church life / faith and order
anglo-german
exchange visit
In May 1908, over 130 German church representatives - Protestant, Roman Catholic and Free Church - visited England and Scotland, which was followed by a similar visit by British churches to Germany the following year. It was at a time of rising tensions and military competition between the two countries, and the exchange visits aimed to help the churches promote better understanding and peace between the two peoples.
A background paper to this event, written by the Revd Dr Keith Clements and first published in the Ecumenical Review, is available for download:
A Notable Ecumenical Anniversary: The Anglo-German Exchange Visits of 1908-09 (PDF) [Help]
In May 2008 CTBI, in partnership with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Christlicher Kirchen (ACK) 
, hosted a celebration of this important centenary in London and Cambridge (with a similar event for next year in Germany).
On 28th May, a Conference entitled 'British and Germany Identities in the New Europe - Christian Perspectives' took place at the Royal Foundation of St Katharine, Limehouse, London. The Conference was chaired by the Very Revd Dr John Arnold OBE, a former President of the Conference of European Churches.
The papers delivered were as follows (PDF format):
- Anglo-German Exchange – Revd Dr Charlotte Methuen
- German Identity in the new Europe from a Christian Perspective - Oberkirchenrat Dr Oliver Schuegraf
- Rt Rev William Kenney, CP
- German and British Identities in New Europe - Pastor Armin Besserer
On 29th May, the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge hosted the second part of the exchange visits. This included lectures given by two distinguished theologians:
- Jurgen Moltmann: ‘German Church and Theology in transition from the 19th to the 21st Century'
- Richard Bauckham: ‘The Study of the Gospels and Christology in Britain since Schweitzer's "Quest of the historical Jesus" (1906)'
In 2009, Germany will host the second part of the centenary celebrations in Heidelberg.
