European Forum

During the 2015 annual conference of the European Forum, in Merville, France, changes to the internal regulations and statutes were made to promote greater trans* inclusion in the organisation. The Forum wants to attract more transgender groups and ensure that trans* people are fully included in the work . Towards this aim the Forum offers a trans* pre-conference to provide a safe space for trans* Christians to discuss and share relevant issues and has changes the internal regulations to encourage trans* representation on the board.

The theme of the annual conference of 2015 in Merville, France, was: "Intercultural contacts: Babel or Pentecost?"

In the Women's Pre-Conference 2015 in Merville, France, we build with Lego a colourful structure. Here are the words from the final session, where we connected the individual structures into one piece.

You are welcome to use all or parts as you would like if these words inspire you to do so. They were inspired by some of the notes that were written on the papers - and also by the conversations and reactions through the two days.

This Women's Pre-Conference was prepared and chaired by Sharon and Mette from Denmark.

Emile Letertre from France tells as one of the founders about the founding of the European Forum in 1980

Communal Prayer and Words of Institution as used in the Ecumenical Celebration in Merville, France, as part of the annual conference 2015

Dismissal at the end of  the Ecumenical Celebration in Merville, France, as part of the annual conference 2015

Prayer of thanksgiving and intercessions from the Ecumenical Celebration in Merville, France, as part of the annual conference 2015

Prayer before opening the Bible from the Ecumenical Celebration in Merville, France, as part of the annual conference 2015

Prayer on the treshold from the Ecumenical Celebration in Merville, France, as part of the annual conference 2015

During the annual conference in 2015 in Merville, France an Ecumenical Celebration took place on Sunday evening May 24. The first reading was Genesis 11: 1-9 about the Tower of Babel. It was read in different languages at the same time. The second reading was Acts of Apostles 8: 26-40 about Philip speaking to the Ethopian eunuch. Ineke Lautenbach held a short meditation.

250 Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals (LGBT), either Christians or from other spiritualities, are meeting together at Pentecost in the North of France to share their differences.

For the annual conference of the European Forum in 2009 in Järvenpää / Helsinki, Finland, Ulla Kosonen and Petri Laaksonen wrote the song Courage to Follow the Law of Love. Ever since, we keep on singing it. You can hear the beautiful recording, our French friends made, and even find the words in French at the bottom of this page!