Center for Peace Church Theology

The Peace Churches Theology Research Center (ATF), has been a part of the Protestant Theology Department at the University of Hamburg since the summer semester of 2006.

It focuses on the research and development of peace theology(ies) and peace theological ethics in the broadest sense. It systematically analyses a theology of peace churches in the context of ecumenical theology and deals with intercultural and interreligious issues. In recent years, historical research has become an additional focus of its activities.

Within interdisciplinary contexts, this theology and ethics are critically examined and enriched by areas such as trauma studies, conflict and violence research, climate research, gender studies, international law, and more. Through collaboration with other institutes, the "Peacebuilding Initiative of the University of Hamburg" was established, offering a one-year curriculum for students.

Internationally, ATF participates in various studies, particularly those of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and engages in a connected, ecumenical collaboration with theological faculties from various denominations. There are direct partnerships with the Amsterdam Center for Religion and Peace & Justice Studies at Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands.

In teaching, the research areas of peace theology are taught within the broader scope of Systematic, Ecumenical, and Intercultural Theology. Courses are also available in Practical Theology and Church History. (Examinations can be earned in these subjects)

Beyond research and the training of pastors and religious educators, ATF organizes public forums and guest lectures, study days, and summer schools to develop and expose peace theology and ethics within an international network of institutes, politics, society, and faith communities.

Historical Peace Churches

"Historical Peace Churches" refer to Protestant Free Churches with long-standing traditions within church history:

The Mennonites (the oldest Protestant Free Church, emerging from the Anabaptist movement during the Reformation in the 16th century);
The Church of the Brethren (originating from Pietism in the 18th century);
The Religious Society of Friends (or "Quakers," arising from English Puritanism in the 17th century).
Nonviolence is a core component of the theological ethics of the historical Peace Churches, serving as a "regulative principle" for all theological reflection. This perspective leads to specific theological positions and connections on major themes such as the image of God, Christology, and ecclesiology, influencing interpretations of other theological loci. Theology and ethics are closely intertwined, and social responsibility is shaped by the Christian values and lifestyle (following Jesus) of a visible church seeking alternatives to direct, indirect, systemic, cultural, and epistemic violence.

History

The ATF was established in 2006 through an initiative by Dr. h. c. Annelie Kümpers-Greve (1946–2017), an entrepreneur and a member of the Church Council of the Mennonite Congregation in Hamburg-Altona. Initial funding for the first five years was provided by the "Hamburg Foundation for Science, Development, and Culture Helmut and Hannelore Greve." Since 2011, funding has come from the Foundation of the Association of Mennonite Congregations (AMG) in Germany, which unites several sponsors.

A specially appointed advisory board supports and advises the ATF.

Staff
The head of the ATF is Prof. Dr. Fernando Enns (Foundation Professor since 2018), who is also a Professor of (Peace) Theology and Ethics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Dr. Marie Anne Subklew serves as the Academic Director.
Dr. Andrés Felipe Pacheco Lozano and Friederike Willhöft are Research Associates.
PD Dr. Astrid von Schlachta is a Research Associate specializing in Anabaptist and Mennonite history.
Doris Franzbach manages the ATF office.
Julia In, Antonia Meinert and Cora Chinnow work as student assistants.