On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, our association – the Baptists – was represented at the general meeting of the Association of Christian Churches in Hamburg (ACK-HH). The host of the evening was the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which welcomed us warmly in its rooms on Grindelberg.
An evening of ecumenical fellowship
The evening began with a prayer service in the worship room, followed by a guided tour of the premises and a cordial get-together over a rich dinner. A special moment: The Federation of Free Protestant Congregations (BFeG), which had guest status for a long time, was finally accepted as a full member of the ACK. We were able to see how such occasions further strengthen the bonds of Christian friendship and cooperation between the churches represented in the body.
Lecture on the EKD Peace Memorandum 2025
The main item on the agenda was a lecture by Julika Koch, Peace Education Officer of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany. She presented the peace memorandum of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), published in November 2025:"World in Disorder – Just Peace in View". The publication aims to contribute to theological and ethical reflection on questions of peace, security and responsibility in the face of current global developments.
The book approaches these questions from the theological perspective of nonviolence, sin, reconciliation and peacebuilding. It sheds light on the model of just peace, the ethical question of the legitimacy of violence to uphold law and human dignity, and the importance of society's ability to achieve peace. The aim is to enable churches and Christians to deal with the moral challenges of an increasingly unstable international environment in a well-founded way.
Topics of the memorandum
Topics covered include hybrid warfare, cyber weapons, terrorism, and the weakening of international norms and institutions. The memorandum also addresses the need for international cooperation on global challenges such as climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Other sections are devoted to nuclear weapons, arms deliveries and arms exports, military service and conscription, forms of civilian or general service, and the vocation and responsibility of Christians in military service.
No binding teaching position
Both in the lecture and in the subsequent discussion, it was emphasized that the scripture is neither to be understood as a binding guideline nor as an official magisterial position of the Lutheran churches. Rather, it wants to draw attention to important current issues and encourage the churches to deal with these issues in a theologically sound manner and with responsible public witness.
The entire memorandum is available for download here:EKD Peace Memorandum 2025.
Ecumenical meeting with a view
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for ecumenical encounter and exchange between the member churches of ACK-HH. As the churches in Hamburg continue to bear witness to the gospel in a world marked by conflict, uncertainty and division, such conversations contribute to our common vocation to promote justice, reconciliation and peace in our communities and among peoples.
Last but not least, ACK Germany invites you to St. Hedwig's Cathedral (Bebelplatz, 10117 Berlin) on September 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for the ratification of the revised"Charta Oecumenica"a.
— Roy Asabre, Amazing Grace Baptist Church, Hamburg
