Declaration of the 4th session of the 36th Synod of the ECCB (May 23, 2026, Cheb)
At its meeting, the Synod of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren adopted the following statement.
Statement of the 36th Synod of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren on Czech-German Reconciliation
The Synod of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren welcomes every effort aimed at reconciliation between individuals and between different groups. We therefore appreciate the goodwill of the Meeting Brno association and the Sudeten German Association, which are taking the bold step of moving forward on the path of confession and reconciliation for historical wrongs during the Pentecost holidays in 2026.
Forgiveness and the call to reconciliation, which we recognize in the story of Jesus Christ, are among the principles of our faith. For decades, our church has been actively involved in the process of Czech-German reconciliation. This includes honestly acknowledging the suffering and guilt that have marked our shared history on both sides. This makes it all the more painful for us to witness attempts to exploit historical wounds to reignite collective hatred and prejudice in connection with Sudeten German Day in Brno.
Our history teaches us that inciting fear and hostility toward certain groups of people always leads to a bad outcome. We therefore call on politicians and public figures not to contribute to an atmosphere of hatred and nationalist propaganda.
We stand in solidarity with those who are deeply affected by the current resurgence of this hatred.
In Cheb, May 23, 2026