Our partner church, the Union of Evangelical Churches (UEK) is a united church joining Reformed and Lutheran traditions. Like all churches in Germany, it has experienced major changes in recent years, with the collapse of communism in 1989 and unification of Germany bringing new freedoms and opportunities, but also new problems. For the churches, as well as for the larger society, structural unification did not readily yield unity of attitude and cooperative action. Four decades of separate history and experience in communist East Germany and democratic West Germany resulted in tensions which remain unresolved. Unification and other factors have produced economic problems for the society and a reduction in resources for the churches, to which those in the former West are totally unaccustomed. Still, the UEK maintains its ecumenical outlook and commitment to progressive witness in the new situations in both East and West. In these circumstances, the value of our role as a long-term partner become all the more important as we continue to share mutually enriching experiences and perspectives in a variety of ways.
Pray for: UEK pastors, as they face ever increasing workloads, in helping their congregations to respond to unfamiliar problems.
The German churches' outreach to youth who have become alienated and disoriented.
The many partnerships which exist between our churches and UEK congregations and regional churches, that they may be the means of deepening the commitment of both partners to faithful service in their respective societies.
Smith, Steven
Germany
Teacher and ecumenical facilitator
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Smith, Lisa
Germany
Ecumenical facilitator
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