EKD Press Releases
Intercession for Christians under Threat
The EKD dedicates Reminiscere Sunday (28 February 2010) as the "Day for Christians under Threat"
January 27, 2010
For the first time the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) has called for church-wide intercessions on behalf of persecuted and oppressed Christians, giving a further indication of the growing awareness of the suffering of people denied religious freedom or subjected to systematic religious persecution. Individual advocacy groups and Protestant regional churches (for example the Württemberg church) had organized days for persecuted Christians in the past. The EKD church-wide initiative is the fruit of the decision of the EKD Synod in November 2008, with the active support of the Church Conference and the Council.
EKD Council chairperson Bishop Dr Margot Käßmann explained the need for a Day for Christians under Threat saying, "Religious freedom as a human right is of crucial importance for our churches. It is being curtailed and denied to an ever greater extent. Members of religious minorities especially, continue to be victims of massive oppression. Most people in Germany are unaware of the problem, but whoever has visited Christians in India or Indonesia, or has heard reports on the situation in Pakistan or Iraq, realizes how precious the freedom enjoyed in our country is. The apostle Paul urged us to work for the good of all, 'especially those of the family of faith.' This includes defending persecuted Christians through words and deeds and more importantly, by interceding on their behalf, and on behalf of members of other faiths."
The Day for Christians under Threat will be held every year at the same time in the church calendar, that is, the second Sunday of Lent or Reminiscere Sunday, falling this year on 28 February. At the beginning of each year, the EKD will publish materials for preparing and organizing the day, for example, suggestions for a worship service, models of intercessions, information related to a theme country, etc. The materials will be made available on the Internet and thus be easily accessible.
The theme country for 2010 is Iraq. Christianity has been present in Iraq since its early days. It is estimated that the 1.2 million Christian population there has diminished by half. Terrorist activities, political power struggles and criminal acts have hampered the exercise of the human right of freedom of religion of both Christians and other religious minorities, threatening their very existence. In large parts of the country, they are being driven from their homes, and their churches and church facilities are being destroyed by extremists and outlaws. The result has been the exodus of tens of thousands of Christians to Syria and Jordan and the decimation of church membership in Iraq, threatening the survival of these churches.
For this year's Day for Christians under Threat, to be held every year on Reminiscere Sunday, the EKD has produced guidance materials for organizing intercessions as well as background information on Iraq.
Hanover, 27 January 2010
Press Office of the EKD
Reinhard Mawick