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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3335 notes).

Note 3335 by UMNS on Dec. 12, 1996 at 10:37 Eastern (3862 characters).

SEARCH:  United Methodist, Lutheran, Germany, Potsdam, Klaiber
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally                     623(10-71BP){3335}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470              Dec. 9, 1996

EDITORS NOTE:  Photo available with this story.

Corner stone laid for United Methodist,
Lutheran Center in Pottsdam, German

                 by United Methodist News Service

     The cornerstone was laid Dec. 1 for a new United Methodist-
Lutheran church center in Potsdam, Germany, the state capitol of
Brandenburg, just outside Berlin.
     More than 1,500 people participated in the ceremony conducted
by United Methodist Bishop Walter Klaiber and Lutheran Bishop
Wolfgang Huber.  Other participants included the mayor of Potsdam
and the Federal Secretary for Construction, Claus Topfer.
     Located in a 5,000-population suburb of Potsdam, the new
center will include a chapel, social and class rooms, offices for
both United Methodist and Lutheran congregations, apartments for
two clergy families and the custodian, and a library and social
center for the suburban community of Potsdam.
     The $5.35 million cost of the center is being shared by the
two churches and the city of Potsdam.  It is the most costly
church construction project now under development in Germany.
     The $500,000 cost of a steeple, bell and clock is being
contributed by the company that is responsible for developing the
area.  Owner of the company successfully persuaded church and
community leaders that the new suburb must have a church and city
center.
     The bishops admitted that without the "friendly pressure" of
the developer, the churches would not have made the move.  "In
these days such an undertaking cannot be done by itself but in
ecumenical friendship and cooperation," Klaiber said.  A Lutheran
official said that in a time of "money and security" the new
center represents "trust and sharing."
     The cost of the center will not come out of United Methodist
apportioned funds or Lutheran church taxes but from special
offerings of congregations and the sale of unused church property.
     The project is unique in that no partner -- church or
government -- will be subsidizing another, allowing each to
provide services that could not be offered otherwise.
     The architect is Romano Burelli, a Roman Catholic who said it
would not have been possible for him to design a church for
Protestants in his own country of Italy.
     The former United Methodist chapel on the opposite side of
the suburb will be closed while the Lutherans will use their old
village church for Sunday services.
     "We are responsible for the Sunday services in the center,"
explained United Methodist pastor Christian Voller-Morgenstern. 
"There will be only one chapel in the center but wings of Lutheran
and Methodist rooms on both sides of it.  However, we have agreed
that every room may be used by both congregations when it is not
occupied."
     The cornerstone-laying ceremony coincidentally fell on the
10th anniversary of another United Methodist-Lutheran congregation
in Berlin-Marzahn. The "Church of Reconciliation" was built in
1986 in the former East Berlin.  It was one of a few churches
allowed to build by the communist government of the former German
Democratic Republic.
     At the close of the ceremony in Potsdam, Huber said, "This is
the happiest day I have had during my two years as a bishop."
                              #  #  #

     NOTE:  Information for this article was provided by the Rev.
Heiner Meinhardt, United Methodist pastor from Berlin and a
governing member of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education
and Ministry.

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