October 25, 2005

VIENNA, Austria/GENEVA – Bishop Herwig Sturm of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria has been elected new chairperson of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Austria. He was chosen by a large majority at the council's annual general meeting on Tuesday, 18 October, in Vienna. His two-year term in office begins 1 January 2006. The bishop expressed thanks for the trust placed in him by the 14 member churches of the council, which he described as a "great social force," reports the Protestant Press Service, Austria.

In the light of the Christian message, it was also his responsibility, the bishop said, to be concerned for vulnerable and marginalized people. "I believe," he continued, "that we can all draw strength for a rewarding future from the one Bible, and the one Sacrament of Baptism."

The Ecumenical Council is a learning community, which the bishop appreciates: "We learn to show understanding for the other churches, to see ourselves as a community on the move, and are able and ready to work with others in numerous areas of activity." In his view, it is a great gift that the council understands itself as a spiritual community that can be experienced through joint worship services and prayer, particularly on big public occasions.

For the future, it is important that the council builds a bridge to young people, the bishop said. The next generation needs to be brought to understand ecumenical ideas and the reality of the ecumenical movement. He further intends to expand inter-faith conversations "of quality and growing mutual knowledge."

Austria's EU presidency in the first half of 2006 will offer a "fine challenge" to seek and experience the depths of spirituality in a united Europe. In this context, Sturm recalled the Charta Oecumenica, which defines the churches' common responsibility in Europe.

Sturm succeeds Mother Superior Professor Christine Gleixner of the Roman Catholic Church, who has chaired the council over the past six years.

The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Austria has about 322,000 members, and is a member of the Lutheran World Federation since 1947.

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