Church: Kurschus wants more efforts against anti-Semitism

The council chairwoman of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Annette Kurschus, has called on Christians to make more efforts in the fight against anti-Semitism. Jewish people should “not have the slightest doubt that they can count on the churches,” said the theologian on Sunday in Ulm. The church parliament, the so-called synod, meets there until Wednesday.

“There are trusting contacts at all levels, we stand by Jews and ask them how we can help them. We must not let up on this, what’s more, we have to step up,” said Kurschus, who is also President of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia, in its council report to the EKD synod.

The EKD council chairwoman pointed out that anti-Semitism does not only exist in small, extreme groups. “It comes from our Christian history, it also germinates in our midst, among our church members.” This was not taken seriously enough, but it can be changed. Kurschus also warned against anti-Muslim sentiments.

The theologian reiterated the church’s commitment to refugees. The way refugees are being talked about recently shocks her deeply, she said. For example, the word “migrant” appears almost in unison with the adjective illegal or irregular, even though almost 80 percent of asylum seekers received legal protection status.

“It is suggested – carelessly or deliberately – that refugees are contesting health care from locals.” All of this is not just happening from the right-wing fringe, but from the middle of society, criticized the EKD council chairwoman. Other topics in her report included climate change and social justice. As an umbrella organization of 20 regional churches, the EKD represents 19.2 million Protestant Christians.