Invited by the Conference of European Churches, Eurodiaconia (the European Federation for Diaconia), the European Contact Group on Urban and Industrial Mission and the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe, more than 110 participants from 26 European countries gathered in Järvenpää (Finland) 26-29 September for the European Diaconal Forum 2001. "Diaconia" is a Greek word meaning "service", and is used to indicate the churches' social action. The Forum built on the experiences of the first pan-European consultation on diaconia, held in Bratislava (Slovak Republic) in 1994, and on the "Bratislava Declaration" adopted at that meeting.

The European Diaconal Forum was a space for dialogue, networking, analysis and reflection on the new challenges which have emerged for the churches' social action within the rapid changes in Europe. It was organized in four thematic groups around the topics of the value of work and employment, migration and mobility, building sustainable communities and seeking quality of life for all. Three round tables focused on the relationship between diaconia and the churches, between diaconia and civil society, and the tasks of diaconia in relation to the changing role of the state and of the European institutions.

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in America, the importance of dialogue with other faiths, especially with Islam, was stressed. The churches have to play an active role in striving for integration and sustainable communities. The roots of their Christian identity give them a responsibility to support initiatives against violence and for peace. There was a great concern for the impact of the latest terrorist attacks on policies for migrants and refugees and their situation in European countries. In a time of increased restrictions and closed borders, there is an ever greater need for the churches to build up means of support and strong monitoring and advocacy structures.

The Forum attached great importance to a new examination of the role of the state in providing welfare in Europe today. This was seen as crucial in face of the widening gap between rich and poor in the continent. It proposed that a project be undertaken to establish a European consensus on these issues between churches and their diaconal institutions, to enable them to engage in advocacy with political bodies.

Churches in solidarity with the weakest must work together and learn from each other in the process of building up new strategies. Plans were discussed to build up a European Diaconal Academy as a network among organisations providing training for workers in the field of diaconia, as well as an instrument to deepen common analysis and strategies.

Tony Addy, General Secretary of the European Contact Group for Urban and Industrial Mission, acted as the general rapporteur of the Forum. "There is a need for intensified communication, dialogue and mutual learning between people and churches in different parts of Europe", he said at the end of the meeting. "We need more space for a fruitful encounter between East and West and between diaconal actors and those they seek to serve".

The Forum identified a series of projects and strategies. Some of these will be developed by the four sponsoring organisations together and others by individual organisations. The sponsors will convene a meeting in November to organise the follow-up of the Forum.

The Conference of European Churches is a fellowship of some 127 Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant and Old Catholic Churches from all countries of Europe. It was founded in 1959. It has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Strasbourg.

The European Federation for Diaconia - Eurodiaconia - is the association of 44 Protestant and Orthodox diaconal organisations from 25 European countries. Its office is in Brussels.

The Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe is an association of churches and ecumenical councils from 14 European countries, working on migration, asylum and racism. Its office is in Brussels.

The European Contact Group for Urban and Industrial Mission is a Europe-wide network of people and organisations working in urban, rural and industrial mission and community work. Its office is based in Prague.