50th anniversary of the Leuenberg Concord

Jubilee conference of the Protestant Church in Switzerland

3–5 November 2023, Bern Switzerland

“Seek the welfare of the city”
(Jer. 29:7)

How can we work together in
Europe? The ethical consequences
of “reconciled diversity”

We invite you to participate! The registration deadline has been extended
until 15 October 2023.  

Programm

The CPCE’s ecclesiological self-understanding as having “unity in reconciled diversity” has been strongly challenged by the political realities and developments faced by Europe today. From a point of view rooted in the Reformation, the Protestant churches cannot be content with an internal “reconciliation” within the communion of churches that does not correspond with broader politics of reconciliation as well. A large degree of disagreement prevails concerning political and ethical orientations and standards in the churches’ statements and actions.

The key issues to be addressed at the conference are to be: How much plurality can the CPCE endure and how much commitment does the CPCE require in order to carry out its sociopolitical mission in Europe? What impact has increasing nationalism and conservatism in various European countries had on the values of CPCE member churches? What unifying theological-ethical potential lies in the understanding of the churches of the Reformation?

  • Participants

    Rev. Rita Famos
    President of the Protestant Church in Switzerland

    Dr Sándor Fazakas
    Professor for Social Ethics at the Reformed Theological University of Debrecen

    Rev. Dr Mario Fischer
    General Secretary of the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE), Vienna

    Nik Gugger
    National Councilor, member of the Swiss delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg

    Rev. Dr Martin Hirzel
    Director External Relations, Protestant Church in Switzerland

    Dr Dieter Kraus
    Référendaire at the Court of Justice of the European Union, Editor of the Swiss Yearbook of Church Law, Luxemburg

    Rev. Dr h.c. Annette Kurschus
    President of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and Praeses of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia

    Dr Frank Mathwig
    Titular professor for Systematic Theology & Ethics, University of Bern, Theology and Ethics Officer, Protestant Church in Switzerland

    Rev. Dr Elisabeth Parmentier
    Professor for Practical Theology, University of Geneva

    Dr Miriam Rose
    Professor for Systematic Theology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Presidium Member of the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE)

    Dr Christine Schliesser
    Director of Studies at the Ecumenical Center of Faith and Society of Fribourg University and Senior Lecturer for Systematic Theology and Ethics at the Zurich University

    Members of the CPCE Southeastern Europe Group

  • Programm

    Friday, 3 November 2023

    5:30 pm
    Welcome address and Opening of the conference
    Rita Famos

    5:45–7:45 pm
    Introduction
    Mario Fischer
    The debate on European values with reference to Switzerland
    Keynote: Dieter Kraus
    Workshops on the conference theme | Break

    8:00 pm
    Cocktail reception

    Saturday, 4 November 2023

    Reconciled Diversity

    9:00 am
    Prayer service: “Seek the welfare of the city”
    (Jer. 29:7)

    9.30–12:30 am
    What unifying ethical potential lies in the understanding of the churches of the Reformation?
    Keynote: Christine Schliesser
    “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” – The ethico-political discussion on migration issues
    Keynote: Annette Kurschus
    Discussion | Break

    12:30 pm
    Buffet lunch

    Conservatism and nationalism in Europe

    2:00–7:00 pm
    How does the increasing nationalism or conservatism shape the values of the CPCE member churches?
    Keynote: Sandor Fazakas
    Response: Frank Mathwig
    Workshops on the key topics of the day | Break

    Sunday, 5 November 2023

    Plurality and commitment

    9:00–12:00 am
    How much plurality can the CPCE endure and how much commitment does the CPCE require to carry out its sociopolitical mission in Europe?
    Keynote: Elisabeth Parmentier
    Panel discussion with members of the CPCE Regional Groups
    (moderated by Christine Schliesser)

    12:00 pm
    Final discussion und collection of conference results with a view to the 2024 CPCE General Assembly in Sibiu, Romania

    12:30 pm
    Buffet lunch

    3:00 pm
    Worship service at the Bern Minster
    Opening of the PCS Autumn Synod
    Sermon: Rita Famos und Miriam Rose
    Greetings: Nik Gugger

    5:00 pm
    End

  • General information

    Conference languages
    German and English (simultaneous interpreting not provided)

    Costs
    Participation in the event is free of charge. A voluntary contribution is requested to defray catering costs.

    Event location
    Kirchgemeindehaus Johannes, Wylerstrasse 5, 3014 Bern, Switzerland
    Link to site

    Public transport
    From Bern train station tram 9 (Wankdorf train station) or bus 10 (Ostermundigen)
    to Viktoriaplatz, bus 20 (Wankdorf train station) to Lorraine

    Accommodations
    The Bern Convention Office has reserved rooms for participants at different hotels within the city of Bern. The rooms can be booked using this link
    for the duration of the convention as well as for the duration of the Autumn Synod. Accommodations are at the participants’ own expense.

  • Registration

    Please register via e-mail or telephone by 15 October 2023: Protestant Church in Switzerland, Marion Wittine, Administrative Assistant to the Director External Relations, marion.wittine@evref.ch, P +41 31 370 25 42

Flyer

Contact

Marion Wittine, Assistant to the Director External Relations
T +41 31 370 25 42, marion.wittine@evref.ch