Department of Protestant Theology
Department ofProtestant Theology
The memorandum on peace is clearly a step backward.
9 January 2026, by Marianne Mettjes
Theology instead of Realpolitik? For Mennonite peace theologian Fernando Enns, the current EKD document falls short. In an interview with reformiert., he explains why it lacks theological depth. Here is an excerpt:
The EKD Peace Memorandum is being discussed controversially. How do you assess the document?
I am quite appalled. Although I had already heard about the general direction through my ecumenical contacts, I was nonetheless dismayed when the document was finally published: The peace memorandum is clearly a step backward.
Why?
Admittedly, the document still tries to build on the ecumenical guiding principle of "Just Peace." We developed this concept within the World Council of Churches (WCC), of which the EKD is a member. There was a consensus that peace ethics should no longer solely revolve around the question of when war might be legitimate—despite the fact that we have the Gospel of Peace in the New Testament, the biblical visions of Shalom, and the knowledge that we must not kill and should love our enemies. In the WCC, we agreed that efforts in peace ethics must be much more strongly focused on peacebuilding through non-violent means. Instead, the new EKD Peace Memorandum asks: Where do you stand on the military, and what happens when the aggressor is at the door?
The full conversation can be found at: (in German)
