CCME Celebrates 60th Anniversary (1964 - 2024)
Europe was a dramatically different place in 1964 when CCME was founded following a WCC sponsored conference in Arnoldshain, Germany (near Frankfurt) on migrant workers in Western Europe. The cold war and East-West confrontation was at its height three years after the building of the Berlin wall; [European institutions like the Council of Europe and the European Communities (predecessor of the EU) entirely Western European entities] . In addition, (former) colonial powers in Europe like Britain or France were in the middle of experiencing the effects of de-colonialization.
Yet, when looking at the documents which the “Churches’ Committee on West European Migration” of the WCC published in the 1960s, one finds statements underlining that on migration “Irrespective of party, political or other vested interests, the Churches should urge those with political, economic and social power to reach just solutions.” We think this could easily be part of a statement of CCME and its members today.
While the exact name, target group and mandate of CCME have changed over time, two elements have remained central:
I. calling, networking and uniting churches in their work and witness for - and increasingly with - migrants, based on convictions rooted in the biblical narrative and commandments; and
II. articulating that witness and these convictions in political and legislative debates on European level.
We are glad that these elements remain central CCME’s work today, arguably more important than ever.
The 60-year jubilee merits closer examination of the biblical foundations and confirmation of churches’ engagement for and with migrants and the impact of their work and public engagement. You will find some descriptions of trends, issues and developments over 60 years in this booklet and we have added some of the original texts which CCME developed or adopted. You will, in addition, find some excerpts from interviews with some of the Secretaries/General Secretaries of CCME, including Baldwin Sjollema, the first secretary of CCME. It was with great sadness that we learnt of his passing on 6th September 2024.
As at late summer 2024 the rights of migrants are more and more challenged in policy debate, legislation and practice, and this adds an urgency to the question of what CCME today can learn from the past for its future work. While the present situation may appear unprecedented in many ways and while the suffering borne by migrants is deplorable, it is important to recall that churches´ work for and with migrants has never been without setbacks. Yet churches have always come back with new ideas, commitment and passion – often contributing to the change of political and legal setup for the better. This is a legacy which should not be squandered.
We are extremely grateful to our colleague Joy Eva Bohol, without whom this booklet would not have been produced: she took the booklet marking 40 years of CCME, re-edited it and, through laborious work in the archives of Brussels and Geneva, unearthed important original documents. She also undertook to summarise the last 20 years of CCME´s work and to interview the different secretaries and general secretaries of CCME. Thank you.
Grateful thanks also go to the Protestant Church in the Rhineland EKIR and the Otto Per Mille fund of the Waldensian and Methodist church in Italy who both contributed funds to our activities looking forward and backward to 60 years of CCME.
As part of our celebrations, we wish you an insightful read.
Dr Torsten Moritz, CCME GS
Brussels, October 2024
and
Fiona Kendall, CCME Moderator
Rome, October 2024
Please check out our upcoming 60th Anniversary Booklet with more interesting information about the history of CCME.
