The Limits of Tolerance and Religious Freedom: Report from the 2025 EME Conference
The tension and excitement were immense: participants from around the world gathered in our community to discuss one of the greatest challenges of our time. Where must religious freedom end to protect more essential human rights? Where should the boundaries of our tolerance be drawn when we face extreme beliefs and worldviews?
For four days, the participants tackled these and other questions. Unitarians, Unitarian Universalists, Remonstrants, Free Christians, liberal Muslims, Christian Unitarians, and other free-religious and freethinking movements from the USA, Brazil, Europe, and the Middle East showed how seriously they take this issue. Yet, coming together—the warm, open, and friendly encounters and exchanges—was always the top priority. New acquaintances and even friendships were formed. Old companions reunited, and complete strangers discovered how much they share!
Absolute highlights of this conference were our guests of honor: Firstly, the President of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF), Professor George Williams, who traveled all the way from Hawaii. Secondly, women’s rights activist and Imam Seyran Ateş, founder of the Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque, delivered the keynote address for the conference, offering a deep insight into the world of dealing with extremism and intolerance—especially as she is constantly confronted with it herself. Moreover, she honored us by participating in the interfaith service with a contribution of her own.
In the following, we would like to give you a more detailed insight into the conference and the pre-tour! But first, the most important thing: An immeasurable “Thank You” goes to my team at Schillerplatz. Philippe Bender, Alexander Goy, Henry Rodriguez, and Kathrin Corso worked in the background to ensure the smooth care and support of our house guests. Additionally, Johannes Spindler from the Unitarians – Religious Community of Free Faith, was a great help from the very first minute in managing technical and organizational tasks on-site, and in him, I found a new friend and companion.
And last but not least, there are Gudrun Hahn from the Frankfurt community and chair of the German IARF member group, Matthias Pilger-Strohl, Dorothee Gehrmann, Angela and Alexandra Wegel from our community, as well as Pastor Alexander, Sonja Weisdorf, and Stefan Vardopoulos from the Frankfurt community, where the last day of the conference took place and who took care of all the challenges for a successful conclusion. A big thank you finally goes to Lukasz Liniewicz, who as the Secretary of IARF supported the live streams and organization! “Thank you” to all of you!
Below, you can find recordings of the main events from the conference, hosted in the new IARF Digital Library. Each video includes subtitles available in both English and German.
Conference Pre-Tour: Offenbach and Frankfurt in a Nutshell
Pre-Tour: Day 1, Tuesday, September 9, 2025
On the first day of our pre-tour, we had a lot planned as a grand bus tour was on the agenda. Together with the guests of the IARF EME Conference, we visited many friendly Free Religious communities near and far.
The tour started at the Free Religious Community in Ingelheim. Here we admired the oldest completely preserved consecration hall from 1910 and were introduced to the beginnings of the Free Religious movement.
After a short drive, we reached the Free Religious Community in Mainz, in the heart of the Rhine city. There, we were once again warmly welcomed and had the opportunity to learn about the situation of the community and the movement during the Nazi regime in the Third Reich.
A leap into the present was taken at the Forum Franklin in Mannheim, the headquarters of the Free Religious State Community of Baden. Here, impressive ways of social and intergenerational encounters based on free-thinking and humanistic values were presented.
The joyous conclusion took place in Ludwigshafen at our friendly Free Religious State Community of Palatinate. We were warmly hosted, informed, and entertained with singing and good conversations. We also gained insights into the Ronge Museum, which contains the estate of the co-founder of the Free Religious movement, Johannes Ronge.
Pre-Tour: Day 2, Wednesday, September 10, 2025
The focus of this day was the city of Frankfurt am Main, and what better place to start than where a part of the Free Religious movement began: in Frankfurt’s St. Paul’s Church (Paulskirche)!
Arriving at the historic building, a guided tour brought us closer to the connections between the German Revolution, the Frankfurt National Assembly, and the city of Frankfurt. Moreover, through a small journey through time, we were able to connect with contemporary witnesses of the Free Religious movement who were active in the Paulskirche parliament.
After the tour, we soaked up the Frankfurt lifestyle with a snack in the Kleinmarkthalle!
Strengthened, we then met with our sister community, the Unitarian Free Religious Community of Frankfurt, where we were warmly welcomed as usual, and the guests got an insight into our partnership.
The Museum Judengasse was our next stop. In an impressive way, the guests were introduced to the historical life of the people in the Frankfurt Ghetto and shown how social protest for preservation and a culture of remembrance can lead to success.
After these many impressions, we ended the day relaxing on Frankfurt’s Römer square with apple wine, excited for what the next day—the official opening day of the conference—would bring.
Pre-Tour: Day 3, Thursday, September 11, 2025
On the third day of the pre-tour, which was also set to transition into the conference opening in the evening, we visited the French-Reformed Church in Offenbach and were warmly welcomed by board member Sven Malsy and Pastor Schneider-Trotier. We were guided through the church and the parish house, learning about the important and interesting history of the Huguenots in Offenbach.
Afterwards, the group visited the Albert Schweitzer Center, which has found its new home in Offenbach. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of this visit.
Conference: Day 1, Thursday, September 11, 2025
After a two-and-a-half-day pre-tour, the festive opening of the IARF EME Conference ’25 had finally arrived, and to our great joy, we were able to welcome many guests from near and far from various liberal religious communities!
As pastor of our Free Religious community and chairman of the European group of the International Association for Religious Freedom, I opened the conference with a short reflection and a speech. Gudrun Hahn, chair of the German IARF group, and Prof. George M. Williams, President of the IARF, also took the opportunity to address the participants in the consecration hall or those connected online. The opening concluded with a presentation by Rev. Dr. Esther Suter, IARF representative to the United Nations.
During dinner, all guests had the opportunity to network, maintain existing contacts, and exchange and deepen thoughts in a relaxed atmosphere.
To conclude this memorable opening, a cultural highlight awaited the participants: Master cellist Christopher Herrmann and concert pianist Ekaterine Kintsurashvili thrilled the audience with a wonderful concert, where fans of both classical and modern music were fully catered for with creative arrangements.
Conference: Day 2, Friday, September 12, 2025
The morning began with my presentation, giving an insight into the rich history, vibrant present, and future-oriented goals of the Free Religious movement. I emphasized how this liberal religious community has always defended individual religious freedom and an open, tolerant society. A powerful reminder of the importance of questioning traditional dogmas, finding one’s own free path of faith, and staying in dialogue with one another.
In the afternoon, the full attention was on Kurt Bangert, representing the Federation of Free Christians, who spoke on liberal theology and religious freedom, and Norbert Rácz, who provided an insight into the “Evolution of Religious Freedom Through History.”
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the keynote speech by Seyran Ateş. The distinguished lawyer, author, and founder of the liberal Ibn Rushd-Goethe Mosque delivered a speech titled “Limits of Tolerance and Liberal Religion” that touched us all. She spoke with remarkable clarity about the possibilities of a liberal Islam that sees itself as an integral part of a pluralistic, democratic society. At the same time, she urgently warned against the dangers of a political, conservative Islam that curtails freedom and human rights, pointing out that politics often shies away from confronting this issue. Her call to stand up for an enlightened and tolerant faith was an inspiring call to action for all of us.
Conference: Day 3, Saturday, September 13, 2025
The morning started with a “Panel of Free Religion.” On the podium were women’s rights activist and Imam Seyran Ateş, IARF President Prof. George Williams, the President of the Federation of Free Religious Communities in Germany, Renate Bauer, and Robert Ince, former President of the IARF. Moderated by myself, the group discussed the meaning of religious freedom and the challenges facing liberal faith communities in today’s world. It was a fascinating discussion that showed how different and yet how similar the paths to a free and self-determined faith can be.
The highlight of the day was the presentation by Gabriela Frey. The coordinator of the European Buddhist Union and its representative at the Council of Europe spoke about “Interreligious & Interconvictional Dialogue on a European Level – The Council of Europe: Work, Potentials and Challenges.” She shared her many years of experience working for religious freedom in European institutions and highlighted the opportunities and hurdles that interreligious dialogue faces at the political level.
The day concluded with a true delight for the guests! Master organist Detlef Steffenhagen enchanted us with his captivating concert program “Organ goes cinema.” The sounds of the organ filled the consecration hall and created an unforgettable finale for this eventful day.
Conference: Day 4, Sunday, September 14, 2025
The fourth and final day at the Unitarian Free Religious Community in Frankfurt began with an Interfaith Service. Led by Pastors Alexander Schmahl and myself, this interreligious ceremony brought us together to share our common values of humanity, dialogue, individual freedom, and mutual respect. It was a moment of deep connection that reminded us how much we can achieve when we talk to each other, identify what unites us, and stand up for each other and for a liberal faith.
A special highlight was the presentation by Rev. Dr. Esther Suter. As the IARF’s representative to the United Nations, she gave us a fascinating insight into the work of the “International Association of Liberal Religious Women” and reported on their conference “Power of Dialogue and Partnership,” which had taken place just a few weeks earlier in Malaysia. Her presentation highlighted the crucial role of liberal religious women in promoting dialogue, peace, and justice worldwide.
After a final joint reflection on the past days, which summarized the diversity of ideas and the depth of the conversations, the conference came to a worthy conclusion. We are particularly grateful for the lively community we were privileged to experience over the days.
Limits of Religious Freedom and Tolerance: IARF EME Conference 2025
The International Association for Religious Freedom is pleased to announce that its Europe and Middle East (EME) region will hold its quadrennial conference in September 2025 in Frankfurt and Offenbach am Main, Germany. The conference will be hosted by several German IARF member groups, led by the Frei-religiöse Gemeinde Offenbach, which will be celebrating its 180th anniversary during this time.
Building upon the success and lessons learned from the 2023 IARF Congress, the 2025 EME Regional Conference will be the first hybrid conference, allowing members from all regions to participate and contribute. The event will consist of a Pre-Conference Tour on 9-11 September 2025, followed by the main programme on 11-14 September (please note that arrival and departure dates are one day earlier or later, respectively).
The theme for the conference, “Limits of Religious Freedom and Tolerance,” was selected through a participatory process involving all EME members. The Organising Committee is diligently working on the programme details and logistics, with registration set to open soon. Interested participants are encouraged to subscribe to the IARF newsletter for updates and to check the official website for more information as it becomes available. The committee also welcomes volunteers who wish to contribute their expertise and enthusiasm in shaping an exceptional conference program.
The upcoming conference follows in the footsteps of previous successful EME conferences, such as the 2021 online conference Does Religion set you Free?, the 2016 conference in Tetovo, Northern Macedonia, titled Religion and Conflict Prevention, and the 2012 conference in Elspeet, the Netherlands.
For those interested in contributing to the conference preparations, please contact Rev. Pascal Schilling at [email protected] or IARF Secretary Luke Liniewicz at [email protected]. The EME region looks forward to promoting growth, connection, and mutual understanding through this conference while putting liberal religion in the spotlight.
The Date
Pre-Conference Tour:
9-11 September 2025
(Arrival date: 8 September)
Conference:
11-14 September 2025
(Arrival date: 10 September
Departure date: 14 in the afternoon or 15 September)
The Hosts
A coalition of German Member Groups of the IARF led by the Frei-religiöse Gemeinde Offenbach and the EME. The congregation is founded on the principles of freedom of religion and the inherent worth of every individual. It advocates for a free belief system that embraces scientific knowledge while acknowledging the human capacity to unite reason and emotion in the religious experience. Central to its philosophy is the idea that religion fosters a sense of moral responsibility, serving as the spiritual and emotional foundation for the religious individual. The Frei-religiöse Gemeinde Offenbach welcomes all interested individuals to engage with the congregation and explore the principles of free religion.
IARF Ideals Practiced in Our Congregation – Free-Religious Congregation in Offenbach am Main, Germany
The free-religious community in Offenbach has been a part of the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) since the 1920s. Besides our connection with the international IARF community, a significant concern is promoting dialogue, cooperation, and the further development of religious life among diverse religions and worldviews. Below, we present a few of the projects and activities of our community:
Café International
Held twice a month, Café International provides individuals of all backgrounds a space to meet, exchange ideas, and receive assistance with everyday life. Volunteers aid newcomers to the city, while joint excursions featuring language guides and an educational program for children showcase how living together can be simplified despite language and cultural barriers. Café International evolved from Café Hallo, an initiative launched in April 2022 for refugees from Ukraine.
Circle of Religions
Our free-religious community in Offenbach is a co-founder of this group, which has organized several “Days of Religions”. During this event, various religious communities present themselves in public spaces and schools, addressing questions such as: How does your religion relate to the diversity of sexual orientations and identities? What are your views on abortion? etc. Annually, we also coordinate a “Prayer of Religions” where each religious community delves into its religious practices before discussing a common topic.
Church Asylum
We offer church asylum or shelter to those persecuted for political, religious, or inhumane reasons. In light of the influx of refugees from Syria, Ukraine, and other third-world countries, we strive to provide them a safe haven and aid in their integration into our society.
Kindergarten
Our free-religious community in Offenbach and its gGmbH now operate three kindergartens. Here, we foster children from a multitude of cultures and religions. In these kindergartens, we run a program for school beginners, teaching them about various religions and the importance of respectful coexistence.
Festival of Women
Every two years, we organize a festival dedicated to the persistent unequal treatment of women and men across all walks of life. In conjunction with this, we hold a panel discussion on “Women in Religion” and a consecration hour that critically addresses this topic. All proceeds are donated to the women’s shelter in Offenbach.
About the Free-Religious Community Offenbach
The Free-Religious Community Offenbach, established on March 9, 1845, is one of the earliest and largest free-religious communities in Germany, with around 1,150 members. As a liberal religious community, we encompass a spectrum of beliefs, from religious humanists to rationalistic pantheists and dogma-free Christians. We encourage each member to form their own faith, fostering freedom of thought, faith, and conscience without strict adherence to holy scriptures or universally accepted doctrines.
The community was founded by individuals active in education, social care, and economic life, who were interested in religious-rationalist reform and political-democratic changes. Today, we continue to uphold these ideals, seeking co-determination in both church and state matters, championing social justice, equal rights, and educational opportunities for all. Despite the significant societal changes since our establishment, our guiding principles remain grounded in a dogma-free religion and a deep sense of unity in the spirit of humanity.
The Free-Religious Community Offenbach is part of the Bund Freireligiöser Gemeinden Deutschlands and is connected globally through the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and the International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF). Despite our widespread connections, we maintain our independence, primarily serving the city and county of Offenbach but reaching far beyond.
Our community center, located in the city center, serves as a hub for a range of activities, including Sunday celebrations, lectures, discussions, festivals, group activities, rites of passage, and social care services. In an ever-evolving world, we continue to adapt our statements, work methods, and community life while preserving our foundational faith and principles.