45th General Assembly convenes in 2025 on diaconal engagement in a changing world

Published on 21.03.2024

The Presidium of the Kaiserswerth General Conference has determined the theme of next year's assembly. A meeting was also held in Brussels with Eurodiaconia and the EU Commission.

"Diaconal Engagement in a Changing World" is the title of the 45th Kaiserswerth General Conference, which will take place on June 26 and 27, 2025 at the Diakonissenanstalt Dresden.

This was decided by the 14-member Presidium of the Kaiserswerth General Conference at its meeting on March 14 and 15 in Brussels. The General Conference comprises around 100 members from 17 countries in Europe, Africa, America and Asia.

The Presidium also met with the pan-European diaconal network Eurodiaconia, which comprises 59 member organizations and networks from 32 countries. Deputy Secretary General Clotilde Clark-Foulquier presented the work of the organization and provided information on networking and lobbying for justice and a fair social and health policy in Europe. Using the example of the "green transition", she demonstrated the complexity of pan-European decision-making and explained where interest groups such as Diakonie can exert influence.

Vincent Depaigne, the European Commission's Coordinator for Religious Dialogue, spoke about the importance of religious communities and churches as well as their charitable organizations from the perspective of the European Union. The Commission has committed itself to a regular dialog with religious and philosophical world views.

Under the heading "Openness - Lightness - Commitment", Ulrike Kühn, Superior and Board member of the Evangelische Diakonissenanstalt Augsburg, presented innovative projects for the dynamization of community, spirituality and diaconal education for everyday diaconal work.

The members of the Executive Committee also visited the European Parliament Visitor Center and the Brussels Representation of the Evangelical Church in Germany EKD.