Evangelical-Ecumenical Controversy among German Conservatives

In May, waves of massive ecumenical events are being organised in Europe. The most impressive may turn out to be the event where 10,000 Christians gathered on 8 May - Together For Europe - in which 175 Evangelical, Protestant, Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox faith communities participated and declared the alliance of love in Christ. This event was celebrated by the organising bodies as the “first historical milestone of ecumenical movement in Europe after World War II”.

Another important ecumenical event is the promotional tour for Christian unity, which will travel to eight major German cities, and is being conducted by the German Evangelical Alliance - the 'Impulse Tour'. The active involvement of the German Evangelical Alliance in both events has triggered controversy between conservative evangelicals and the alliance over the alliance’s evangelical position. The alliance is being criticised for being “too ecumenical”.

Acknowledged that the “Together for Europe” gathering is a result of several engagements with Pope John Paul II initiated by some Lutheran and Evangelical Communities since 1998, Wolfgang Nestvogel, one of the theological leaders of the conservative movement, described a recent European gathering in Stuttgart as the climax of an evangelical cooperation with “Rome”.

The conservatives responded to the issue with a meeting of 500 participants in Dillenburg on May 15. Many demanded a clear separation from “Rome” and rejected any cooperation with the Roman Catholic Church.

The deputy chairman of the Italian Evangelical Alliance, Leonardo De Chirico warned evangelicals that the Catholic Church was out to embrace other churches and religions and bring them into the Roman Catholic fold.

General Secretary of the German National Association of YMCA Ulrich Parzany, a prominent evangelical leader, who had addressed the speech “Europe needs Christ” at the 'Together for Europe' gathering, was accused that his evangelical sermon had been integrated into the “ecumenical choir” of other speakers. However, Parzany clarified his sole objective was to proclaim the Gospel at a meeting with 10,000 participants from different churches and denominations.

As part of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), the German Evangelical Alliance is obligated to stand strictly on the belief of an “Evangelical” as defined by the WEA. Evangelicals are often characterised by their great emphasis on the place of the Bible. Gospel is at the centre of their thinking and living. They believe in salvation through the personal acceptance of Jesus Christ. Conservative Evangelicals generally consider the Roman Catholic Church to have “falsified” the Gospel message and to be on an “unbiblical path”.

Parzany tried to explain the responce of the conservatives, "some Christians, frightened by globalisation, are trying to fence themselves in and preserve their identity. This, however, was not in tune with Jesus’ prayer for unity (John 17)." This argument may have marked the point of controversy among the evangelicals.

Meanwhile, the controversy has affected the mentioned “Impulse Tour” in Germany to an extent. The general secretary of the German Evangelical Alliance, Hartmut Steeb called the number of participants “disappointing”. Approximately 6,900 Christians took part in the four meetings in Hannover, Hamburg, Meal and Stuttgart so far; four more meeting are to be held in Chemnitzer, Berlin, München and Frankhurt until July 3rd.

The Alliance’s chairman Peter Strauch was disappointed by the lack of awareness for unity among evangelicals. He was encouraged, however, by the responses of those who did participate. Almost all of them were grateful for renewed inspiration and perspectives for local alliances.