Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) – (until 2003 Leuenberg Church Fellowship)
Ensures pulpit and table fellowship
Initiators
Protestant Churches in Europe
Occasion
The CPCE exists thanks to the Leuenberg Agreement of 1973. Through the Agreement, the divide between churches of Lutheran and Reformed traditions was overcome. It constitutes the communion of the different Protestant churches. Through the Leuenberg Agreement, members of the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe pledge reciprocal pulpit and table fellowship. According to the Agreement, churches are allowed to be different because they appeal to the Gospel as their common basis. A Lutheran minister can therefore preach from a Reformed Church pulpit and a French minister may lead a congregation in Germany.
Target Groups
The CPCE is the communion of the Protestant churches comprising 94 Lutheran, Methodist, Reformed and United Churches from over 30 European and South American countries. The CPCE represents over 50 million Protestants.
Objectives
In accordance with its strategy "Being Church Together. Goals 2020-2024", the CPCE pursues three objectives: to strengthen church fellowship, to promote the unity of the church and to serve society. These goals are implemented through various measures. Common positions serving to shape opinion in the member churches and to form the basis for ecumenical dialogues are being developed in doctrinal discussions and through consultations. European policy issues have been of great importance since 2001. CPCE also serves as a platform to discuss critical issues in Europe and to promote cohesion between the European regions. The CPCE promotes church aid projects dealing with negative effects of Europeanization.
Topics
- Being church together
- communion of worship – communion of learning and teaching – communion of witness and service – communion of a growing organizational cooperation
- as a Protestant voice in Europe, the CPCE contributes reformatory positions on important spiritual, ethic and social challenges
Duration
The CPCE was founded in 1973 for an indefinite period of time.
Activities
Maintaining contact to the World Council of Churches, the Conference of European Churches, Lutheran World Federation, the World Methodist Council, the Anglican Communion, European Baptist Federation. Official dialogue with the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU).
The CPEC cooperates with: Zentrum Evangelische Theologie Ost (ZETO), Fellowship of the Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMEEC), European Biblical Dialogues, Centro Melantone – Melanchthon Centre Rome, etc.
Form of Organization
Die CPCE has a clear structure. A general assembly of all member churches decides on the broad lines of its work. Between general assemblies, a council consisting of thirteen members, headed by a three-member presidium manages the work which is coordinated by the Vienna office. A new executive committee is elected every six years by the General Assembly, the current committee on September 14, 2018 in Basel. Member churches meet in regional groups to work on common subjects and to realize church fellowship regionally.
Funding
The initiative is funded exclusively by member churches.
Products
Results of the doctrinal conversations are being published in the book series “Leuenberg Texts” at EVA Leipzig.
Website | Social Media | Contact
www.leuenberg.eu
Presidium:
Dr. Miriam Rose, Jena
Dr. John Bradbury, London
Pfr. Marcin Brzoska, Cieszyn
General Secretary:
Dr. Mario Fischer, Wien
Communion of Protestant Churches in Europa (CPCE)
Severin-Schreiber-Gasse 3
A-1180 Wien
T: +43 591517 00900
E-mail: geke@leuenberg.eu
editor: as / update ts / jb 2022