Ecumenical Peace Decade 2017 chooses “Argue!” as its theme

Bonn/Kassel (epd). The Ecumenical Peace Decade next year will have the theme of argument. Against the background of rising military spending, it is about arguing for an expansion of civil conflict management, the association Ecumenical Peace Decade announced in Bonn. At the same time, it wants to discuss the topic of freedom of opinion in view of rightwing populist tendencies, with the aim of showing the way towards a democratic culture of argument.

The ecumenical peace decade has been organised since 1980 from the third-last Sunday in the church year up until the day of penitence and prayer (Buß- und Bettag). Next year again, the ten days of action for peace from 12 to 22 November will feature panels, church services and prayers for peace. In 2016 the Ecumenical Peace Decade was under the heading "Traces of war". The organisers are the Council of Christian Churches in Germany (ACK) and a number of peace and human rights organisations.