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Frankfurt / Main (dpa) - Due to the corona pandemic, the 3rd Ecumenical Church Congress (ÖKT), which is taking place exclusively digitally, wants to focus on issues of social cohesion.
To this end, around 80 formats are planned from May 13 to 16, which will replace the originally planned face-to-face events in Frankfurt, as the organizers announced on Tuesday.
Accordingly, there is, among other things, a central live stream, retrievable contributions from a studio and digital meeting places.
"Right now, the ÖKT is offering a long-missed opportunity for discourse, orientation, support and, yes, consolation," said President Bettina Limperg.
As early as December it became known that numerous politicians would take part in the Kirchentag: The program includes talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
There are online church services and Bible studies - for example with the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Winfried Kretschmann (Greens).
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also announced a contribution.
The service on Ascension Day (May 13th) and the closing service will be broadcast live on television.
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Participants in the Kirchentag can also chat with randomly selected interlocutors.
"The encounter from person to person is what defines an ecumenical church convention, and we want to make that possible digitally," said the general secretary of the German Protestant church convention, Julia Helmke.
On the other hand, there will be no face-to-face events for the general public.
"The ÖKT is particularly important in times of the global epidemic: we want to be the voice together for those who are being pushed to the margins here and around the world by the pandemic, who are falling by the wayside, who are currently experiencing loneliness and fear" said Thomas Sternberg, President of the Central Committee of German Catholics.
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3rd Ecumenical Church Congress