Perspectives for a future Protestantism
At the May 2022 meeting of the Forum Young Theology in Europe 20 participants produced various workshop outputs on the theme of nationalism and cosmopolitism. First, they developed nine theses on inclusive identity in Christ. With a spiritual guide for worship and a lesson outline, the participants show how to put the theses into practice. Finally, they composed and wrote a canon.
We asked István Tasnádi from Romania, Juliette Marchet from France and Asbjørn Lauridsen from Denmark: What do you hope to change in your church and for yourself?
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We asked István Tasnádi from Romania, Juliette Marchet from France and Asbjørn from Denmark. What impressed you most about the theme of the conference?
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We asked István Tasnádi from Romania, Juliette Marchet from France and Asbjørn Lauridsen from Denmark: Why is it important for you to participate in the Forum for Young Theology event?
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Forum Young Theology in Europe met in Vienna
With much praise and fresh impetus, 22 young theologians from 12 countries look back on an eventful meeting of the Young Theology in Vienna in May 2022. The topic sounds rather difficult: „Protestantism between nationalism and cosmopolitanism“. Is there nationalism in the Protestant Church? „Yes,“ says Volkmar Ortmann, Privatdozent in church history at the University of Giessen, Germany.
„The Protestants are not everywhere as cosmopolitan as they like to claim.“ That has a lot to do with the local historical developments. Ortmann, who organised this conference of the Protestant Federation of Hesse together with European partners, knows that Protestantism in Europe shows many traditions of its own, up to and including nationalistic currents. „But,“ adds his colleague Mirijam Sauer, „language, nationality and identity naturally belong closely together.“ Thus, Protestant minorities, as in Transylvania, find strength through their cultural imprint with their own identity.
And because identity is far from being nationalism, the conference team developed the term „toxic nationalism“ and distinguished it from „national identity“: „We can’t help it, says Anna Lerch from Switzerland, „where we were born, what language we learned first and what costume we wear at festivals“, but she is of the opinion that we are responsible for ensuring that this healthy „national identity“ does not become toxic.
„The eu as a strong foundation for the churches“ weiterlesen
On 25 May 22, the third programme of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation reported on the Young Theology Forum, which the Protestant Federation of Hesse hosted with its partners CPCE and ZEO: „Not least because of their national church structure, Protestant churches are usually also closely confronted with the respective political leadership of their country, not only with regard to their positioning in the Ukraine war…“ Listen to the whole contribution in this recording in German language
The 22 participants from 12 countries look back on the conference in Vienna with much praise and fresh momentum. The date for a follow-up conference has already been set for 19-22 April 2023 in Sibiu, Transylvania, Romania. with the theme of participation and Protestantism. Further activities are planned until then.
At the Young Theology in Europe Forum conference ending in Vienna on 14 May 2022, participants dictated the idea of a network to continue after the conference. The young people want to deepen the connection between their churches on a practical level. In the end, a book is to be produced. The spokespersons of the 24-member group from twelve European countries are Vittorio Secco from Italy and Frederik Grüneberg from Germany.
Theses about Nationalism, Identities and Christian Churches
