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Synod sets migration and flight as a key topic

The main topic for next year's meeting of the Synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) is "Migration, Flight, Human Rights". Four resolutions on this topic have already been passed this year, said the President of the Synod, Anna-Nicole Heinrich, on Wednesday. Specifically, it was...

Annette Kurschus, Chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), speaks at a....aussiedlerbote.de
Annette Kurschus, Chair of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), speaks at a podium. Photo.aussiedlerbote.de

Church - Synod sets migration and flight as a key topic

The main topic for next year's meeting of the Synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) is "Migration, Flight, Human Rights". Four resolutions on this topic have already been passed this year, said the President of the Synod, Anna-Nicole Heinrich, on Wednesday. Specifically, it was proposed that independent deportation monitoring at airports be provided for by law. The Synod also advocates strengthening and accelerating family reunification and opposing the criminalization of sea rescue. A resolution on the reform of the European asylum system was also passed.

"These are the foundations and topics that we will then continue to work on in suitable formats at the next synod," announced Heinrich. A new EKD Council Chairperson is also to be elected at the meeting at the end of 2024. The previous highest representative of Protestants in Germany, Annette Kurschus, resigned as Chair of the EKD Council and President of the Regional Church of Westphalia on November 20. The background to this were allegations made in a newspaper report that she had known many years ago of suspected sexual assault against a former church employee in the Siegen church district.

Kurschus denies the allegations, but said that she did not want to harm those affected by sexualized violence with headlines by remaining in office. The church parliament intends to critically examine the circumstances surrounding her resignation in the coming weeks.

According to the EKD, the synod meeting in Ulm was interrupted on November 15 due to the announced warning strike at Deutsche Bahn. The EKD, with its administrative headquarters in Hanover, is the communion of 20 regional churches to which 19.2 million Protestant Christians belong.

4th session of the 13th Synod of the EKD

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Source: www.stern.de

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