European Churches Have 'Enormous Potential' to Shape Globalisation

The Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) President Pastor Thomas Wipf has told churches in Europe of their "enormous potential for the shaping of globalisation", which he said was "far from exhausted".

Pastor Wipf made the comments during a platform discussion on Global Governance in Tutzing, Germany, with representatives from churches, businesses and the civil society. The platform was arranged by the Evangelical Academy in Tutzing.

He continued by remarking that churches acted on value systems rooted in society which offered long-term orientation on the basis of toleration and respect. Here the Gospel's "openness to the world" was central, he said, acting as God's promise "down to the smallest ramification of our everyday life".

He emphasised that the promise of the Gospel meant taking responsibility for Europe - particularly in the political sphere.

As part of civil society the churches should be aware of their specific responsibility here, he added.

As an alliance of 105 European Protestant churches, the CPCE highlighted its commitment to a Europe which practices integration beyond the frontiers of the EU and takes care of minorities and social outcasts. To mark the 50th anniversary of the EU's founding treaty, the CPCE published five "good wishes" for the future of Europe.

According to Pastor Wipf, the churches have the strongest network in civil society: "As churches in Europe we are committed to the shaping of a globalisation which is socially and economically sustainable - because the world does not just belong to part of humankind which has control over it."

The CPCE is demonstrating its commitment with a consultation in Bad Godesberg from April 18 to 20. Thirty young ecumenists from all over Europe will work there on the challenges of social justice for the Protestant churches.