11.02.2025

UEM at the Regional Synod of EKiR

A Visible Contribution to a Sustainable Future: Thorsten Latzel, Wibke Janssen, Mothusi Letlhage and Andar Parlindungan (from left to right) at the presentation of the cheque.

Who's topic is racism? Sarah Vecera sees important shifts during the synod.

Paul Mecheril emphasized the spirit of community among the synod members: "You are credibly insisting on being nice to each other, because it is worth it!" All Photos by: EKiR/Meike Böschemeyer

From February 2 to February 7, 2025, the Regional Synod took place in Bonn, Germany. It is the highest governing body of UEM member church EKiR*. In addition to the 198 synod members, local and international guests from politics and society were invited to the meeting. The United Evangelical Mission (UEM) is represented with a mandate at the synod.

Green Solidarity

The ELCT/ECD* has donated a plot of land in the metropolitan center of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to UEM. A Christian center will be built there with offices, meeting rooms, guest accommodation and a café. Designed by Tanzanian architects, the campus combines ecologically sustainable building technology with traditional African architecture. EKiR supports UEM in this project with the "Green Solidarity" fundraising campaign, aiming for a goal of 50,000 Euros. During the synod, Church President Dr Thorsten Latzel and Church Council Member Dr Wibke Janssen handed over a first cheque of 10,000 Euros to UEM General Secretary Dr Andar Parlindungan and Bishop Mothusi Letlhage of ELCB*, Chairman of the UEM Africa Regional Board.

Bishop Letlhage, who was attending the synod as an ecumenical guest, emphasized the importance of the center for the work of the entire UEM: "The new campus in the Africa Region creates a shared identity for the African, Asian, and German UEM members, thereby fostering a sense of belonging. Here, all members are united in mission to serve the international church community together. We are proud to be members of this UEM."
Here is more information about the project.

Anti Racism: Things start to change

At the invitation of the Evangelical Youth, Professor Dr. Paul Mecheril from Bielefeld University spoke on the topic: "How We Can Talk About Racism." His aim is not to identify individual persons or individual acts of speech as “racist” and then remove them from society: "Rather, it is about understanding how we can address this violent relationship in a way that makes us less dependent on it in the future." Sarah Vecera, UEM Coordinator Global Education, sees change at the synod: “When I arrived today, I was greeted with: Hey Sarah, today is about your topic”. For 35 years, it had always been “her” topic. She had been the first Person of Color in the county synod, then in her job, then in the Church Convention Team. “Today I got an idea of this being not just my topic anymore. But the topic of all of us. I am really proud of my church taking this route in times like these.”

Regional Service at the Synod

During the Synod in Bonn, the UEM Regional Service was also present with a booth to get in touch with the Synod members. Living the international solidarity of the UEM community on a local level: this is the goal of the Regional Service in the six regions of the EKiR. For this purpose, the Regional Service invites people and groups to live ecumenical community together.

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

*ELCB = Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana

*ELCT/ECD = Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Eastern and Coastal Diocese