At the conference of the German Society for Mission Studies (DGMW), held in cooperation with the Protestant Academy of the Palatinate and the (Protestant) Academy Chateau du Liebfrauenburg in Liebfrauenberg, Alsace, from September 20 to 22, 2012, under the title “Pluralistic Theology of Religion: Dead End – Challenge – Shared Commitment?”, the chairman of the Working Group for Evangelical Missiology of the German Evangelical Alliance, Thomas Schirrmacher, presented the ecumenical code of ethics for mission “Christian Witness in a Multireligious World,” which was developed jointly by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, the World Council of Churches, and the World Evangelical Alliance from 2006 to 2011 and unveiled to the public on June 28, 2011, in Geneva. Regarding the collaboration between the former adversaries, Schirrmacher stated:
“If one side does not question mission and the other side clarifies that mission is not a carte blanche for any kind of propaganda, but is always embedded in all other fundamental ethical principles of the Christian faith, there is a meaningful basis for dialogue.”
Schirrmacher also reported on countries such as India, the Netherlands, and Canada, where, in accordance with the global composition, the Catholic Church, the National Council of Churches, and the National Evangelical Alliance met at the national level, discussed the document, and then adopted it or adapted it to the local situation in their own statements.
This both establishes the topic of the relationship between mission and ethics worldwide and enables a new breadth of ecumenical meetings at the national level as well.
The Code of Ethics also played a role on the sidelines of the Catholic Church’s synod, as the three global bodies held discussions on how the Code can be updated and what further joint statements should be addressed. Following the discussions, Schirrmacher stated that it was gratifying that the first joint declaration would not be a flash in the pan, but would have a global impact and lead to further declarations on other pressing issues.
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- Photo 1: Schirrmacher during the lecture
- Photo 2: View from the plenary hall