Alf Linderman, Executive Director of the Sigtuna Foundation

We had a committed groups of members present. And we had a discussion about the Annual Report with immediate consequence for the work ahead. This was partly caused by a new format of the report: in giving the report proposals were made how to proceed with the subjects at stake. It worked well and it created a productive atmosphere where critical remarks were made as guiding principles for our way forward.

The Annual report

To honour the past

Important was also to honour the past of our Association: Three outstanding members of Oikosnet had to leave their place in our organisation. First it dealt with Kati Zoltani, who has served us as a board member for 6 year, also representing Home of Hope in Brasov, Romania. During 4 years she was our active vice-president, looking for improvements in the way we set up meetings and conferences, both regarding the processes as well as the relations between people. Secondly it dealt with Walter Lüssi, until last year the treasurer, also representing Boldern in Switzerland. He was appointed in a new job, stepped down last year but wasn’t able to greet all of us since he had a car-accident at that time. We thanked him for his dedication and careful support during difficult processes. And he announced that probably some new Swiss members are knocking at our door. 

Last of all, the retirement of Paul Krieg from Casa Cares in Italy was noticed. He has served Oikosnet Europe in very different capacities for almost 3 decades, like Board member (by that time called Executive Committee), organiser of a Course for Lay Leaders trainers (CLLT) in Cyprus, June 2002, member of the Nominations Committee and member of the Committee of internal auditors. We mentioned their names, we remembered their work and we are grateful for their efforts and contributions over the long years.

To continue on this personal level: we elected Nicola Murray (Corrymeela) as our new treasurer, Nils Ivar Agoy (Norwegian Church Academies) and Günter Renz (Ev. Akademie Bad Boll, Germany) as our new auditors and we were glad to appoint Kristin Gunleiksrud Raaum (Norwegian Church Academies) and Friedrich Kramer (Ev. Akademie Wittenberg, Germany) in the Nominations Committee where they cooperate with Alexei Bodrov from St. Andrew’s, Moscow.

Next Annual Conference in Prague 

The business ahead for us deals with the improved way to cooperate in common projects – see the annual report – with the new working structure with our secretariat in Sigtuna and with the active participation of as many members as possible. Formal aspects are discussed; the tendency is to agree with the proposal to start a new legal entity of Oikosnet Europe in Sweden and at the same time dissolving the structure in Germany. Decisions have to be made at our next Annual Conference. Since these are major steps, we already now announce the dates for our next Annual Conference, taking place in Prague: Wednesday 7 September till Sunday 11 September 2016. Please fix these dates in your calendar now!

The business meeting finished by sharing the experiences of last year, the plans for the next year and the invitations for cooperation in the coming years through all members which were present in Corrymeela. Impossible to reduce to some lines in a report. Important for the way ahead. With warm thanks to all the staff and volunteers of Corrymeela. One critical remark about their expectation management can be made: the weather was far better all week than announced and expected. We were thankful for that!

Jaap van der Sar, President of Oikosnet Europe

“Europe Remembers:” Fear and remembering in the 21 st century was the theme of the Oikosnet Annual Conference this year. It was situated at the beautiful community of Corrymeela in Northern Ireland, an Oikosnet member celebrating its 50th year anniversary. Their remarkable work on dialogue to bring peace and reconciliation was a most learning and inspirational example for the participants of the conference. The Keynote speakers shared many different perspectives on conflict and fear from the historical context of Northern Ireland, perspectives that in many ways were just as relevant for other conflicts, in society as well as in our own private lives. Pádraig O´Tuama, appointed leader at the Corrymeela Community, started out the first day with an opening speech on courage in the gospel stories. Read more

In the network we try to find a theme that is connected with gender and justice alike , inform about our experiences with the theme in our work and country and have a look at the situation in the hosting country. So this year the Gender & Justice Network had an interesting overview on the care-system in Northern Ireland during these two days. Three lectures from three different points of view deepened the theme. Susan McEwen, Head of Programmes, Corrymeela, gave the first input on Monday evening introducing to the Corrymeela work: What does it mean «to live well together »? She underlined how important story telling is to build bridges and connections. The second lecture was given by Maria Gavay, member of the Corrymeela community. She got her care-experiences from the Arche-communities where she lived for some time together with disabled people. Lyn Campell came in for the last lecture on Wednesday morning to tell us about the Carers Association of Northern Ireland providing support to carers and to get carers life easier. Read more 

At Corrymeela this training was given for the 72nd time. About 1.100 have received the training, many of them apply their learning’s in their daily life, as a volunteer or in their professional life. Trainers during this training were Colin Craig and Ingeberte Uitslag, both active from the very beginning of DPC. Read more

– I am delighted to be involved with Oikosnet Europe whose mission and vision is in line with the reconciliation, peace-building and healing of social, religious and political divisions of Corrymeela.  I am thrilled to have been appointed Treasurer with Oikosnet Europe and hope my skills will be of use to support the Board into the future.

Nicola is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant, a member of the Management Team, and responsible for all things that have a financial or commercial impact on Corrymeela. She replaces Konstantinos Zorbas as treasurer. Konstantinos Zorbas, representing the the Orthodox Academy of Crete, was reelected as stays as member of the board.

Lovisa lived in Germany for six years working as a ”Bereiter” with horses and she is almost native speaking German and  communicate in writing in German. The past four years she has been Country manager for Back on Track GmbH, a Swedish company producing ceramic textiles.

Lovisas  father partly grew up in Bad Boll and took part in many ”akademien”, therefore she feels close to the  hart of Oikosnet. she  looks forward to a mutual collaboration with you all.

Eastern and Central Europe Consultation

Since 1955 Oikosnet Europe, an ecumenical association, gathers Institutions, lay centres and church academies from different European countries and of different denominations (orthodox, catholic, protestant), which seek in their work to understand and reinterpret the significance of the Gospel for the renewal and unity of the churches and for the fullness of each human person and society as a whole.

Aware of the tremendous change changing in Eastern and Central Europe after the fall of the iron curtain in 1990 and the new challenges East and Central European communities are confronted with today, Oikosnet is convinced that the work of church based lay-organisations such as academies, training centres and church houses can be an important contribution for developing a civil society.

Oikosnet Europe wants to tighten the relationship between Eastern-, Central and Western Europe communities by fostering dialogue and exchange and by encouraging mutual understanding. Concretely we want, as an European network organisation, integrate more special concerns and themes of Eastern and Central Europe in our work. Read more

At the end of this year the COP21, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, will take place in Paris. In the last few months all over the world people decided it is time to act and started walking towards Paris. Among them are many Christians and people from other faiths. On the website peoplespilgrimage.orgyou can find all interfaith events. The People’s Pilgrimage is a truly ecumenical event. Oikosnet-member Oikos initiated a Dutch pilgrimage for climate justice: Klimaatloop – Kerken op weg naar een rechtvaardig klimaatbeleid. In 10 stages participants walk from the North (Winsum) to the South (Vaalserberg). During a national event in Utrecht on 24 October Dutch church leaders from different denominations will walk (4 short stages between 5 churches) and talk (debates, church services, lectures). Christians and non-christians are all welcome to join in. Oikos in the Netherlands is proud to be the initiator of the Klimaatloop, because it is the first time that churches from alldenominations act together and speak as one regarding to climate change: The time is now to act!

Rogier van der Weijden , Stichting Oikos