Next week will see the German Kirchentag take place in Berlin and Wittenberg. Organised by the protestant lay movements in Germany it brings together close to 100,000 people over several days to examine current political, social and spiritual issues. This year both Chancellor Angela Merkel and former US President Barak Obama will be participating alongside many many others. As a platform for intensive discussion and critical debate it gives a unique opportunity to talk about Europe and that is why this year, for the first time, Eurodiaconia will be at the Kirchentag. We will be encouraging participants to identify what social policy needs there are across Europe and who they would like to see address them. We will be asking participants to commit to social change and support diaconal work across Europe and we will be sharing our members experience on the specific issue of integration and inclusion of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. So, if you are at the Kirchentag this year come and say hello – you will be able to find us at the Market of Opportunities (Marktes der Möglichkeiten) in Exhibition Hall 3.2, Stand G18.

Have a good weekend,
Heather