World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia will speak at the 31st German Protestant "Kirchentag" in Cologne, addressing the issue of "How can religions live together?"

Kobia's address is slated as one of the keynote lectures at the gathering, and will take place on Thursday, 7 June, at 11:00. A questions and answers session with the WCC general secretary will follow his address.

Inaugurated in 1949, the "Kirchentag" occurs every two years, and is the largest Protestant gathering in Germany. This year, it is taking place in Cologne from 6 to 10 June.

Some 100.000 participants are expected to share in the discussions, lectures, concerts, dancing and singing in what organisers label as "a festival of faith and reflection".

Also on 5-6 June, Kobia participated in a religious leaders' conference organised by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) to coincide with the G8 Summit.

Taking place in Cologne as well, the conference had an interfaith character, and was convened under the theme "Just participation! Faith - Commitment - Responsibility".

The conference was expected to adopt a two-page statement on "Collective Responsibility for Global Poverty Alleviation" that will now be immediately forwarded to the G8 summit meeting in Heilegendamm.

On Wednesday, 6 June, Kobia joined an interfaith panel seeking common ground among religious communities. He shared some reflections on a "Faith commitment to poverty eradication" from a Christian perspective.