Left to right: Verena Hammes, the Council of Christian Churches in Germany’s executive director; the Rev. Christopher Easthill, the Council of Christian Churches in Germany’s chair; and the Rev. Kirsten Guidero, The Episcopal Church’s ecumenical and interreligious relations officer. Photo: Jens Haverland
[Council of Christian Churches in Germany] The Rev. Kirsten Guidero, The Episcopal Church’s ecumenical and interreligious relations officer, met this week with ecumenical leaders at the Ecumenical Centre in Frankfurt, Germany, which is the Council of Christian Churches in Germany’s headquarters. They discussed how The Episcopal Church can contribute to ecumenical cooperation in the European country.
“Cooperation between churches around the world enriches our own work in Germany,” the Rev. Christopher Easthill, the Council of Christian Churches in Germany’s chair, said during the June 23 meeting. “In particular, The Episcopal Church’s experience with structured ecumenical practice offers valuable inspiration as we continue to strengthen the unity of the churches.”
Founded in 1948 and reconstituted in 1992 following Germany’s reunification, the council represents 25 churches and denominations countrywide. Its members include the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Church in Germany (the main Protestant denomination), the Moravian Church, the Syrian and Coptic Orthodox churches, Methodists, Baptists, Pentecostals, the Council of Anglican Episcopal Churches and many others. It focuses on shared witness, is committed to justice, peace and upholding the integrity of creation, and advocates for the rights of persecuted Christians worldwide.
During the meeting, Guidero expressed interest in the resources the council has developed for local congregations and ecumenical initiatives. She also supported the Charta Oecumenica, a joint document from the Conference of European Churches and the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences that contains guidelines for increasing ecumenical partnerships among churches in Europe.
Guidero also shared information on The Episcopal Church’s many ecumenical dialogues. For example, the dialogue between The Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church is moving toward a vote on full communion at the Episcopal Church’s 82nd General Convention in 2027 in Phoenix, Arizona. The United Methodist Church had already approved full communion with The Episcopal Church at its General Conference in 2024.
The Episcopal Church is currently in full communion with eight other churches: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; the Moravian Church (Northern and Southern Provinces); the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar, India; the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht; the Philippine Independent Church; the Church of Sweden; and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria. In practice, this means, for example, that Episcopal and Lutheran congregations in Iowa are able to share the ministry of a pastor or priest.
During the meeting, Guidero highlighted the common challenges facing churches in Europe and around the world:
“Our dialogue with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria has shown how fruitful close cooperation can be,” she said. “We want to share these experiences and, together with the [Council of Christian Churches in Germany], explore new paths toward deeper ecumenical understanding.”
Verena Hammes, the Council of Christian Churches in Germany’s executive director, welcomed the international exchange.
“It is a privilege to hear first-hand about ecumenical life in the United States,” Hammes said. “We are particularly interested in learning about the work of the National Council of Churches in the USA and its current priorities.”