21.03.2024

Time to Deploy Resources

Dealing with it lovingly and kind, but never veiling the truth: Sarah Vecera is working agains racism in church spaces. Photo by: Lara Diederich Fotodesign

26 per cent of all adults and 40 per cent of all primary school children in Germany experience racial discrimination. This is the result of the 2022 microcensus. However, churches in Germany are still predominantly characterised by white perspectives, with racism often only occurring as a marginal phenomenon or as an issue of right-wing extremists. UEM emphasises that it is the task of church leaders to include the perspectives of marginalised groups in particular. Today, on 21 March 2024, campaigns and events will take place worldwide to mark the International Day against Racism.

"Since the revelations of Correctiv's research, many people have realised the seriousness of the situation in Germany. Our democracy is in danger and not only are hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets, but more and more people are asking us for anti-racism training. I can't keep up with this high demand as an individual," says Sarah Vecera, UEM Global Education Coordinator specialising in racism and the church. "This year alone, I've already written more than 100 cancellations. It is therefore time for the Protestant Church to provide resources for anti-racist education and empowerment work in order to provide pastoral care to people who have been disadvantaged and traumatised by racism. The need is enormous and there are far too few high-quality programmes for both."

However, racism is not a German or European phenomenon, as UEM General Secretary Rev. Dr Andar Parlindungan emphasises: "Racism is a worldwide disease that we observe in almost all countries of our members, for example in the Indonesian West Papua against the indigenous population." Here, the UEM and its member church GKI-TP* are campaigning against racism and discrimination.

On 29 March, the UEM Germany podcast "Stachel & Herz" will present a special episode on the topic of anti-Asian racism. "This topic currently receives little attention in the German discourse, but is of great importance to us at the UEM," says Sarah Vecera.

*GKI-TP = Gereja Kristen Injili di Tanah Papua (Evangelical Christian Church in the Land of Papua)