Press Releases

In her annual report on the first day of synod, Irmgard Schwaetzer, president of the synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), referred to the new dimension of peace ethics. The current issues are only partially comparable with those facing us at the time of the Cold War, said Schwaetzer. “We need a debate on peace ethics”, she stated.

Opening the synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) in Dresden, EKD Council Chair Heinrich Bedford-Strohm called for a close connection between personal faith and social engagement.

Bedford-Strohm and Leoluca Orlando renew Palermo Appeal. EKD Council chair appointed honorary citizen of Palermo.

Civil society representatives send SOS to rescue those in distress at sea. Protestant church wants to send a ship.

Europe must stop people drowning in the Mediterranean. Not sometime in the future, but this year. A political emergency solution is needed, a Europe-wide mechanism for distributing those saved from distress at sea.

Everywhere in Europe cities, municipalities and citizens are very willing to assist. However, there is no Europe-wide distribution mechanism to accommodate refugees rescued in the Mediterranean in the European Union.