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Some ten years after the fall of the Berlin Wall the European churches sent a strong signal of fellowship. The Charta Oecu- menica is witness to their willpower, „with the Gospel to stand up for the dignity of the human person made in the image of God, and as churches together to contribute towards reconci- ling peoples and cultures”. The importance of this task has cle- arly increased even more in the past few years.

After the horrors of the first half of the 20th century, the concept of reconciliation was for a long time an unquestioned strength of the European idea. All the more therefore we monitor with great concern the growing nationalism and hostility towards Eu- rope by populist parties. There is no doubt that the European Union needs both constructive and critical companions, both women and men. And it has a need for people who are willing to breathe life into the European idea, to meet up and seek to find sustainable answers to the major questions of our time.

As Christians we are called upon to contribute to shaping poli- tics, also at the level of the European Union, with respect for the dignity of every human being. We do this in the knowledge of our ecumenical fellowship with Christians over and beyond all political boundaries.

We can make a contribution so that reconciliation becomes possible in our times, by seeking to enter into open and critical dialogue also with those who lack trust in the European idea. And we will strengthen our ecumenical commitment with our brothers and sisters in Great Britain, should the looming exit from the EU become reality.

Therefore we join in our call:

Give Europe your vote! Exercise your right to vote on 26th May 2019 and strengthen the democratic forces engaged in seeking understanding!

The Charta Oecumenica finishes with a reference to the basis on which we stand: Jesus Christ, the Lord of the one Church, is our greatest hope of reconciliation and peace. In his name we in- tend to continue on our common path in Europe. We pray for God‘s guidance through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We also ask for His blessing

In Christian communion,



Martin Haasler ACK Schleswig-Holstein

Uwe Onnen ACK Hamburg

Matthias Tuve ACK Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Abromeit Bischof im Sprengel Mecklenburg und Pommern

Horst Eberlein Weihbischof, Erzbistum Hamburg

Kirsten Fehrs Bischöfin im Sprengel Hamburg und Lübeck

Dr. Stefan Heße Erzbischof, Erzbistum Hamburg

Dr. Heiner Koch Erzbischof, Erzbistum Berlin

Kristina Kühnbaum-Schmidt Landesbischöfin der Nordkirche

Gothart Magaard Bischof im Sprengel Schleswig und Holstein

Wulf Schünemann Propst, Ständiger bischöflicher Stellvertreter im Sprengel Mecklenburg und Pommern am Dienstsitz in Schwerin

Some ten years after the fall of the Berlin Wall the European churches sent a strong signal of fellowship. The Charta Oecu- menica is witness to their willpower, „with the Gospel to stand up for the dignity of the human person made in the image of God, and as churches together to contribute towards reconci- ling peoples and cultures”. The importance of this task has cle- arly increased even more in the past few years.

After the horrors of the first half of the 20th century, the concept of reconciliation was for a long time an unquestioned strength of the European idea. All the more therefore we monitor with great concern the growing nationalism and hostility towards Eu- rope by populist parties. There is no doubt that the European Union needs both constructive and critical companions, both women and men. And it has a need for people who are willing to breathe life into the European idea, to meet up and seek to find sustainable answers to the major questions of our time.

As Christians we are called upon to contribute to shaping poli- tics, also at the level of the European Union, with respect for the dignity of every human being. We do this in the knowledge of our ecumenical fellowship with Christians over and beyond all political boundaries.

We can make a contribution so that reconciliation becomes possible in our times, by seeking to enter into open and critical dialogue also with those who lack trust in the European idea. And we will strengthen our ecumenical commitment with our brothers and sisters in Great Britain, should the looming exit from the EU become reality.

Therefore we join in our call:

Give Europe your vote! Exercise your right to vote on 26th May 2019 and strengthen the democratic forces engaged in seeking understanding!

The Charta Oecumenica finishes with a reference to the basis on which we stand: Jesus Christ, the Lord of the one Church, is our greatest hope of reconciliation and peace. In his name we in- tend to continue on our common path in Europe. We pray for God‘s guidance through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We also ask for His blessing

In Christian communion,



Martin Haasler ACK Schleswig-Holstein

Uwe Onnen ACK Hamburg

Matthias Tuve ACK Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Dr. Hans-Jürgen Abromeit Bischof im Sprengel Mecklenburg und Pommern

Horst Eberlein Weihbischof, Erzbistum Hamburg

Kirsten Fehrs Bischöfin im Sprengel Hamburg und Lübeck

Dr. Stefan Heße Erzbischof, Erzbistum Hamburg

Dr. Heiner Koch Erzbischof, Erzbistum Berlin

Kristina Kühnbaum-Schmidt Landesbischöfin der Nordkirche

Gothart Magaard Bischof im Sprengel Schleswig und Holstein

Wulf Schünemann Propst, Ständiger bischöflicher Stellvertreter im Sprengel Mecklenburg und Pommern am Dienstsitz in Schwerin

We are encouraged to receive news of so many places where preparations are being made to follow the live-stream of the commemoration.  Please note that on the night from the 29th to the 30th of October the clocks in Sweden will be set back by one hour. Check whether your plans have duly taken this detail into account.  A very easy way to do this is using the following web-based server http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html  Insert the date, your place and "Lund/Sweden" and you will know your local time.  Please remember, the common prayer starts at 14:30 in Lund (CET).

I want to also encourage you to visit the website for the Joint Commemoration http://www.lund2016.net/ which has been prepared for the live streaming of the joint commemoration.  You can also download graphic materials (posters) if you want to use them locally.

Please help us distribute this information within your church, particulalry in those places of which you are aware that live-streaming is being prepared.

We pray for God's presence during the joint commemoration so that Catholics and Lutherans find strength and inspiration to walk the journey from conflict to communion.

LELCA stands united in its grief with all who have so suffered in Nice, as children, mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, grandparents, and friends were torn from their hands and hearts.  We pray for each who struggles for their lives.  The innocent suffer, they had gathered with no weapons.  We know that there will be horrible consequences not only for those who are in mourning but for each that has witnessed that which no one should ever see.  What can we say to those in Nice who have experienced such terror?  At this time, let us acknowledge that we lack for words that would bring any real meaning.  Far too often we have witnessed such atrocities, in Dallas, Orlando, and not that long ago in Paris, elsewhere.  We have prayed, we must pray again - individually and in our congregations.  We must pray God grants them all strength to endure.  Let us pray individually and in all of our congregations, that God strengthen all those who have so horribly suffered.  Let us pray as well for those that stand with them and lovingly care for one another.  Let us give thanks for each that ran to help and still is doing all they can to help.  Let us thank God for the countless good people, who offered their shoulders, so that another might cry and cry in their arms.  Christ is in their midst.  He is there, where we are not.  He cries and stands with them, He comforts and consoles – through our prayers as well.  May you be gently blessed this day as so much good must be done to counter so much pain.
 

Yours in Christ
+ Lauma

This year, we face the largest refugee crisis since World War II in Syria. More than 4.5 million Syrians are registered as refugees and 75% are women and children. We also see the hope and strength of newcomers. As members of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, you know the importance of being in a community that not only welcomes newcomers to the United State but also offers safety and the opportunity to rebuild their lives with hard work.

Lent begins with a solemn call to fasting and repentance as we journey to the glory of Easter. We ask you to keep the journeys of the stranger in your prayers and to help provide refugees with the opportunity to below to a thriving community. Please walk with refugees by supporting LIRS with a donation.

Thank you for prayerfully considering a gift as part of your Lenten journey to the cross and resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning. Your gift will help the newcomers as they begin their new journey in the United States.

Yours in faith,

A number of Primates and Presiding Bishops spoke of practical initiatives already underway in churches and communities in consultation with governments. Primates acknowledge the complexity and difficulty of the crisis unfolding also in Europe. They recognise that many countries have made and are making enormous efforts in hospitality, aid and finance. Accepting the pressure on political leaders they called for prayer and support for them and for those who resist the destructive calls of extremist groups that reject all support for the migrant stranger and those seeking refuge.

 Churches continue to have a critical role:

• They are called to understand and evaluate what is happening and to provide spiritual and pastoral leadership. For example, when those who are already vulnerable are on the frontline of receiving those who are even more vulnerable than themselves, the churches must act to encourage and support such communities to meet the challenge facing them.

• Churches are called to witness to the distinctive Christian values of mercy, forgiveness, justice, reconciliation and human dignity. This testifies to the essential dignity of the human person and recognises that refugees arrive in an alien place traumatised with their experiences. One example of this witness is showing solidarity with those whose genuine needs and aspirations are diminished and who are stigmatised as enemies.

• They are called to promote a vision of relationships and reconciliation beyond the immediate conflicts and challenges. This is needed because the world should not become locked into a situation where powerful nation states compete for assertion and dominance, leading to hopelessness and despair. In Jesus barriers are overcome, giving opportunity for the mature and compassionate recognition of difference.  Power and dignity to the victims who seek protection, comfort and support as well as to the perpetrators who dare to change their action and dare to ask for forgiveness and reconciliation.

 The Primates also discussed the report of the Porvoo consultation on Perspectives on Economics and Ethics – Behaviour Under Scrutiny. They thanked the Porvoo Contact Group for a document containing key biblical and theological insights, important sections on human rights, engaging with the economic system and reflections on, for example, the Jubilee imperative that points us to ethically based economic principles and behaviour, the question of who is our neighbour and our relationships as God’s gift to us, so that there is life and the world may believe. Primates recommended that the document be widely circulated as an additional resource to churches to reflect upon and use as appropriate.  

 The Primates took note of the successful Porvoo Pilgrimage from Porto to Santiago de Compostela and requested the Porvoo Contact Group to explore ways of replicating this pilgrimage model to enable mutual learning and sharing inter-generationally.  The value of pilgrimage remains an essential part of the spiritual life of the churches.

 The Primates meeting was rooted in the Celtic spirituality of worship and prayer as a way of living with God, creation and our neighbours. It was hosted by the Scottish Episcopal Church that provided the meeting with insight into the aspects of national identity, the issues around Scottish independence and Scotland’s relationship to the European Union. The Primates expressed their gratitude for their warmth and hospitality.

 The presence of Primates from all Churches of the Porvoo Communion was indeed a sign of the gift of unity given in Christ being joyfully received. Primates were keen to encourage the Porvoo Contact Group to carry the Porvoo vision of being together in mission and ministry into the 20 year Porvoo anniversary meetings in 2016.  

 The Porvoo Communion of Churches is the result of the single most important ecumenical agreement that brought together a wide range of Anglican and Lutheran Churches who have been sharing a common life in mission and service for the past 19 years. The Presiding Bishops of the churches of the Porvoo Communion meet every other year to discuss matters of mutual concern, receive reports of activity within the Communion and to guide the future shared work of the churches.  The Churches of the Porvoo Communion, based mostly in Northern Europe, are Lutheran and Anglican Churches that have signed an agreement to “share a common life in mission and service”. The name Porvoo comes from the Finnish diocese and city in whose Cathedral  the Eucharist was celebrated on the final Sunday of the conversations in 1992 leading to the Common Statement and thus  to the Porvoo Communion of Churches. 

 The Bishops closed the meeting with a commitment to meet again in two years in Lithuania, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania from 12-14 October 2017.

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List of participating Primates and Presiding Bishops:

Rt Revd Peter Skov-Jakobsen, Bishop of Copenhagen, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark

Most Rev’d Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Church of England

Most Revd Urmas Viilma, Archbishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia

Most Revd Kari Mäkinen, Archbishop of Turku, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

Rt Revd Martin Lind, Bishop, Lutheran Church in Great Britain

Rt Revd Agnes M Sigurðardóttir, Bishop of Iceland, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland

Most Revd Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Church of Ireland

Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Church of Ireland, Archbishop of Dublin

Most Revd Jānis Vanags, Archbishop of Riga, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia

Most Revd Lauma Zusevics, Archbishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia Abroad

Rt Revd Mindaugas Sabutis, Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania

Most Revd Helga Haugland Byfuglien, Presiding Bishop, Church of Norway

Rt Revd Jorge Pina Cabral, Bishop, Lusitanian Church, Portugal

Most Revd David Chillingworth, Primus, Scottish Episcopal Church

The Rt Revd Carlos Lopez-Lozano, Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church of Spain

The Rt Revd Ragnar Persenius, Bishop of Uppsala, Representing the Archbishop of Church of Sweden

Most Revd Barry Morgan, Archbishop, Church in Wales (could not attend).

The website of the Porvoo Communion of Churches is at http://www.porvoocommunion.org/