Wider Outlook Works

Reformation and One World 2016

The campaign “Wider Outlook Works – Reformation and One World 2016” is run by the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, the Evangelical Church of Westphalia and the Church of Lippe. It forms part of the "Reformation Decade" of the Evangelical Church in Germany to mark the 500th anniversary celebration of the Reformation in 2017. The campaign is run with the financial and organisational support of Bread for the World - Protestant Development Service and the United Evangelical Mission. This invitation to participate goes to all church and municipal partnership projects and cooperative schemes at the national, regional and local level, including educational institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia. The campaign is directed at all church and municipal partnership projects and cooperation schemes at the national, district and municipal level with the involvement of education facilities in North Rhine Westphalia.

A warm invitation to participate

On 31 October, 1517, Martin Luther posted 95 theses on church renewal on the door of the Wittenberg church. In doing so, he called for all people to be granted access to education and participation in shaping the church and world. That is why the Evangelical Church in Germany chose the theme “Reformation and One World” for the year leading immediately preceding the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Thanks to our international church relationships, our three Protestant churches in Rhineland, Westphalia and Lippe are kept well informed about experiences of transformation emerging in different parts of the world. These developments aspire to change and renew the church and society, in the spirit of the Reformation. We warmly invite you to discover and share in such activity for renewal in 2016 – in and for our One World. And this on a broad platform, true to the motto a “Wider Outlook Works”. Join us in shaping new networks and increasing justice, peace and care for creation in One World. We cordially invite you to take part in this transformational work in your context: at the national or local level, as a congregation or Citizen; whether in partnership projects, public forums or cultural events, on a small or large scale. Your ideas, your creativity and your commitment are vital!

Why should you get involved? The Reformation anniversary and the theme "Reformation and One World 2016" offer us the unique opportunity to strengthen the awareness of people and institutions, companies and organisations that we only have one world and should take care of it. This initiative hopes to enable people to experience how each and every one of us can get involved in shaping life on this planet through their actions.

As Christians, we believe that we draw power from this Reformation faith time and again in order to contribute to resolving the global challenges and the crucial large-scale transformations in church and society.

2016 will see many different activities related to this initiative - large regional events, musical events and other activities, particularly in May. We hope to invite others to discover the diversity and wealth of our One World.

The programme will feature a large-scale central event by the Evangelical Church of Westphalia on the weekend after ascension Day, from 6 to 8 May in the GERRY WEBER STADION in Halle/Westphalia, the Church of Lippe’s ecumenical festival (“Kirchentag”) from 20 to 22 May at Gut Wendlinghausen and a big central event by the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland from 14 to 16 May (Pentecost) at Mühlheim an der Ruhr.

It would be wonderful if German congregations and municipalities could plan to schedule visits from their international partnership groups during the month of May 2016.

Shared highlights for the three regional churches in 2016 will be coming together to launch the theme year, a joint televised church service in spring, as well as a joint closing event in the forerun of Reformation Day, Oct. 31, 2016.

We are delighted to invite you to join in the activities of 2016 - in and for our One World. Bring your creativity and commitment to the planning and implementation of this year-long initiative. Many possibilities to participate include: cultural events, film, photography, videography, and music projects, Seminars, public presentations and meetings, to name but a few. All activities will be coordinated through a central calendar of events and will be publicly promoted.

The Protestant churches in Rhineland, Westphalia and Lippe will support your activities with back-up materials and suggestions, making contacts with speakers or cultural groups, etc. The three churches will also provide financial and logistical support to church groups for Iocal projects, based on transparent criteria.

The relevant web pages of the participating regional churches can be found here:

Your Contacts

Do you have any questions, or perhaps an idea for a project? Do get in touch with us by directly contacting those responsible in the three regional Evangelical Churches.

Evangelical Church in the Rhineland (EKiR)

Barbara Rudolph

Oberkirchenrätin

Hans-Böckler-Straße 7
D-40476 Düsseldorf

Phone +49 (0)211 45 62 - 203
[email protected]

Evangelical Church of Westphalia

Dr. Ulrich Möller

Oberkirchenrat

Altstädter Kirchplatz 5
D-33602 Bielefeld

Phone +49 (0)521 594 - 207
[email protected]

Evangelical Church of Lippe

Kornelia Schauf

Landespfarrerin

Leopoldstr. 27
D-32567 Detmold

Phone +49 (0)5231 976 - 851
[email protected]