Refo500 conference in Lutherstadt Eisleben: Making the Reformation Relevant

20-05-2011

Comments from other participants revealed that additionally one finds that the international function of the networking of Refo500 is important for the success of the Reformation anniversary.

Lutherstadt Eisleben took the initiative for this conference, that was held May 18th and 19th, 2011. Eisleben, the town where Martin Luther was born and where he died, has many authentic locations which relate to Luther.

Minister of Finance of Saxony-Anhalt, Jens Bullerjahn, Jutta and Mayor Fischer indicated that for them the Reformation (1517-1648) and the decade (2008 - 2017) leading up to the Reformation quincentennial were of global significance. “With Luther,” said Dr. Herman Selderhuis of Refo500, “the Reformation began in Germany, which subsequently developed into a European movement with global implications lasting to this day.”

During the conference Herman Selderhuis and Karla Apperloo presented the Refo500 project as an international platform and organizational network. Ute Klopfleisch, head of the culture department for Eisleben, Luther’s birthplace, sketched an impressive overview of Luther’s life and work, as well as the impulses that have proceeded from them. Refo500’s travel agencies, Witte Travel & Tours (USA) and Historizon en Beter-uit Reizen (The Netherlands) informed the public about the trips developed to cities in Reformation Germany.

Prof. Dr. Antz of the Ministry of Economy and Labor of Saxony-Anhalt said in his presentation “Spirituality within Church and Tourism” it is necessary to develop another proposal for contemporary people, although its less religious, but religiously approachable, because they are frequently looking for meaning, for example, their need for security. This, says Antz, is the great challenge that stands before cities and churches regarding tourist and cultural areas. TV Media partner EIKON TV from Berlin presented their ideas to show the significance of the Reformation in movies. The various presentations at the conference led to substantive discussions between the participants.

From this conference, it has become clear that the interest in Refo500 by cities in Germany has grown. Some cities have already joined, for example, Nordhausen, Bretten, Heidelberg, and Lutherstadt Eisleben. It is expected that other cities will follow. Furthermore, there are many institutions in Germany who are now partners, including the LEUCOREA Foundation (LEUCOREA Stiftung) in Wittenberg. At the end of the conference, many participants indicated that they will internally discuss the possibilities to join the Refo500 platform, in which more than 85 partners worldwide participate.

How to proceed further with Refo500 in Germany is still an exciting question, but Refo500 says the contacts which it now has with many German institutions are quite promising.

Eisleben/Enschede, May 20th, 2011

Photos: Lutherstadt Eisleben