© Christoph Knoch, Bern

Press Release No: 10/26
25 September 2026
Brussels 

Church unity, young people’s place in the Church and the practical use of the revised Charta Oecumenica were in focus at the Conference of European Churches (CEC) Annual Meeting of European National Councils of Churches, held from 21 to 23 September 2026 in Bern in cooperation with the Swiss Council of Churches. Participants considered how the Charta’s theological commitments can guide cooperation across the continent.

Church representatives and young participants from Switzerland had a robust exchange about the revised Charta Oecumenica, sharing experiences of its reception and implementation.

Lea Schlenker, Co-Chair of the Charta Oecumenica drafting committee, said it should remain a “living document”. The revision retains the vision of the 2001 text while addressing today’s challenges.

Rev. Florian Schubert, President of the Swiss Council of Churches, called the focus on young people a “revolution” in perspective. He said they should be recognised as part of the Church’s present. The Swiss consultation also raised questions of hospitality towards migrants, relations with other faiths and peace within European societies.

Dr Peter Pavlovic, CEC Study Secretary, shared the outcomes of the Charta consultation process and emphasised the significance of how the document addresses “new technologies”.

Prof. Fr Stefanos Athanasiou, Professor of Systematic Theology at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, stressed that the Charta’s ethical commitments must remain rooted in theology and begin with Christians’ own openness to change. Prof. Barbara Hallensleben underlined the theological basis of the Charta’s social concerns, while Prof. Christophe Chalamet explored its call to church unity.

CEC General Secretary Rev. Frank-Dieter Fischbach called for the European dimension of the Charta to be retained as it is received nationally and locally.

The discussion emphasised that the Charta opens new possibilities for churches, especially the National Councils of Churches, to work together on key concerns in a changing European society. Participants’ exchange on the next steps for implementing the Charta offered ideas for further work.

Learn more about the Charta Oecumenica

For more information or an interview, please contact:

Naveen Qayyum
Communications Coordinator
Conference of European Churches
Rue Joseph II, 174 B-1000 Brussels
Tel. +32 486 75 82 36
E-mail: naveen@cec-kek.be
Website: www.ceceurope.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceceurope
Twitter: @ceceurope
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