100 leaders and delegates of the “Together for Europe” network gathered in the Netherlands during 12-14 November. Together they published the following statement in answer to the terrorist attacks in Paris. “We heard with dismay of the dramatic attacks in Paris as we were gathered together in Marienkroon, in the Netherlands. Presnet were more than 100 representatives of different Christian movements and communities from 13 European countries and belonging to different churches. For us Europe is the continent in which people of different cultures and religious beliefs are welcome and where they can live united in freedom and peace. We interrupted our conference proceedings in order to have a moment of silent and to pray together. The tragic events urged us to work with even greater commitment to uphold Europe’s values. Our Christian faith too calls and obliges us to do this. We are close to the families of the victims and we are united in solidarity with the politicians who will make serious decisions in these days. We live as friends in Europe and in this moment we experience a deep closeness with all the French people. We pledge to pray for peace more than ever before and to live for it, to spread it wherever we are. We want to live mutual love and trust in greater depth and to derive strength from this. Through its human face and and the faithfulness to its values, Europe will continue to hope and to share in a common future.”

More information about “Together for Europe” can be found at: www.together4europe.org

The initiative “Together for Europe” is an international network of about 300 christian movements and communities from all over Europe. It originated in 1999 and connects evangelical, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox Christians as well as members of free churches and new communities. 70 communities constitute the group “Friends of Together for Europe”.