Evangelical Church Day
Steinmeier: “We have to be honest about breaks”
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives a humorous speech at the German Protestant Church Congress. photo
© Daniel Karmann/dpa
Federal President Steinmeier is concerned about cohesion in the country. At the Evangelical Church Congress he finds humorous words for a famous Bible passage.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is concerned about the cohesion in the republic and fears a growing gap between town and country. “We have to speak honestly about fractures,” he said at the 38th German Evangelical Church Congress. He called for “more appreciation between people from town and country”.
Above all, people who live in the country often felt left behind and “smiled at as hillbilly”. “I keep hearing that they don’t see themselves in all the debates,” said Steinmeier – “that they wish their needs were taken more seriously and recognized as legitimate.” He demanded: “We must succeed in respecting the diversity of life plans in our country.”
This is more than just a question of good style, it is “a question that touches the core of democracy,” emphasized the Federal President. “If larger groups don’t find each other again for a long time, then approval for democracy begins to crumble.”
As part of a Bible study, Steinmeier spoke in great detail about the marriage at Cana from the Gospel of John. In the story, Jesus turns water into wine.
Humorous words about a Bible text
“There have been more plausible Bible texts for a Bible study. This one is a real challenge,” said Steinmeier, who at times found humorous words for the famous Bible passage.
“The sheer excess of wine” seems very strange to him. “It’s also kind of amazing that it was so important to Johannes.” Converted are what Jesus produced there, namely around 1000 bottles of wine. “Why so much? – This is not only the question of the Reformed, who is familiar with asceticism.”
Steinmeier’s answer to his own question: “Wine stands for joie de vivre, vitality. That’s where God reveals himself and gives joy in abundance.”
Steinmeier was supposed to be President of the Church Congress – but then the office of Federal President got in the way, as the incumbent President of the Church Congress Thomas de Maizière said shortly before Steinmeier’s appearance: “Unfortunately, he became a different president and had to resign from us.”