The last few weeks have been a very intense time with wonderful encounters and impending changes. A time with friends from the global ecumenical movement, from partner churches in Africa, Asia, Europe and the USA, with ecumenically committed people from the Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN) and other regional churches, from governing bodies and, above all, with the great colleagues from the Ecumenical Centre.
The occasion was the change in the office of Church President of the EKHN. In a church service on 26 January, Volker Jung retired, and Christiane Tietz was introduced as his successor. Together with numerous guests from the worldwide ecumenical fellowship and the partner churches of the EKHN, we accompanied the days of transition and discussed the future of our relations in a 4-day international partnership consultation from 27 to 30 January in Arnoldshain.
After 18 years of Volker Jung’s Presidency, this marks the start of a new era. This is linked to the hope that the global connections and ecumenical relationships will continue to be part of the core of the EKHN and its profile.
In his words of thanks during the service, Volker Jung emphasized:
“The Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau, …, is a church of great diversity – in the middle of Germany, in the middle of Europe, with relations all over the world. It is a church with close ecumenical ties: with the Roman Catholic Church and with many other Christian churches. It is a church that cultivates fellowship and dialogue with other religions. It lives with Jewish, Muslim and other brothers and sisters in the one great human family.”
In a Facebook post, the new Church President Christiane Tietz wrote:
“In these times, it is important to be in ecumenical fellowship with Christians from all over the world. We can share our worries and joys with each other and encourage each other on our journey as the Church of Jesus Christ.”