Evangelical churches: Kirchentag as “spring fairy tale”: three findings

Five days of the church day are over: tens of thousands of visitors have celebrated in Hanover since Wednesday and have exchanged their faith, life and politics-with high-ranking guests like Chancellor Olaf Scholz and former Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Evangelical Kirchentag did not want to be taken away from this political claim, President Anja Siegesmund made clear discussion about the political role of the church from the beginning of CDU politician Julia Klöckner.

Around 81,000 tickets were sold for the church festival. That is a good 11,000 more than 2023 in Nuremberg. According to the city and the organizer, around 150,000 people came together in Hanover city center, where the podiums and concerts could also be visited without a ticket, mostly accompanied by the best summer weather. Mayor Belit Onay (Greens) spoke of a “spring fairy tale”.

The Kirchentag invested 24 million euros for this, financed by around half with tax money. Before the Kirchentag moved to Düsseldorf and in 2029 to Hamburg in 2027, three insights from the Protestant meeting:

1. The Evangelical Church interferes

The Kirchentag as a lay movement, like representatives of the EKD, made it clear that it cannot be forbidden. Had Klöckner, now the President of the Bundestag, complained that the Church is risking to become arbitrary if she constantly commented on daily issues, emphasized Kirchentag President Siegesmund: “Christian faith is political.” EKD synods President Anna-Nicole Heinrich warned against crediting spiritual life and Christian positioning against each other.

At the Kirchentag, Klöckner and Siegesmund also met directly. Klöckner renewed her criticism that the church was “too quiet in one or the other” in large questions of meaning. She said: “Of course, Christians also have to express themselves politically.” However, Klöckner restricted that the church could take part, “but it must not be a party”. Because the church has to prove beyond what parties do.

Many other rounds of discussion underpinned the political claim: the managing Chancellor Scholz warned of premature AfD ban procedures, predecessor Merkel defended her migration course and practiced self-criticism in terms of climate protection. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised the discussions at the Kirchentag as a “very, very rare chance that we will give ourselves out of our ideal prefabricated houses”.

Controversial topics such as Germany’s arms deliveries to Ukraine, the Middle East conflict or sexualized violence in the church were specifically discussed. Representatives of AfD and BSW were not invited.

2. Defense and pacifism remain a field of tension

An ecumenical peace synod around the former EKD council chairwoman Margot Käßmann appealed: “It is said that we would have to be warfare and secure peace through upgrading. But we want to be able to peace.” This “call to peace” should go to the communities as an impulse, “so that it is no longer silent in our church,” said Käßmann.

Church day general Kristin Jahn, on the other hand, said the pacifist demands that the Ukraine could also be said, “let yourself be shot”-but only make tyrants big.

The upcoming federal government would have been happy to have been heard. But both CDU boss Friedrich Merz and SPD boss Lars Klingbeil canceled their appearances. Klingbeil would have discussed on the subject of “German tornness – creating peace with weapons?”.

3. Hanover can party mile

Lower Saxony’s capital is considered a drawn – and most residents are modest enough not to change this reputation. The many visitors to the church day experienced the advantages of the city, supported by the almost continuous permanent sunshine.

Music helpers in the subway, spontaneous basketball games on blocked streets and large concerts with stars such as gentleman or Jupiter Jones showed what a lifestyle is possible in Hanover.

Additional surveillance cameras, drone bans and bollards should ensure security. According to the police, there were no special events. The mood was happy and peaceful.

The event location was also a return to the roots for the Kirchentag: in 1949 the first edition of the Protestant meeting also took place in Hanover, and at that time it was founded in response to the time of National Socialism and the lack of resistance from the official church during this time. Overall, it was the fifth Evangelical Kirchentag in Hanover.