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Germany’s Protestant Church Unveils Peace Paper Endorsing Conditional Deterrence

Leaders cite a changed security landscape to justify prioritizing protection from violence.

Overview

  • The EKD presented its new Friedensdenkschrift in Dresden, retaining the 'just peace' framework while elevating protection from violence and defense capability.
  • The document deems nuclear weapons ethically indefensible yet says possession can be politically necessary given current global stockpiles.
  • EKD peace commissioner Friedrich Kramer publicly opposed any acceptance of nuclear deterrence, signaling immediate internal dissent.
  • Ratsvorsitzende Kirsten Fehrs urged resistance to the AfD and said the church remains in a finding phase on whether to support a party-ban effort.
  • Delegates are also addressing slow progress on abuse case follow-up and considering structural responses to membership decline, including a proposal that would cut the Synod from 128 to about 98 seats.