You see me; I see you

Roswitha Jarman reflects on The Kirchentag, Berlin, 2017

I was amongst over 130,000 participants at the ecumenical interfaith and interpolitical event ‘The Kirchentag’, in Berlin, which was organised by the Protestant Churches of Germany and ran between 24-28 May earlier this year.

The Kirchentag has taken place every two years since 1949, alternating with the German Catholic Congress (Katholikentag). These original purpose of these ‘days of the churches’ was to help Germans rediscover their humane and spiritually-based way of life after the horrors of the Nazi era.

The overriding theme for this Kirchentag was: you see me (Genesis 16:13) leading to I see you and we see each other. We wahrnehmen (acknowledge/take in) one another. The emphasis throughout was to accept each other with our differences and to engage with others. This was not only directed to the Christian community, but to all who are part of our society. At all the events I took part in the values and plights of refugees, asylum seekers, people with special needs and members of other faith communities were punctuated with positive applause.

Dialogue

What makes these events special is that so many young people are attracted to them and take part in all sorts of ways, from representing their church communities to being involved in civil society, and to enjoying football or the pop scene. I rejoiced that an important football match was embraced by the event.

Key politicians take part. They are not there to mouth party slogans, but to show that we are together in finding ways forward to vital issues of concern. They also stressed the need to engage with each other, to be open to dialogue and to welcome streitgespräch (a dialogue that does not hide differences or dismiss other views).

I heard Angela Merkel in her dialogue with Barack Obama at the Brandenburg Gate respond to questions from the crowd who were asking: ‘Have you fulfilled your hopes?’, ‘Have you made mistakes?’ and ‘What does spiritually mean to you?’

One of the answers was: ‘Yes, we do make mistakes.That keeps us humble.’ Both agreed that spirituality was important to them.

Young helpers collect questions for the speakers at most discussions. These are sorted by a small team and passed on to the speakers. I was moved by the intelligent and deep questions that were asked. Real issues were addressed and at no time did I hear nasty remarks being made of those with different views.

Engagement

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the new president of Germany, an SPD (Social Democrats) member and formerly a foreign minister in the coalition government, spoke in a large exhibition hall with good video projection to over 3,000 people. His theme was: ‘Ist die Vernunft noch zu retten?’ (‘Can we still save “common sense”?’) Actually vernunft is more than common sense. It means an intelligent understanding, and engaging with issues with both head and heart.

In this overfull hall Frank-Walter Steinmeier began by asking: ‘We are many, why are we so few?’ He said that we all have responsibility for our lives in a democracy. ‘Engage with one another, don’t leave anyone out,’ he urged.

Some of the other recommendations he made were: ‘Don’t see things in black and white, recognise the complexity. Be thorough in your understanding of issues, don’t go for cheap alternatives.’ We should let the Sermon on the Mount be an inspiration, he said. Most of the people in the hall gave him a standing ovation.

Another fascinating session was with senior staff of the European Commission who were encouraged to: ‘Let people know what the EU is doing, get young people on board, be open to reform’.

This Kirchentag commemorated the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation. by many events and exhibitions in Wittenberg, where Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses to the church door.

On the mile’s walk from the station to the town I went through the ‘European Roadmap’, an avenue arrayed with banners and positive slogans from EU countries or towns. The Liverpool banner read: ‘See the birds flying, a harbour, refugees.’

Reflection

Leaving this avenue I was invited to have a spiritual pause in a place with mirrors that seemed to reflect back to me the questions: ‘Who are you? Who are the people around you?’ I felt I should take time to reflect.

On the night of the ‘The long path of religions’ people were invited to the many religious places in Berlin. I joined those visiting the Quaker Centre in the Planckstraße, which existed there even during the Nazi and Communist times. I returned for the Sunday Meeting for Worship. Thirty people were present, including a few from the United States and a man from China, who spoke about the teachers of Chinese wisdom.

Should there be a European Kirchentag? This question was posed by a number of people.

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