EEA3 Youth bloggers

Fazit III: Viele Fazits

2007-10-10T23:13:00.000+03:00

Auf der offiziellen deutschen Seite zu Sibiu finden sich im Downloadbereich viele Berichte von Delegierten: www.oekumene3.eu/downloads.php (auf der Seite ganz nach unten scrollen)

Quotes of Sibiu

2007-09-14T12:58:00.000+03:00

I collected some quotes of delegates - here they are:

* Catholic delegate in the age around 50 about the passive participation:

„I’m back in school here“

* Protestant who was already a delegate in Graz:

„Nobody asked what happened to the commitments of Graz - not at any time in this week. Probably, nobody of the church leaders want to listen to, because then it’s obvious that they didn’t perform their homework“

* Young delegate about EEA3:

„If you did a conference similar to this in your own youth organisation, nobody would come a second time“

„What will you tell people, if you come home?“ Facial expression: Nothing.

* Methodist delegate about his experiences:

„I learned a lot here. Especially, how to make contributions in an undemocratic assembly.“

Fazit II: Pressemitteilung von aej und BDKJ

2007-09-13T09:26:00.000+03:00

Die aej und der BDKJ haben zusammen eine Pressemeldung zu Sibiu/Hermannstadt formuliert: Link

Travelling...

2007-09-13T00:15:00.000+03:00

As most of the delegates and stewards have now returned home safely, I have heard more and more stories about people's journies. When at the Assembly, after a long and hard day, one of the floor management supervisors asked us to think about the question 'where did I meet God today?'. It was a question that I couldn't get out of my head, and many of you will have seen it written on my hand for the rest of the Assembly. Over the last couple of days it's become clear that many of us met God on our travels. I offer you my experience as an example:

The journey had been a major cause of concern for me in the run up to the Assembly. I had chosen a slightly complicated route through an area where I didn't speak the language, and I was so worried about getting lost or stranded.

I flew from London to Budapest and was getting the train from Budapest to Medias via Sibiu. Through church, I have friends in Eztergom (near Budapest), Medias and Sibiu. Not only did they help me to get from plane to train or from train to train, but they welcomed me into their homes overnight. I also met a fellow steward in Budapest meaning that I didn't have to get the train alone.

On the way home I was getting the train to Bucharest and flying back to London via Frankfurt. I was again, worried about travelling alone and about the transfers, especially because I was so tired. There turned out to be a group of 12 getting the same train to Bucharest and 3 of us got the bus together to the airport. The others had earlier flights than me and I thought that I would be waiting by myself. Only to find most of the CEC staff in the departure lounge, with the Geneva office staff on my flight to Frankfurt. I then found that the English Quaker delegation, one of whom I had met just before the Assembly, were on my flight all the way to London.

Where did I meet God on my travels? Through my friends who offered me hospitality, helped me buy tickets and put me on the right trains. Through my travelling companions who made each step of the journey more enjoyable (thanks guys). Through each kind, English-speaking stranger who helped me when I was lost. Through someone noticing I'd slept through my alarm on the last morning and waking me in time for my train. Through the beautiful scenery that passed by the train window. My list goes on and on...

Fazit

2007-09-13T00:11:00.000+03:00

Was kam in Sibiu schlussendlich raus? Hat es sich gelohnt, für 10 Tage nach Rumänien zu fahren? Oder hätte man dieses Schaulaufen der Ökumene erst gar nicht stattfinden lassen sollen...?

1. Persönliches

Toll war auf jeden Fall, soviele interessante Menschen treffen zu können. Der Theologieprofessor aus Kalabrien, der Witze über die ’Ndrangheta macht, der Pater einer katholischen Ordensgemeinschaft, der viel offener ist, als man es sich von einem Orden vorstellt, oder orthodoxe Studierende, die der Ökumene total aufgeschlossen gegenüber stehen. Gerade die Diskussionen mit Menschen, die ganz andere Hintergründe haben als ich selbst, haben mich bereichert. So eine Diskussion über die Frage, wie wir als Christinnen und Christen von unserem Glauben sprechen und wie wir „Zeugnis“ ablegen von Christus (oder wie er es durch uns tut).

Ein anderer junger Delegierter hat für sich das Fazit gezogen: „Ich habe gelernt, wie man sich unter undemokratischen Verhältnissen trotzdem einbringen kann.“ Mir geht es ganz ähnlich. Obwohl man formal kaum mitreden kann, gibt es doch viele dieser Prozesse, die außerhalb der offiziellen Bühne ablaufen. Hier kommt es vor allem darauf an, so viele Infos wie möglich zu haben und zu wissen, wen man in welcher Form ansprechen sollte. Außerdem ist es wichtig, dass man nicht alleine ist, sondern sich mit anderen regelmäßig abspricht. Allerdings darf man auch nicht zuviel planen und absprechen, dann geht die Zeit und die Spontaneität verloren.

Gelernt habe ich auch, dass man nicht immer taktieren sollte. Eigentlich wollten wir Donnerstag vormittag einen Beitrag zum Thema Religionsfreiheit vor dem Plenum machen, er war schon fertig vorbereitet. Allerdings haben wir uns verkalkuliert, weil wir auf Nummer sicher gehen wollen und etwas die Spielregeln ändern wollten, damit dieser Beitrag in jedem Fall drankommt – das ging natürlich prompt schief. Das war echt schade; darbereitet, das kam nicht durch, weil wir zuviel taktiert hatten. Schade, damit hätten wir ein Thema angesprochen, das hier ziemlich tabuisiert wurde.

2. Die Beteiligung der jungen Delegierten

Wir jungen Leute (jung = junge Erwachsene unter 30) haben auf der Versammlung eine sehr gutes Bild abgegeben. Erstmal durch unsere gelben Mützen, durch die einfach erkennbar wurde, dass es uns gibt. Einige Leute wussten auch gleich, was Jeremia 1,7 bedeutet, andere schauten selbst nach.
Aber wir postulierten nicht nur, dass wir etwas zu sagen hätten, sondern wir sagten auch etwas:
- die Präsentation der Botschaft war genial – besser hätte es nicht laufen können. In dem Moment, wo die Stimmung ziemlich gedrückt war, präsentierten die jungen Leute mit dem St. Maurice Statement eine knappe, konkrete und nach vorne schauende Botschaft. Weil der anschließende erste Vorschlag der Abschlussbotschaft überhaupt nicht gut war, steigerte das noch die Wirkung.
- das alternative Forum, mit dem wir zum Ausdruck brachten, dass wir nicht zufrieden sind mit der zu geringen Beteiligungsmöglichkeit am Programm. Wir zeigten, dass wir spontan (am Abend zuvor) auch etwas auf die Beine stellen können.
- der Blog. Vielleicht war er an manchen Stellen zu kritisch, OK. Aber hier konnten wir unsere Kritik äußern, die woanders nicht möglich war. Und wir zeigten trotzdem, dass wir von der Ökumene an sich begeistert sind und das Voranschreiten auf dem gemeinsamen Weg uns ein großes Anliegen ist. Jetzt müssten wir nur noch wissen, wieviel Leute ihn gelesen haben. Viel Werbung haben wir dafür gemacht...

Ein paar Dinge liefen auch nicht so gut. So hatte ich den Eindruck, dass nicht alle jungen Delegierten an den gemeinsamen Aktionen teilnahmen, sondern eher passiv blieben. Auch waren die Beziehungen zwischen uns und den Stewards nicht so selbstverständlich, wie es sein könnte. Leider gab es nie ein gemeinsames Treffen, bei dem wir uns klar machen konnten, dass viele von uns ganz ähnliche Sachen wollen.

Was sollte man beim nächsten Mal also machen?
a) Unbedingt wieder einen Blog, vielleicht noch mit mehr Beteiligung und mehr Werbung im Vorfeld
b) ein Vortreffen, bei dem wir noch mehr Strategie und Abstimmungsfragen diskutieren (z.B.: Wer plant Aktionen? Wer schreibt Pressemitteilungen? Wer bereitet was für’s Plenum vor?)
c) Ein gemeinsames Treffen mit den Stewards – damit wir uns nicht als zwei Gruppen sehen, sondern als eine Gruppe junger Leute, die halt verschiedene Aufgaben hat.
d) Wieder einen Vortrupp hinschicken, die Dinge vorbereiten können.

3. Bewertung der Versammlung

Im Rückblick fällt mir etwas auf, dass mir im Vorhinein nicht so klar war. In Sibiu waren drei ganz unterschiedliche Gruppen von Personen, die alle denselben Status als Delegierte hatten: 1. kirchenpolitisch Aktive, 2. Menschen mit dem Ziel, ökumenische Fragen zu diskutieren, und 3. solche, denen vor allem die Begegnung mit Menschen anderer Konfessionen wichtig war.

Alle drei Gruppen mit einem Setting wie in Sibiu zu befriedigen war nicht möglich, weil alles drei miteinander vermischt wurde. Die Kirchenpolitiker mussten zuviel Reden anhören und widmeten sich kaum den brennenden theologischen und kirchenpolitischen Themen. Die „Ökumeniker“ bekamen viel Input, konnten selbst aber nur zuwenig diskutieren. Die Hearings waren viel zu sehr eingequetscht zwischen den großen Veranstaltungsblöcken. Die Begegnungsmenschen waren ebenfalls zu sehr zu Passivität verurteilt.

Eine Trennung der Gruppen – so wie in Basel und Graz praktiziert – wäre deutlich sinnvoller gewesen: Die Kirchenpolitiker hätten sich als Delegierte auf wesentliche politische Fragen konzentriert. Die Ökumeniker hätten als aktive Basis eine Menge von Veranstaltungen durchgeführt, so die Diskussion vorangetrieben und den Delegierten wertvolle Impulse geliefert. Die Begegnungsinteressierten wären beim Rahmenprogramm auf ihre Kosten gekommen.
Alle hätten auf ihre Art und Weise die Ökumene vorangetrieben, und sich gegenseitig befruchtet. So wie in Sibiu wurde jedoch keiner zufriedengestellt. Ich glaube auch, dass die Zahl der 2. und 3. Gruppe deutlich höher hätte ausfallen können. Beim Kirchentag klappt es schließlich auch, dass viele Menschen in Schulen übernachten, und ich glaube nicht, dass die Zahl der Privatunterkünfte in Sibiu ausgereizt war.

Insgesamt gab es so große Defizite:

- Im Plenum kam es meist nur zu Monologen, nicht jedoch zum Dialog. Wichtige Fragen wurden als wichtig angesprochen, aber nicht praktisch nicht diskutiert.

- Es gab Tabuthemen: die Frage der Menschenrechte, die Religionsfreiheit bzw. ihre Einschränkung innerhalb Europas wie z.B. in Belarus oder das gemeinsame Abendmahl. Auch die Genderfrage kam praktisch nicht vor. Ich hatte den Eindruck, dass niemand die Ruhe stören wollte. Dies wäre ein Risiko gewesen: Wenn man es anspricht, dann kommt es zum Konflikt, und dann weiß man nicht mehr, ob es vielleicht nicht wirklich mit Rom oder mit Moskau kracht. Ich glaube jedoch, wenn man die Ökumene voranbringen will, dann muss man auch das Risiko wagen. Metropolit Kirill von Smolensk und Kaliningrad betont schließlich auch, dass man nicht zu sehr um den heißen Brei herumreden und eine Art Kuschelökumene betreiben dürfe [Link folgt noch]. Angesichts dessen kann ich mir nicht vorstellen, dass „die Russen“ aus dem Ökumeneprozess an sich aussteigen.

- Besonders zu kurz kam mit das Thema der Einheit der Kirche(n). Symptomatisch war der Sonntag morgen. Zuerst konfessionell hübsch getrennte Gottesdienste (vom orthodoxen wurde mit sogar folgende Aussage in der Predigt berichtet: „Der Ökumene die Ökumene – aber von jetzt an sind wir wieder orthodox!“), danach eine lasche Abschlussfeier ohne auch nur ein wirkliches Symbol, dass wir zusammengehören. Das gemeinsame Vater Unser war das einzige, was hier alle auf dem Platz verband.

- Die Vorhersagen, dass es an Partizipation mangele, haben sich mehr oder weniger bewahrheitet. So gab es keine Abstimmung über die Schlussbotschaft. Man traute sich wohl nicht, die 1.542 Delegierten abstimmen zu lassen. Für mich ein eindeutiger Legitimationsverlust der Abschlussbotschaft.

Fazit: Beim nächsten Mal sollte man es wieder besser machen, ähnlich zu Basel und Graz. Dann werden alle Gruppen befriedigt, und vielleicht traut man sich dann wieder, die Delegierten abstimmen zu lassen.
Wem auf jeden Fall zuzustimmen ist, ist Bischöfin Margot Kässmann. Wer Ökumene will, der muss sich auf solche Versammlungen einlassen. Selbst wenn am Ende nicht so viel steht, dann haben sich doch viele Kirchen und Menschen dadurch verstärkt mit der Ökumene und den Zielen, die dahinterstecken, auseinandergesetzt. Auf lange Sicht kann das der Ökumene nur gut tun.

Pictures from the Alternative Forum

2007-09-12T20:09:00.000+03:00

Finally, I've found a scanner to publish the artistic outcome of the Ordained-women-Working Group of the Alternative Forum:

TV and photos

2007-09-12T19:06:00.000+03:00

Dear all,

Martin asked me to post the following:

Tomorrow, Thursday, 13 September 2007, 13.35 (Frankfurt time) will be a TV programme on the EEA3 (produced originally by ORF) on 3Sat - those who receive German TV, zap in! Maybe we can find a new videostar?

You can find some pictures Martin from Austria made here: http://homepage.univie.ac.at/martin.siegrist/galerien/eev3_sibiu/index.htm

Greetings (as well from Martin),
p

Home

2007-09-11T14:20:00.000+03:00

So having promised more news from the stewards before the delegates arrived, I'm only just finding time to post.

This morning I feel completely at a loss for what to do - there will not be 2000 delegates arriving at my house to say good morning to. Oh well, if I get really desperate, I'll make a 'SILENCE' sign and take it to the building site down the road.

I had a lot of experiences at the Assembly, some bad, some good but all valuable. I hope to post more about them in the next few weeks as I start to realise the impact that they've had on me.
Here, I'm not talking about the official speeches, the fora discussions, the final message. In that regard I am completely ignorant of the happenings of the Assembly. I was in the room, but with no time to listen. I did have a chance to interact with delegates, staff and stewards in a way that many of you 'in the room' did not, and it's these experiences I will offer.

For now, goodbye. And thank-you.

Bassa/Back and a very great ending!!

2007-09-11T02:46:00.000+03:00

Wow, the end of my Sibiu-journey was very very special.
When I finally arrived on Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) the only thing I had to do was to take a train to Utrecht, the city in the middle of the Netherlands, were I live. But, the trains were all delayed and even cancelled. I had to change my way of travelling and took a train to Amsterdam Central Station. Overthere, finally, after one hour I could continue and stepped into an overloaded train to Utrecht.
There someone began talking to me - It was Sharisa, one of the stewards, she came back on sunday already!! We thought this meeting was by change but.....
In the train we were talking about all the strange, nice, frustrating and beautiful things we experienced. Afterwards a boy came to us and said that he've heared us talking and he wanted to know more about Jesus. He was already searching to get to know more about the dead and resurrection of the Christ. But for him it was quit hard to believe it. He asked us about the Bible, he asked us why we would believe in Jesus and if the gospel of the crucifiction is really truth. He asked it !!!! So it was NOT BY CHANGE that Sharisa and I met on this train. He heared us, talking about different ways of believing in the same faith. We shared our faith, we were witnessing on that big and full station of Utrecht, in the midst of people who are not interested in God, secularised, sceptic about the churche....... We told him thatwe would pray for him. We talked almost 15 minutes and it was so, so.. good! Thanks be to God! A few minutes later, when I reached the bus that finally would took me home, I sat down and prayed. I'm really praying and hoping (and believing !!) that this young men would feel the love of Christ, the warmth of God to believe and to tell it to other people! This evening WE WERE THE LIGHT OF CHRIST! Even when an assembly like this is maybe not satisfying for ourselves, the talk about it gave us a change to be a wittness. I hope more people will ask us these questions! This young men was one, tomorrow there will be another in another city, and later one more, and more, and more... I hope this story will encourage you to stay firm and to let the light shine!

Lets pray and seek the ways of the Lord.
Have a good week - and look forward to tomorrow!
Marrit Bassa

"technical reasons"

2007-09-11T01:39:00.000+03:00

"for technical reasons" only St. Maurice Statement is available now.
the last will be the first ;)
it was not attached to the final paper version that delegates received and now is only one that is available online ;)

snow and rain

2007-09-10T17:56:00.000+03:00

Greetings from home. Luckily, the snow I only saw from above, but the rain is real and the cold is as the one in Sibiu: cold. But at least, I have more pullovers here and I don't live in a tent.
In my inbox there were some eea3-mails. Nothing is over.
Seehearread you soon.
p

yellow caps

2007-09-10T17:54:00.000+03:00

Hey all,

well, this is my first post here, and EEA3 is already over. I am posting from my home in Warsaw, Poland where i came back a few hours ago.
Hope you all have also safe and good journey home, and to those that are still in their way or will be soon i wish you that you have such.

Well, a few complains about Sibiu, but now it's so calm here. I am looking at the photos and.. well, i decided to put some here.
We should thank to those that made our caps for us. They were really visible (if only you were wearing them). ;) just take a look on photos on left. :)

/Julia

Bassa/ Leaving...

2007-09-10T11:50:00.001+03:00

I'm waiting.

I'm here, sitting in the lobby of our hotel in Ocna, 12 km from Sibiu.
I'm waiting for the cab to bring me to the airport.
While I'm waiting the sun is shining. I see the light.
But hopefully this light will guide me on my way back home. And I pray that this light will be there when I'm sharing my experiences and tell my stories.

Yesterday it was quit a special day. First of all it was the final day of the assemblee. With a good and warm morningservice in the Lutheran Church and the closing prayer on Piata Mare. But, it was my birthday as well. I celebrated it with the delegation of my church and some other Dutch churches and friends.
I will always remember the day of yesterday - to celebrate your birthday in the culutural capital city of Europe and during an ecumenical assembly - a good tradition...!!

Anyway, I hope everyone else will safely at home now. Or else, have a save trip. And as Catharina, Timi and I said to each other: we have to take our experiences home and tell our friends and everyone else...!!
I'm asked to start with writing a statement for my own church. I hope this will be an example for all the other young people who were here. We have to share this, (all the good things, but our frustrations as well !!!!) and let our churches know that ecumenism is more than just some elderly people listening to each other.

Well, thank you all here for sharing your thoughts! I really like to read all the blogs. maybe we can continue, to tell what we are doing at home?
Anyway, goodbye for now. Next time? In Jerusalem?

Marrit Bassa

still in sibiu

2007-09-09T16:13:00.000+03:00

Dear all who are travelling -

we wish you a safe journey back, would be good to hear about some implementations or follow-ups or reactions of / on the Assembly of different organisations and Churches.

We are still staying until this night when stepping on too the night train to Budapest. Looking forward to read you.

Who is the final Assembly video star?

p

livingroom

2007-09-09T13:30:00.000+03:00

Hey there -

over. The Assembly's over, the tensions are over, I'm over, over.
Strange, to still sit in the Youth Café, where we first sat Saturday one week ago. Intbeween a lot of things happened but still, I cannot recall a lot of them, just the flash of experiences. Of course, I remember fun (a lot) and quarrel (a lot as well and a lot was due to not talking not due to talking unfortunately), but at the moment - over.
But I feel that a lot of things are still working in my head, they will come in detail and will be part of my personal follow up. Evaluating the youth participation for example. Extending the Ecumenical Network. and and and

Catharina just mentioned, that after this week in Casa Teutsch she nearly feels at home and like in a living room. No more video, but stars of these days: the very nice people in the youth café who had a lot of work with us, but maybe as well had some fun. Thanks for giving us space for hearings and the alternative forum, wireless internet access, coffee and silence. A nice aspect to take home: the guarantee to have a living room in Sibiu.

p

Appealing participation

2007-09-08T21:08:00.001+03:00

Recommendation four of the final statement of the Sibiu Assembly says: "We recommend the full participation of the whole people of God and, at this Assembly at particular, note the appeal of young people, the elderly, ethnic minorities and disabled people."

Let's see: "the full participation of the whole people of God" is recommended. I hereby congratulate to this insight. Would have been better to include this already in the preparation of the Assembly. But at least, it can be kept in mind from tomorrow on. Let's be optimistic and stay critically appealing.

p

VideoSTAR

2007-09-08T21:00:00.000+03:00

...of today: Mary Judkins.
When reflecting the EEA3 she (whilst wearing a yellow cap - of course) asked the Assembly whether the delegates were ready to receive and welcome the precious gifts young adults are offering. She - for her point of view - strongly recommended this.
So - are the delegates ready?

But thank you very much, Mary.
p

"Peace and reconciliation in South Caucasus" didn't happen

2007-09-08T18:43:00.000+03:00

Petra remembered me to write something about the hearing on peace and reconciliation in South Caucasus organised by the Armenian church yesterday evening. It should take part in the Orthodox Faculty. The interested people already were in the room, when a steward came in: "Sorry for waiting, we still have to convince the Armenians to conduct the hearing." Already very strange: Why didn't they want to do it? Which doubts did they have? Which pressure was exerted on them?
5min later the steward returned: "Unfortunately, they won't do it." Very sad, because I was very interested in the theme.

What I heard afterwards: The Romanians (Orthodox Church) didn't want to allow the hearing, because they needed the room. I couldn't believe that this is the reason. Either that was not hospitable, or there were still some more reasons.
In either case, there are a lot of mysteries in the Assembly - a sign for the hidden political processes which exist not only in politics, but also within the churches.

Congratulations!

2007-09-08T18:27:00.001+03:00

Greetings from the plenary hall, where the final message of the Assembly has just been presented. I'm happy to announce just briefly that the Youth message from St. Maurice is appended to the final message. This is a very good signal that the Ecumenical movement hasn't fallen to cynicism and still has courage to take a strong stand!

More reflections later, but for now CONGRATULATIONS EEA3!
:)

Success

2007-09-08T18:25:00.000+03:00

Our St. Maurice Statement will be attached to the Assembly Message as an appendix. This was what the drafting committee said at the presentation of the Assembly Message.

I think, we can be a little bit proud of us. Because our work in St.Maurice was ennobled by this assembly. This shows that it is worth to work hard on such documents, argue about all small words and nuances.

But nevertheless, the Assembly Message wasn't developed in a democratic way. We couldn't vote on it; we couldn't decide anything, we had to accept the decisions of the drafting committee. This thing we shouldn't forget.

Press release: St. Maurice Statement

2007-09-08T17:17:00.000+03:00

Young delegates of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly
Sibiu/Romania, 4.-9.9.2007

Press release

Sibiu, 7th of September 2007

Youth Statement of St. Maurice presented during the EEA3

Today, 7th of September 2007, three young women, Julia Maria Koszewska (Roman-Catholic, Poland), Petra Schnabel (Lutheran, Germany) and Jooa Vuorinen (Orthodox, Finland), presented the Youth Statement of St. Maurice which was written by 40 young delegates and stewards on their EEA3 preparatory meeting in St. Maurice, Switzerland and approved during a hearing of the young delegates during the Assembly.

The young delegates stressed the importance the Statement should be given to in the Assembly Message. Different delegates of the Assembly supported during the reactions on the official first draft of the Assembly message. The statement of the young delegates should be taken as a ideal example for the Assembly message. One of the delegates even announced: „We should take the Youth Statement as the Assembly Message.“

The statement of the young delegates avoids having only superficial, but stresses on concrete commitments the European churches should engage in. So, the young Christians ask for an inter-religious dialogue process, which shall come to a similar result to the Charta Oecumenica, asking for the churches’ engagement for the establishing of an European Peace Agency and name the protection of Human Rights as one of the main tasks of churches. Particular importance is laid on the evaluation and further implementation of the results of the EEA2 in Graz 1997 and especially of the Charta Oecumenica.

For interviews and questions, please contact:
Christof Otto, +49 / 173 / 582 15 60
Tobias Traut, +49 / 163 / 820 86 00
Or just ask us. We are the people with the yellow caps :-)

Press release: Alternative Forum

2007-09-08T17:05:00.000+03:00

Young delegates of the Third European Ecumenical Assembly
Sibiu/Romania, 4.-9.9.2007

Press release

Sibiu, 8th of September 2007

Alternative Forum during the EEA3

An alternative forum took place in the afternoon, uniting around 100 delegates from all parts of Europe and media representaties who took the opportunity to discuss the first time openly with each other. The organisers promised that there won’t be „any lectures, no words of greetings, but real discussions“ only. The issues discussed covered also „taboo matters“ that had been categorically excluded by the organizers of the official Assembly, e.g the ministry of ordained women in the Church.

The focus of the working groups established was on the implementation of the results of the EEA2 in Graz 1997 and possibl improvements for a 4th Assembly in the future.

Different forms of presentation included also the joint search for an „Ecumenical Miracle“ and an artistic way of presenting the vision of a „dancing ecumenism“.

The participants asked to call for a Forth European Ecumenical Assembly, taking place within the next 10 years that must be based on the equal involvement of women and men and on the participation of grassroots movements in the preparation process and the design of the new assembly, as some participants felt like „delegates in a prison“. A further discussion and implementation of the Charta Oecumenica was demanded as well as the start of a new process of inter-religious dialogue that could lead to a similar document as the Charta Oecumenica signed in 2001.

The Alternative Forum proved the strength of the European ecumenical youth movement, involving young delegates from every denomination. However, especially Orthodox young delegates expressed their wish to be better informed by their Churches about ecumenical activities and up-coming events.

As a conclusion, a vision of the Ecumenical movement in 2020 was presented which included the expectation that „Churches live in a reconciled diversity“and recognise each other as churches.

For interviews and questions, please contact:
Christoph Otto, +49 / 173 / 582 15 60
Tobias Traut, +49 / 163 / 820 86 00
Or just ask us. We are the people with the yellow caps ;-)

----

Appendix – Results of the Alternative Forum

Working group: Comparing Basel, Graz and Sibiu

We ask churches to commit themselves to organise another European Ecumenical Assembly within 5 – 10 years. It should be organised in a more participative way, with a prepatory committee to ensure that grassroots Ecumenical groups are included. A consultation process should be carried out to produce topics for discussion throughout the EEA4 journey. This journey should comprise national Ecumenical assemblies, with themes of justice, peace and integrity of creation at their core. At EEA4 we would examine and discuss the past, present, and future of practical implications of the Chara Oecumenica’s commitments.

Working Group: Ecumenical Miracle?

Is there life after Sibiu? What is the ecumenical miracle we need in our ecumenical journey? Like Goethe was quoted previously in the assembly, we need big visions, which can make our heart move.
The „Miracle“ group was heading for a brighter future, a big vision we Christians share. What would be the state of churches in 2020 and what would be the way there?

Church 2020:
Churches live in a reconciled diversity. We tolerate different theological views between the churches and also among our own churches. The essential basis of faith is common for all of us.
Churches got one voice in a society in fighting agains injustice, for peace etc. Christianity shows itself strongly in our societies and the lives of individuals.
We live in Christian happiness, joy of faith, and love to our neighbours.
Lay people have a big role in a life of churches. People bare responsibility and every person is a full member and represents its church.
Churches shoгld tear down fences between different groups of people. There’s no need to separate people on basis of age, gender, etc.
While we recognise members in different churches to be full Christians, and therefore see the prospect of joining the same table in heaven, why not joining the same table in this life? This may not happen in this very moment, but theological discussions must be emphasized and slow movements towards common eucharist must be taken, implementing common eucharist occationally in ecumenical event, churchs days, etc. special days. The Christ is the one who is calling us to holy communion.
On a way to the miraculous vision we need etc.
- self-commitment in our churches to the aims
- theological agreement on etc. justification
- consiliar process
- common ecumenical events
- recognition of each others churches
Waiting for parusia and doing something already before that.
A small miracle for EEA3 would be, that the final message would be composed on the basis of the message from youth pre-meeting instead of the draft of the drafting committee.
Collected by Topi Haarlaa

Working Group: Youth

· The group agreed on the aim of improving the communication between young Christians interested in the Ecumenical movement through strengthening Ecumenical youth networks and Ecumenical youth organisations.
· The group developed the idea of an European Ecumenical youth meeting to get to deepen the knowledge of other denominations and to inspire young people’s enthusiasm on Ecumenism.
· Especially, the Orthodox members of the group wished to be better included on the European level. Also, they wished for more support by their home churches in their involvement in Ecumenism.

Working Group: Ministry of ordained women in Church

Drawing: „Without title“

Videostar of the day

2007-09-08T14:45:00.000+03:00

Hey there -

today it's quite difficult to announce a videostar. Besides the German Protestant "Archbishop" (there was a mistake and Mrs. Heider-Rottwilm got a new title according too the slide), there was not much on the screen. This is mainly, as the statements from delegates (yes, there were some allowed, concerning the final message) are to be brought from the floor and there is no camera. So, I don't announce a videostart today until now.
If there's none in the plenary for the final message this afternoon either, I will return to radio stars.

Enjoy. Rainy and tired and cold greetings,
p

The stewards' 2nd blog

2007-09-08T14:15:00.001+03:00

The stewards who work in the press office now write in the EEA3-blog of Jane Stranz.
Take a look: Grace, Rita, Andrea, Natalka, Christelle, Eva-Liisa, Monica

Neulich beim Frühstück

2007-09-08T13:43:00.001+03:00

Bei mir im Hotel sind auch einige deutsche Delegierte. Beim Frühstück hört man dann ja mal bei den Gesprächen an den Nachbartischen zu: "Die Jugenddelegierten sind auch nicht mehr das, was sie mal waren. Sie sind so professionell, gar nicht mehr wie richtige Jugendliche." Aha.

Also, was erwartet diese Person? Rastagelockte, palituchtragende junge Leute, die mit ihrer Gitarre schräge Musik machen? Angepasste Leute, die nur machen, was man ihnen sagt? Leute, die überhaupt nicht auffallen, schon garnicht durch ihre inhaltlichen Inputs? Auf jeden Fall hieße fehlende Professionalität, wir würden wahrscheinlich überhaupt nichts erreichen. Man freut sich über die "Jugendfolklore" und behauptet, die Jugend habe sich sehr gut beteiligt. Na prima, dazu sind wir jungen Leute (bzw. eigentlich jüngeren) echt nicht da, das wäre nur Verschwendung unserer Lebenszeit...und wir wollen im Alter unserer Tischnachbarn nicht genauso resigniert sein :-)

PS: Gruß an alle Landeskirchenräte...