07.02.2023

Coming together for Elections and Celebration

Left: Dyah Ayu Krismawati, Executive Secretary Germany Region; behind: John Wesley Kabango, Executive Secretary Germany Region; front: Annette Salomo, Chairperson of the GfA; right: Marie-Anne Halim, Deputy Executive Secretary Germany Region. Photo by: Martina Pauly, UEM

"In particular, the personal encounters really brought us together again. Being able to meet again live after such a long time, contributes a lot with respect to the good atmosphere. And that is the key to our intensive cooperation," concludes Marie-Anne Halim, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Germany Departement.

Early February, 41 delegates from the seven German members of the UEM met in Hofgeismar, the meeting place of our member church EKKW*. They deliberated on the topicof the new legislative period, set by the General Assembly: "The beam in our eye - discrimination in church and diaconia". The Regional Assembly constituted itself, got to know each other and exchanged first impulses on the new topic.

The newly established three specialist groups were staffed for the first time. They deal with the topicof the legislative period in the areas of "Education", "Mission" and "Responsibility". The aim of the specialist groups is to work on concrete assignments with a thematic focus based on the topic set by the General Assembly. The expert groups consist of one person from each German member of the UEM, as well as external experts.

The second major topic of the Regional Assembly were the elections to the Regional Board (abbreviated GfA) of the German Region.

In the GfA, there are on the one hand the delegates of the German Region in the council of the UEM, on the other hand additional delegates of the Regional Assembly, among them a young adult person.

Elected to the new GfA were:

- Annette Salomo (EKvW*, chair),

- Thomas Fender (ErK*, vice chair),

- Bernd Müller (EKKW*) and

- Dr. Wibke Janssen (EKiR*),

all members of the Council of the UEM, and in addition

- Sabine Bertram-Schäfer (EKHN*),

- Dr. Albrecht Philipps (EKvW*),

- Hendrik Meier (LLK*),

- Kathrin Steinkamp (vBS Bethel*) and

- Eva Thomé (EKiR*, youth delegate for the whole Region Germany).

We thank the EKKW for their hospitality and the nice atmosphere in Hofgeismar and wish the newly elected GfA all the best and God's blessing for the tasks ahead.

*EKKW = Evangelische Kirche in Kurhessen-Waldeck (Evangelical Church of Electoral Hesse Valdeck)

*EKvW = Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (Evangelical Church in Westphalia)

*ErK = Evangelisch-reformierte Kirche (Evangelical Reformed Church)

*EKiR = Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland (Evangelical Church in the Rhineland)

*EKHN = Evangelische Kirche von Hessen-Nassau (Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau)

*LLK = Lippische Landeskirche (Regional Church of Lippe)

*vBS Bethel = von Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel (v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel)