26.05.2022
German visitors seek to learn about Church of Ireland
The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson, welcomed a delegation from the Church Synod of the Evangelische Kirche in Hessen und Nassau, Germany on Tuesday (May 24). The delegation, led by the Church President, Dr Volker Jung, is visiting Dublin for a number of days to learn about the challenges and strengths facing Churches in Ireland.
The Evangelische Kirche in Hessen und Nassau (EKHN; Protestant Church in Hessen and Nassau) is located around Frankfurt/Main with 1.4 million members in 1,300 parishes. It is a united church with parishes in both the Lutheran and in the Reformed Tradition.
Dr Young was joined by Vice Church President Ulrike Scherf, Provost Sabine Bertram–Schaefer, Provost Matthias Schmidt, Provost Oliver Albrecht, Provost Klaus–Volker Schuetz and Provost Stephan Arras (formerly Pastor of the Lutheran Church in Ireland).
The group met in Church House, Dublin, and engaged in a wide–ranging discussion. They asked about the situation of the Church of Ireland and the impact of growing secularization on the Church and the Archbishop said that people often blamed the decline of the church directly on secularization. However, he suggested that it was more complicated than this and argued that we are now in Apologetic times, as was the case in the very early days of the church in the times of Justin, Clement and Origen and we need to make space and specific attempts at understanding to be part of society and engage with society.
They also examined the ecumenical relationships that the Church of Ireland enjoys and the Archbishop said there was an extremely good relationship with the Roman Catholic Church with a number joint events in Dublin & Glendalough which were echoed around the island. They also discussed the role of the Dublin City Interfaith Forum of which the Archbishop is currently chair.
The Archbishop explained the school patronage system in Ireland and outlined the Church of Ireland’s ‘Follow Me’ programme of religious education for primary schools. The delegation explained that in Germany the Pastor must deliver religious education in schools each week.
They also discussed the war in Ukraine and responses to it.