At the German-Chinese Interreligious Consultation in Berlin, Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, President of the World Council of Churches, emphasized the importance of religions in strengthening cohesion among people worldwide.

“Religions can build bridges of understanding in times of crisis,” Bedford-Strohm said in his greeting at the consultation reception.

Rev. Xu Xiaohong, Chairperson of the Chinese Three-Self Movement, the state-recognized Protestant umbrella organization in the People’s Republic of China, presented Bedford-Strohm with a phoenix paper cut as a sign of church fellowship. In Chinese churches, the phoenix is a symbol of the resurrection of Christ.

The German-Chinese Interreligious Consultation was organized by the German umbrella association of EMS, Evangelical Mission Worldwide (EMW), and the EKD. EMS is connected with the Chinese churches through the Amity Foundation, an independent diaconal organization whose projects EMS has supported for many decades.

“It is important that we maintain contacts between people at the church level,” emphasized Dieter Heidtmann, General Secretary of EMS. “This is especially important when mutual understanding is difficult on other levels.”