The Kirchentag has a long tradition of faith, encounter, and commitment to the most pressing issues of our time. Our team was honored to be part of this extraordinary event, sharing our commitment and learning from other initiatives on various panels and workshops.
In addition to our own workshops on the topics “How does climate activism actually work as a Christian? – An invitation to a burst of courage” and “Voice of justice and hope – Global charity in times of climate change,” team members also participated in several panel discussions. Our main focus was the question of how our faith empowers us to be active participants in the fight against climate change. The Kirchentag offered a unique opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people and encourage each other to deepen our commitment to the earth.
A particularly captivating topic was addressed on the panel “Mysticism and Commitment: The Peace-Promoting Power of Christian and Islamic Mysticism.” Here, the panelists Cheikh Khaled Bentounès (spiritual teacher of the Alawiyya-Darqawiyya-Shadhiliyya order), Frère Jérémie (Taizé Community), Feride Funda G.-Gençaslan (Chair of the Sufi Center Rabbaniyya and founding member of Greenfaith), and Thomas Zeitler (pastor for arts and culture and climate activist) explored the spiritual dimensions of their own activism and mystical trust in God.
In addition to our participation in these events, we also had the opportunity to operate a joint booth at the Market of Opportunities in Hall 9. Together with our partners Tearfund and the Micha Initiative, we presented our mission, vision, and (future) activities. It was particularly important to us that our booth be a place of encounter and inspiration. Here, visitors could admire the impressive art exhibition “Art for the Climate” by Lucy D’Souza-Krone. Their works capture the urgency of climate change, the beauty of creation, and the interconnectedness of all creatures in a captivating way. One of our most popular activities at the booth was the poster painting activity. People of all ages were able to unleash their creativity and capture their thoughts and feelings about environmental protection on canvases and post them on our social media photo booth. The resulting works of art were not only an expression of individual perspectives, but also a symbol of community and shared commitment.
A highlight at our booth was undoubtedly the performance by the youth choir Sunrise from Bonn. Their rousing songs and profound thoughts and emotions about climate change not only thrilled visitors but also lent a special energy and joy to our booth.
The Kirchentag 2023 in Nuremberg was a celebration of faith and community. We are grateful to have been able to be part of this inspiring event and share our passion for environmental protection and social justice, as well as contribute significantly to interfaith discourse. The dialogue and encounters we experienced here will stay with us for a long time to come and encourage us to continue to actively participate in shaping a better world. We are already looking forward to the upcoming Church Days and the opportunities they will hold for us.