Europe

Why does the future belong to Europe? In 1870 the French cartoonist Paul Hadol was still documenting the internal rifts and hostility between differing European states. Today, about 140 years later, the EU with currently 27 member states, provides the largest democratic, peaceful and prosperous project on earth. Since 2007 27 Western, Central and East European nations have joined this confederation of states which represents about 350 million people.

The Evangelical Church of Westphalia cultivates its European contacts through two church institutions: The Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE). Moreover, for many years the Evangelical Church of West­phalia has maintained contacts, partnerships and cooperations, which are mainly focused on churches in the following countries:

• England (in particular The Church of England as well as The United Reformed Church)
• Scotland (primarily The Church of Scotland)
• Netherlands (Protestantse Kerk en Nederland)
• Italy (The Waldensian Church)
• Poland (Polish Ecumenical Council, Lutherans and the Reformed)
• Hungary (The Reformed Church of Hungary and The Lutheran Church of Hungary)
• Romania
• Belorussia (particularly The Orthodox Church)

The following pages provide further details on the country partnerships in the Evangelical Church of Westphalia. Information on CEC and CPCE are documented in Cooperation of Churches.