“The latest generation” does not offer a church stage: idea.de

Magdeburg/Wetzlar (IDEA) – Criticism continues over the appearance of a spokeswoman for the left-wing climate protest group “Last Generation” at the EKD synod conference on November 8 in Magdeburg. Context: the group’s spokesperson, Aimée van Baalen (Dresden), spoke at the invitation of the synodal presidency. Her remarks were met with applause by many members of the EKD synod.

On the sidelines of the EKD synod, the president of the synod, Anna-Nicole Heinrich (Regensburg), told reporters that roadblocks are a legitimate means of civil resistance by climate activists. Addressing the group, Heinrich said: “We stand in solidarity with you.” After the synodal conference, a debate began about the appearance of the activist.

Synod: The invitation was a wrong decision

Two EKD synods criticized the invitation to the evangelical news agency IDEA. Lawyer Till Vosberg (Leipzig) described this as a bad decision: “Due to the EKD’s regular and correct emphasis on the importance of democracy, one would have expected that people who violate the criminal laws of parliament democratically elected is not offered a stage to the EKD.” He regrets “that many synodal crimes are rejected as permissible civil disobedience”.

The word was not for the building up of the Church

Pastor Falk Klemm (Ehrenfriedersdorf/Saxony) made a similar statement. He wondered how the invitation to the spokeswoman could serve to edify the Church: “Such quick blows, little communicated, are not suitable for seeking the unity of the Church.” He also regretted that other important contributions to the synod were lost in view of the debate on the appearance of the “last generation”, such as the “excellent report of the biblical council” by EKD council president Annette Kurschus (Bielefeld).

Teuteberg (FDP): “Ominous and problematic”

FDP deputy and lawyer Linda Teuteberg (Potsdam), who is also a member of the EKD synod, considers the invitation to the “last generation” to speak before the church committee as “disturbing and problematic”. You told the Evangelical Press Service (epd): “The church can and should offer a space for discussion and debate.” Topics such as war and peace or the conservation of nature are of central importance in the Christian faith.

He added: “It doesn’t matter, however important, it can be a justification for the use of violence against things or people.” own arguments in social discourse”.

Käßmann: Violence against things is unacceptable

Former EKD board chairwoman Margot Käßmann (Berlin) was critical of the actions of the “last generation” in general. Violence against things and self-harm are not acceptable for her, she said in an interview with the political culture magazine “Cicerone” (Berlin): “For me ‘Last Generation’ expresses a terribly sad despondency on the part of young people , who should conquer life.”

The actions are dangerous and highly problematic because the protest can also turn into violence against people, “for example in violence against police officers and law enforcement officers”. While the church should listen to the concerns of activists, easing and mediation are the church’s most important tasks: “The church must always bring hope, reconciliation and trust to the world.”