognized “that our societies and the world constantly present new challenges, and that the church is called to be present, to accompany one another, and to be partners globally in those times and places of difficulty.”

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