June 6-12, 2011
General Assembly News
PCT presides over inter-religious service in Germany during EKD Assembly
Reported by Fang Lan-ting
Written by Lydia Ma
More than 200,000 people participated in EKD (Evangelical Church in Germany) Biennial Assembly in Dresden, Germany from June 1-5, 2011. This assembly featured more than 2,000 seminars, workshops, recitals, Bible studies, and information booths. It also included 38 services and one of the church groups that hosted a service was PCT. Leaders within PCT designed this interreligious service and also presented their respective ministries.
PCT General Assembly heads took this long-sought opportunity to visit leaders from local churches in Saxony and Hamburg. This visit to Germany and encounters with EKD leaders was considered a stepping stone to closer partnerships between the two churches for various ministries involving missions, medicine, and communications.
The interreligious service was based on the theme “Spiritual Outreach” and it was attended by leaders from various religions and church organizations, including PCT General Assembly Moderator Chiohh Lyiam-Syian, PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang, Tainan Theological College and Seminary Professor Wang Jen-wen, Taiwan Church Press General Editor Fang Lan-ting, Taiwanesich Presbyterianische Gemeinde in Wien pastor Rev. Chen Chi-ying, German Benedictine padre Anselm Gruen, and Buddhist leader Ven. Chao Hwei.
Germany’s renowned pastor Christian Fuehrer who had led “Monday demonstrations” in East Germany at St-Nicholas Church during Germany’s candlelight revolution in the 1980s was among the attendees that day. He commented that the 2-minute standing ovation at the end was a sign that the audience was thrilled to be part of such an unique service.
To help the German audience understand Taiwan and PCT, a brochure and a slide presentation prepared in German were presented before the service began. Furthermore, Prof. Wang Jen-wen and Ms. Wu Hsin-ju, both fluent in German, served as translators during the service..
Two dialogues were slated after Rev. Chiohh Lyiam-syian finished greeting the attendees. One dialogue featuring Anselm Gruen and Chao Hwei delved into how their respective faiths taught them to care for the world and for humanity. The other dialogue featuring Rev. Chang and Anselm Gruen focused on how PCT and former Church of East Germany became fortresses for the oppressed and how the ecumenical movement coul enhance human rights, justice and peace.
The interreligious service ended with blessings and prayers for peace from all the religious leaders and Anselm Gruen later led the congregation in a final silent blessing for the world.
