UEM General Assembly 2018

Upon the invitation of three member churches of UEM, namely Gereja Kristen Protestan Simalungun (GKPS), Gereja Kristen Protestan Indonesia (GKPI) and Huria Kristen Indonesia (HKI), 68 delegates of the 36 UEM members from Africa, Asia and Germany as well as numerous guests will meet from 24 to 28 September in Parapat, the city on Lake Toba on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. During the study day of the conference the assembly will deal with the phenomenon of the radicality of faith in both a positive and negative sense. The agenda of the general assembly, which takes place every two years, includes the work reports of the Moderator (Pastor Willem Simarmata) on behalf of the Council, the General Secretary (Rev. Volker Martin Dally) as well as from the departments of the UEM and the three regions Africa, Asia and Germany. A forward-looking decision for the work of the UEM concerns the planned changes to the UEM constitution. These changes are important in order, on the one hand, to make the admission of the Rhenish Church South Africa as a full member, which was already decided in 2016, legally binding, and, on the other hand, to make it possible for the General Assembly to meet at regular intervals from two to three years, if the General Assembly follows the recommendation of the Council. In addition, the delegates will decide on the membership application of the Indonesian church Gereja Kalimantan Evangelis (GKE). The Assembly will also pay special attention to the official awarding of the partnership prize, which is already being awarded for the second time. In the run-up to the assembly, female delegates and young adults will be prepared for the themes and procedures of the assembly at their own pre-assemblies. Their recommendations will also be presented to the plenary. The international conference will also be used for regional meetings of delegates from Africa, Asia and Germany as well as for meetings of the Council. In addition to the official meeting agenda, assembly participants will also have the opportunity to get to know the three host churches through a reception and Sunday worship services. Dr Martina Pauly