wfn.org | Templeton Prize for Religion Writing aw

["Ruth Gill" <rag@cec-kek.org>]

Conference of European Churches - Office of Communications
Press Release No. 05-42/efg	   23 September 2005

TEMPLETON PRIZE FOR RELIGION WRITING
AWARDED TO TOMAS GÄRTNER IN DRESDEN

The  John Templeton prize for the "European Religion Writer of the Year
2004" has been awarded to Dr Tomas Gärtner, a freelance journalist from
Dresden, Germany. With the support of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Saxony, the award ceremony took place in the historical Dreikönigskirchen (Church of the Three Kings) of Dresden, 21 September.

The aim of the award is to honour journalists who write about religion in
the secular press with accuracy, impartiality and with an ecumenical
spirit. It is administered by the Conference of  European Churches (CEC)
on behalf of the prestigious "John Templeton Foundation".

Dr Gärtner's entry for the Templeton prize included three articles
published by the daily newspaper "Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten" (DNN).
"The articles he has submitted", said the judges, "although local in
focus, address broad issues of the place of religion in a highly secularised part of Europe, Eastern Germany". Tomas Gärtner, the judges added,
"tells his stories with objectivity, permitting readers to draw their own
conclusions rather than imposing judgements upon them."

The prize, which includes a certificate and a check for 5,000 Swiss
Francs, was given on behalf of the Templeton Foundation by the Rev.
Theodore Gill, Senior Editor of the World Council of Churches. Rev. Gill
recalled Sir John Templeton's passion for "research into the interaction
of religion, modern science, technology and the cultures of our time".

OKR Christof Vetter, spokesperson of the Evangelical Church in Germany,
underlined the value of Dr Gärtner's reporting on the life of the local
church: "Church is where you can see the bell-tower, where people meet to
worship and to help each other. The Templeton Prize has been awarded to
someone who does not write about grand assemblies and conferences, but
about the grass-roots".

"It is a high art to write about religion in a secular world", said Jochen
Bohl, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony. Both as a
reader and as a bishop, he said he appreciates Dr Gärtner's "solid
knowledge of the church and of theological issues".

Thanking the Templeton Foundation and CEC, Dr Gärtner stated he tries
"to tell people about the church, not only Christians, but especially
those who are strangers to the church". There are many interesting things
to report about the church, he said, "besides the three topics we are
always beating to death: broken-down churches, not enough money, departing
members. Not only is there a wealth of art in the churches, of unique
examples of cultural history, of architectural beauty; there is also a
wealth of people who don't make pious speeches, but whose faith opens
their eyes to the suffering of this world, and they are doing something
about it in very practical ways".

For more information see our press release at: http://www.cec-kek.org/content/pr-cq0537e.shtml

* * * *

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) is a fellowship of some 125
Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Old Catholic Churches from all
countries of Europe, plus 40 associated organisations. CEC was founded in
1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

For information:
Office of Communications
Conference of European Churches
Phone +41 22 791 64 85 or 791 63 25
Fax +41 22 791 62 27
e-mail Luca.Negro@cec-kek.org