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The ecumenical service at Hessentag on the cathedral square in Fulda has begun. The motto song “In the Heart of One” was heard early on. There were 5000 participants.
Fulda – Bishop Dr. Beate Hofmann and Bishop Dr. Michael Gerber organized the ecumenical Hessentag service on Fulda Cathedral Square on Sunday (June 14th) under the motto “One in the heart”. They interpreted the motto as a mission for the church and society, without leveling out differences.
Based on the biblical experience of the first Christians as “one heart and one soul,” Hofmann and Gerber emphasized that “being one in heart” is not a conflict-free ideal state, but must be achieved again and again. Bishop Hofmann emphasized that closeness requires trust and mutual strengthening, but also respect for differences.
Bishop and bishop emphasize unity at Hessentag service
Unity arises when people listen to each other, take differences seriously and take responsibility together. The press office of the The diocese of Fulda estimates the number of participants in the ecumenical service on the cathedral square in Fulda to be more than 5,000 people. At the Boniface Festival there were 6,000 believers on the cathedral square.
Bishop Hofmann emphasized: “What connects us is more important than what sets us apart.” She receives spontaneous applause for this. Gerber added: “Division and hatred do not have the last word.” Gerber also received applause for admitting that it was a mistake not to appear together at LGS 2023.
The churches learned from the realization that community could be expanded at that time. Bishop Gerber added Hesse dayservice that “heart-to-heart” relationships are particularly important in challenging times, and referred to his own cancer. He emphasized that Christian community thrives on supportive relationships, not on lone wolves.
Both bishops transferred this perspective to the relationship between the denominations. Hofmann recalled the centuries-long separation, but emphasized: “What connects us is much more important than what we differ in.” Gerber saw the growing ecumenical relationship as a sign of the Holy Spirit that shows that “separation and division do not have the last word.”
Diverse ecumenical program at the Hessentag
The ecumenical experience extends beyond the church environment into society, where many people long for community instead of constant strife. Gerber described ecumenical practice as a message in a polarized time that shows that diversity should not turn into division.
As a common basis, they named the inalienable dignity of every human being, the responsibility for the preservation of creation and the belief in divine creation and love. Towards the end of the service, Ethan Freeman sang the song “Salt of the Earth” from the musical Boniface. He was accompanied by Dennis Martin on piano and Peter Scholz on guitar.
Bishop Gerber had previously appreciated the song: “In this way, cultural workers show us as churches what our core is.” Freeman's performance was a goosebumps moment. The service was a central spiritual accent in the joint ecumenical program of the Diocese of Fulda, EKKW and EKHN for Hesse Day, which included a wide range of offerings.
The design of the service with biblical “texts from the heart”, a symbolic action and the Lord’s Prayer in sign language made the motto audible and visible. Musically, the service was provided by “Mambo KingX”, an ecumenical project choir and trombone choir, as well as contributions from the musical “Boniface”.
Children took part in the song “Im Herzen eins”. The church Hessentag program concludes with the “From Head to Heart” service on Sunday (June 21) on Universitätsplatzfollowed by the participation of the churches in the Hessentag pageant.
