"Free for the Future" is the slogan chosen by the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) for its Jubilee Year. The Jubilee Book with the same title has now been published in English and German. It was launched at a reception during the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Karlsruhe. 

The book looks back on fifty years of EMS history. During this time, the EMS has developed into a "truly conciliar, post-colonial, ecumenical Christian fellowship", says WCC General Secretary Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca in his greeting. After a historical review by former EMS general secretaries, one chapter expands on future visions of the EMS and includes appeals from young people: "Now is the time to act!" based on the concept of freedom. Chapters three to five give in-depth insights into the way the EMS sees itself as an evangelical, solidarity-based mission society.  

"Our three-member editorial team considered it important to give a broad view of the EMS," explains EMS General Secretary Dr Dieter Heidtmann. In addition to eminent theologians such as Dr Jürgen Moltmann, a large number of national and international voices from the EMS Fellowship have their say. Altogether, more than 50 authors from three continents explore the question of what mission means in view of present-day challenges, depicting in concrete examples what church cooperation in the worldwide ecumenical movement looks like today. 

The book contains historical pictures and documents, moving testimonies, personal reports and greetings from all over the world, documenting the path to an international fellowship of evangelical churches and mission societies working together as equal partners. Looking back to the 1980s, Rev. Dr Habib Badr from Lebanon recalls that this development was a gradual process over many years: "I remember sitting (...) on the balcony while the German members of the Synod discussed questions that were of existential importance for our churches." Meanwhile, as a member of the Presidium for many years, he has been involved in actively shaping the EMS.  

On the future of the EMS, Archbishop Dr Hosam Elias Naoum from the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East writes this: "As a member of this fellowship, we can exchange ideas and develop common goals across three continents. This gives us a lot of strength and power for the coming six years as we all work together to implement our common strategy 'Free for the Future'. We are becoming true agents of freedom by supporting each other, praying for each other and following this common vision and mission. In this way we implement God's work in our midst."  

The book contains 284 pages and is published in English and in German. It can be ordered through our online shop www.ems-online.org/shop.

Press contact: Ulrike Pfab, pfab@dont-want-spam.ems-online.org, Phone +49 711 63678 -11