Gespräche im Schaufenster: Das Gipfeltreffen zwischen Honecker und den evangelischen Kirchenführern der DDR vom 6. März 1978
At this well-known meeting on 6 March 1978, both the leaders of the State and of the churches were operating with very different church-political objectives. Both were under pressure to achieve a successful result: the State wanted to give foreign countries and observers at least the impression that...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | German |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
1994
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| In: |
Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
Year: 1994, Volume: 7, Issue: 2, Pages: 209-235 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | At this well-known meeting on 6 March 1978, both the leaders of the State and of the churches were operating with very different church-political objectives. Both were under pressure to achieve a successful result: the State wanted to give foreign countries and observers at least the impression that religious freedom existed in the G.D.R., while the church leaders sought to show their followers that they could provide a successful diplomacy which could bring alleviations to the life of the parishes. But since the leadership of the Federation of Evangelical Churches in the G.D.R. were not secure in their position, they kept secret their preparations for this visit - although with a bad conscience. For his part, Honecker did not abandon the dual strategy followed earlier in his dealings with the churches. While he continued to keep the churches under surveillance by the Ministry for State Security, and sought to undermine or to curtail their activities through the official Secretariat for Church Questions, he was prepared to allow the churches greater room for manoeuvre through insignificant concessions. For example, he permitted the churches to have time available on the radio and television, agreed to a special programme for the building of churches, and allowed pastoral care in the prisons and old homes. But the situation of the churches was not fundamentally altered, since they remained without any defined legal status, and were still totally dependent on the favours of the ruling SED party. Honecker expected that the churches, in return, would support his policy of 'peace' abroad, and would discipline their members at home. This was clear over the issue of military instruction, which was due to be introduced, despite numerous church protests, in all schools in 1978. Whenever either side appealed to the spirit of the March 1978 meeting, they meant different things. The State presumed that the churches had now agreed to support its policies, while the churches presumed that they now had the right to proclaim the gospel as they wished. The result was a deliberate misleading of the public, for which the State was in the first place to blame, but for which the churches were at least in part responsible. |
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| ISSN: | 2196-808X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
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