"How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!" (Psalm 133:1 NRS)
Dear colleagues, dear sisters and brothers,
2022 will be a special year for the KEP.
We are confident that we will be able to meet in June for the conference with the theme, “Religious Diversity in Europe: Theological and Practical Challenges,” to be held on the Liebfrauenberg in Alsace (France). This is especially joyful since for the past two years all of us have had to forgo many encounters, private and professional, including courses and meetings, cultural events, and even in some cases worship.
We have greatly missed being together and greatly empathized with the people in our care for whom loneliness and isolation were difficult.
«Delta» and «Omicron» and all the rest can, we hope, soon be placed peacefully back in the Greek alphabet. Only with time will we see the effects and long-term consequences of this time marked by pandemic in our society and our churches.
That is why it continues to be important and necessary that we exchange our experiences and thoughts about this and the many other things that concern us.
The news of the war that has broken out in the Ukraine fills us with consternation. We unite in praying that war and violence will end and raise our voices in intercession for all those who mourn the loss of loved ones, whose homes and belongings have been destroyed, or who are refugees. May peace soon be restored!
Sadly, I have to report that our esteemed managing director Pastor Sönke Frost of Austria succumbed at the beginning of the year to cancer. He was both a reliable colleague on the board and a dear friend. We will miss him.
In an attachment the pastoral association of the Chiesa Valdese of Italy presents itself. We’re delighted that we will be able to greet them and the Evanglischen Pfarrverein Baden e.V. as new members this June.
In the name of the Presidium I wish all the pastoral associations and unions and all colleagues God’s blessing, both personally and professionally.
Verena Salvisberg, President