CPCE is preparing an initiative for the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in 2017: The Title of 'European City of the Reformation' will be awarded from 2012.

Press release 8/2010

In 2017 the 500th jubilee of the Reformation will be celebrated across the world. Following the example of the European Cultural Capitals, the CPCE is preparing an initiative to select European Reformation Cities. Some 20 cities spread across the continent are to present the memory of the Reformation to the European public under the title of “European City of the Reformation”.

The project begins with the coming General Assembly in Florence in 2012 and has a number of criteria as conditions for applying for the title. The cities should be of significance for the 16th century Reformation. They should contain local historical testimonies to the Reformation period. They should have a European aura and be adequately accessible for tourism. The cities will be selected by an international advisory body with representatives from the churches and politics as well as tourism and marketing branches.

The ecumenical dimension will be an important factor in the considerations. The project asks about the theological significance of the Reformation as well as its importance as an historical event with wide-ranging cultural impact. “500 years of Reformation challenge Christians to ask together about the significance of the Reformation for the ‘one, holy, catholic and apostolic church’,” says Michael Beintker, project leader and co-president of CPCE.

Note: An article on this subject by Michael Beintker is in today’s CPCE focus – free of charge at www.leuenberg.eu.

Vienna/Berne, 15th June 2010

***
At present 105 Protestant churches in Europe (including five South-American churches originating from Europe ) belong to the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE). Lutheran, Reformed, United and Methodist along with pre-Reformation churches such as Hussites and Czech Brethren grant each other pulpit and table fellowship on the basis of the Leuenberg Agreement of 1973. The Secretariat is housed in the Severin-Schreiber-Gasse 3, A-1180 Vienna, office@leuenberg.eu, tel. +43.1.4791523.900, fax .110 The CPCE press officer is Dipl.theol. Thomas Flügge (Bern), tel. +41.31.3702502, t.fluegge@leuenberg.eu.

15.06.2010 Thomas Flügge

Download the press release