Evangelical Church

Comment: Immodest the Reformation celebrations

In 2017, the Evangelical Church is celebrating the 500. Anniversary of its existence. There should be no hero worship, no denominational self-infatuation and not a purely German Celebration. Klaus Krämer commented.

The door of the castle Church in Wittenberg with the Text of the 95 theses that Martin Luther posted to have

So now we know how Germany’s Protestant churches to the 500. The anniversary of the Reformation by Martin Luther want to celebrate: without a coated commemoration of the theological opposition warhorse of the time, without too great an emphasis on the merits of the Protestant churches, not as a national event and a total of as Christ. Typical Evangelical modest, you might think at first glance.

There’s no question that what the strategists of the jubilee planning have come up with, and is anything but modest. Since 2008, the Luther decade, in every year, under a special Motto runs. Kind of a long “advent time” up to the big occasion itself. And to be celebrated over an entire year, not only quite modest.

Highlights of hundreds of events

It starts already at 31. October of this year, the so-called reformation day. So, the date of Martin Luther in front of 499 years in Wittenberg his 95 theses on indulgences is published. There’s a worship ceremony in Berlin.

A little later will be opened in Geneva, the European Stationenweg. He runs through 68 cities in 18 European countries, which were influenced by the Reformation. At the end of this station road, there is then in Wittenberg, Germany, the exhibition “gates of freedom – world exhibition of the Reformation”. In 2017 churches, organisations, initiatives and artists from all over the world will present in may, their point of view on the Reformation.

In March 2017, Protestants and Catholics in Hildesheim, Germany, want to celebrate a Reconciliation Church service to each other, including forgiveness please for mutual convictions and a gesture of Reconciliation, but is not, obviously, remove the lost unity of the two churches.

At the end of may 2017, the German Protestant Kirchentag will take place in Berlin. To which Finale, the conclusion of the worship service, meet in the banks of the Elbe at Wittenberg, an estimated 200,000 people.

As the final chord, to the actual 500. The reformation jubilee, the 31.October 2017 in the Luther city of Wittenberg to a Central service, with representatives from churches, society and politics. The latter, incidentally, have taken care of in a rare show of unanimity, the this can be a day as a Federal legal holiday committed, so a free day for all.

On the content and effect it is

In the run-up, it is hard to say what content all of the many events to be filled, what are the dynamics they develop, how they will impact the Church and society. Martin Luther had no idea that the “organize” Reformation would change the world in many areas, permanently.

DW-editor Klaus Krämer

It would be desirable that all of the many anniversary events to a largely secular German society, the Luther of Christian faith would bring. Someone who lives glaubenslos, it will be easier to play ball of events and crises.

It would be desirable, if pastors, theologians, bishops – would spit in the sense of Luther – in the hands, to the part of the buried foundations of the faith. Some of the Synod’s decision is more valid than the confessional writings of the reformers, the spirit of the time more than the spirit of God.

Desirable a motivation would be thrust at main and volunteers of the Church so that the good news of the love of God more and in a good, creative way to the people. Right-understood Mission should be a taboo, because it is a service instruction from the religion founder, Jesus Christ.

It would be desirable, moreover, when the now weary process of Ecumenical rapprochement would get through the joint Protestant-Catholic encounters for the anniversary, a new impetus. What divides is less the theological Foundation as much more the Church’s practice. There, where the shoulder-to-shoulder, it should be done.

The last of the great Church?

Both the Protestant and the Roman Catholic Church lose their Status as the people of the churches in Germany – if that didn’t happen a long time ago. Together, they represent now less than two-thirds of the total population. Tendency: falling. In view of this, the question of whether it will in future give at all in such a large religious Festival in the Format of “Reformation in 2017”. The policy met the churches at eye level. The churches can say out their views freely. Nor their representatives shall be consulted in the society’s Discus. Still, one can speak about the Christian Faith in our country. These opportunities to take advantage of it – especially with a view to the anniversary of the “500 years of Reformation”. And in all immodesty.

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