The Center for Peace Church Theology invites you 

— 10 July 2026

20-year Anniversary | 9–11 October 2026

creating spaces for peace (-theology)

Räume schaffen für Frieden und friedenstheologie

Dear friends and supporters of the Center for Peace Church Theology  (ATF),

In 2006, the Center for Peace Church Theology was established within the Department of Protestant Theology at the University of Hamburg – thanks to the conceptual and financial support of many different people. This is what made this unique institution for researching "Peace Church Theology" and teaching at a German-speaking university possible in the first place! Over the past 20 years, researchers, lecturers, students, sponsors, and numerous guests have been able to actively participate in and help shape the life of the ATF. We are deeply grateful for this!

We would love to celebrate this vibrant and moving history of the ATF with you! Under the title "Creating Spaces for Peace (-Theology)," we have invited many companions from Germany and abroad, with whom we also want to look towards the future: On Friday, with a short symposium at the university and a "storytelling" and concert evening; on Saturday, with a "Peace Marketplace"; and on Sunday, with a festive church service at the Mennonite Church Hamburg-Altona (the provisional program is attached).

We are delighted to be a part of this ATF story ourselves, and we hope to open up further spaces for peace theology with you during this celebratory weekend!

On behalf of the entire ATF team,

(signed Prof. Dr. Fernando Enns)

Programme

Friday 9 October 2026

Hamburg University – Main building: Edmund-Siemers-Allee 1 (West)

14:30
Opening/Welcome

Inspiration from the Bible: Spaces of Peace Opened -
Prof. Dr. Klara Butting (Center for Biblical Spirituality and Social Responsibility, Woltersburger Mühle/Uelzen) 

On the Current Global Security Situation -
Prof. Dr. Ursula Schröder (Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy at the University of Hamburg)

16:30
How Do We Create Spaces for Peace (Theology)? -

Prof. Tinyiko Samuel Maluleke (Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa), Dr. Ana Raffai (RAND, Croatia), Dr. Viola Raheb (Pro Oriente Foundation, Vienna)

18:00
Evening meal

The Story of ATF – and its future
With music by Marwan Abado (Vienna / Palestine)

Saturday, 10 October 2026

Mennonite Church Hamburg-Altona, Mennonitenstrasse 20, 22769 Hamburg

Peace Marketplace

10:15 – 10:45 
Women (-Spiritualities) in Peacebuilding -  
Dr. Ana Raffai (Croatia),  Kate Andre (Boston/USA), Dr. Anthea Bethge (Berlin/Hamburg)

11:30 – 12:00 
De-Colonizing Peace Theology - 
Dr. Andrés Pacheco Lozano (Amsterdam/ATF Hamburg), Prof. Tinyiko Maluleke (South Africa), Dr. Viola Raheb (Vienna),  Friederike Willhoeft (ATF Hamburg)

Lunch

14:00 – 15:30
Mennonitische Akademie - Mennonite Academy
Background, Activities, Dreaming of Spaces for Peace - Lukas Amstutz (Bienenberg/Basel)

16:00 – 16:30
Being a Peace Church in Contexts of Oppression and Violence? - 
Heinrich Wiens (Detmold), Naemi Fast (Frankenthal), Bernhard Thiessen (Berlin)

17:00 – 17:30
War in Ukraine – Re-Militarization in Europe? - 
Naomi Enns (Lithuania),  Wieteke van der Molen (Netherlands), Tim Thiessen (Bammental)

Evening Meal

19:00
Concert
Judy Bailey und Patrick Depuhl: "Life is not Black and White"

Closing with bread and wine

Sunday, 11 October in the Mennonite Church

Mennonite Church Hamburg-Altona, Mennonitenstrasse 20, 22769 Hamburg

10:00
Celebration Church Service

Sermon: Kate Andre (Boston/USA) - Winner of the Menno Simons Sermon Award

Menno Simons Sermon Award Ceremony 

Reception

Contact and registration

You can register directly for individual days using the link below. Alternatively, please send an email to friedenskirchen@uni-hamburg.de if you have any questions or would like to submit your registration this way. 

Contact: Marianne Mettjes