ECUMENICAL GREETINGS
500 Years of the Anabaptist Movement: Welcome to Zurich!
Dear Mennonite World Conference,
Some 500 years ago, the Reformation took its course in Zurich. Things that seemed immutable underwent changes. The people fought for new freedoms.
Among other things, the history of the Reformation is a story of social upheaval and the establishment of a new state church, followed by a process of rebuilding that seemed to be above reproach.
Yet the treatment of the Anabaptist movement is a dark chapter in the history of the Reformation in Zurich. The critically reformist and progressive Anabaptists were persecuted, robbed of their property, and forced into exile with the cooperation of the new state church. Felix Manz, a former companion of Zwingli, published a pamphlet against infant baptism. He was sentenced to death for this and, on January 5, 1527, was drowned in the Limmat River.
As late as 1952, the city government of Zurich refused to commemorate the drowned Anabaptist. Fortunately, this finally changed in 2004 when city councillor Robert “Bobby” Neukomm and church council president Ruedi Reich dedicated a memorial plaque on the banks of the Limmat. They acknowledged the injustice of the past, and they apologized on behalf of the city and the church.
Today, members of over 110 national church bodies associated with Mennonite World Conference are traveling to Zurich to celebrate 500 years of the Anabaptist movement. We who are part of Zurich today, join in that celebration. As mayor of Zurich, it is particularly important to me--especially in light of the city's history--to welcome you all to Zurich.
On behalf of the city government, I wish you a successful commemoration and an inspiring time in Zurich. Thank you for your commitment to peace, to freedom, and for your “courage to love.”
Corine Mauch
Mayor of Zurich
The beginnings of the Anabaptist movement are closely linked to Switzerland. On this special day, it is therefore a distinct pleasure and honor for us as the Conference of Mennonites in Switzerland (KMS) to welcome you all to this joyful event.
500 years ago, several people here in Zurich took a courageous step with the first Anabaptist baptism of faith. Today, as Mennonites in Switzerland we are a small community. But we are part of a movement that has become diverse and international - often due to migration or mission. The fact that you are here and celebrating with us is a gift. Together with you, we want to continue to live into this global Anabaptist-Mennonite community in the future and to share our gifts with each other.
A warm welcome also goes to our ecumenical brothers and sisters. Your presence testifies to the new forms of fellowship that have emerged following the break in church unity in the sixteenth century. In various ecumenical encounters, we have learned from each other and experienced reconciliation. Ultimately, we have also rediscovered our identity as a peace church. We pray to God that, together with you, we may continue to seek and experience “the courage to love.”
Gladys Geiser und Lukas Amstutz
co-presidents (KMS)
Greetings for the 500th Anniversary of the Anabaptist Movement
Dear Friends,
As we gather in Zurich on May 29, 2025, inspired by the theme "Courage to Love", I extend my heartfelt greetings on behalf of the Protestant Church in Switzerland PCS to all participants of the 500th anniversary celebration of the Anabaptist movement. This milestone invites us to reflect on a journey marked by profound faith in Jesus' teachings, the resilience to endure severe persecution, and the efforts to reconcile and heal historical wounds.
The Anabaptist movement, born in Zurich in 1525, has significantly influenced the Christian faith through its steadfast commitment to Jesus' teachings, particularly his messages of nonviolence, love, and community. Despite persecution and the need for many to hide and flee, the movement has endured, leaving a legacy of deep spiritual conviction and community life.
The PCS and its member churches are aware of the historical guilt they have incurred. Over the past decades, they have engaged in a meaningful dialogue with the Mennonite community, seeking to heal past wounds and build bridges of understanding and cooperation. The reconciliation initiative, highlighted by the Swiss Dialogue between Mennonites and Reformed Christians (2006-2009), and similar efforts by member churches of the PCS, including the 2004 “Steps to Reconciliation” in Zurich, a forgiveness ceremony in Berne 2008, and dialogue activities in the Jura, involved acknowledging these past injustices, offering apologies, and fostering mutual understanding. In these processes, the Reformed became more and more aware of where they had betrayed the gospel in their relationship with the Anabaptists and Mennonites and failed to recognise them as faithful followers of Jesus.
As we commemorate this significant anniversary, let us honor the Anabaptism legacy and embrace the ongoing journey towards mutual respect and collaboration. May the spirit of "Courage to Love" inspire us all to actively pursue peace, justice, and understanding in our world.
With heartfelt blessings for our continued journey together in the footsteps of Christ.
Rita Famos
President, Protestant Church in Switzerland (PCS)
What started out small is now a large movement. Five hundred years ago, the global community of Anabaptists emerged as a group of young, like-minded people who met together here in Zurich. I am delighted that you are meeting here again half a millennium later to celebrate this event. You are warmly welcomed!
In the canton of Zurich we are convinced that having a clear relationship between the state and religion is important for a liberal society. Why? Religious communities present a special challenge for the state. They are both an opportunity and a risk. Religious communities strengthen religious peace, contribute much to social cohesion, provide significant social services, protect and transmit values, and are often present in places that are otherwise neglected.
However, religious communities have always been, and continue to be, a risk for states. If religious communities claim for themselves the power to regulate social life, they call into question the legitimacy of the state. This is why a clearly defined relationship with religious communities is important for the Canton of Zurich.
We actively nurture this relationship--with all established religious communities--and value it highly.
I congratulate you on the 500th anniversary and wish you a successful time in Zurich.
Jacqueline Fehr, Government Councillor
Head of the Directorate of Justice and Home Affairs of
the Canton of Zurich
I am delighted that the Mennonite World Conference is commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement here in Zurich, and that we will worship in the Grossmünster Church together. Just this year, I had the privilege of baptizing a young adult in this historic place and took the opportunity to remind the Reformed congregation of the history of the Anabaptists and of the shameful part we played.
In 2004, Ruedi Reich, then president of the Reformed Church Council of Zurich, rightly described the persecution of the Anabaptists by the Zurich reformers as a “betrayal of the Gospel.” I am grateful for his apology on our behalf and that we have reached a point of reconciliation after 500 years of estrangement. The Reformed Church no longer sees the baptism of adults as a threat to state allegiance or as a misunderstanding of God's grace. Mennonites and Reformed Christians discuss, pray, and celebrate together and are constantly striving for the concrete realisation of a life in accordance with the Bible and oriented towards peace and non-violence. We respect our different approaches and characteristics, knowing that we come closest to what is true and best when we listen to and learn from one another.
Today, we take our common roots, which have spread out from Zurich to the whole world, as an opportunity to come together as sisters and brothers, to pray and celebrate and make the one Church of Jesus Christ visible in its shared work for God’s kingdom of love, justice and peace.
Rev. Dr. Esther Straub
President, Reformed Church Council of Zurich
Greetings from the Evangelical Alliance of Zurich on the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement!
Dear brothers and sisters—wasn't that how the first Anabaptists addressed each other 500 years ago?
We gladly take up these words: Congratulations, dear sisters and brothers—dear descendants of those first Anabaptists in Zurich—on this great day of celebration, your 500th anniversary.
We in the Evangelical Alliance of Zurich gratefully acknowledge that your ancestors established the first free churches after the Reformation. Over the centuries, you have grown into various communities, churches, and organizations and have become part of the Evangelical Alliance.
From the story of your beginnings we can learn:
How good and important it is to read the Bible together, to discuss it, and then to act on what becomes clear from our shared reflection.
That life in community—both in and outside of regular church services—is God's will for humanity.
That following Jesus Christ can entail consequences that go against “political correctness” and established religious assumptions.
That Christian opposition to violence leads to peace between hostile people, groups, and nations.
We want to consider anew these themes from your history.
How good that those who have come to Zurich for this celebration are here. We thank you, dear sisters and brothers, and rejoice in our fellowship with you. We wish God's rich blessing for your communities, in your commitment to justice and peace, and in your service to others. May your discipleship in the way of Jesus Christ always be nourished by a shared study of the Bible together the guidance of God’s Spirit.
With the words of Paul from Colossians 1:9ff we pray:
“May you be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. . . so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God” (CEB)
On behalf of the Evangelical Alliance of Zurich,
Peter Hasler, Zoe Gospel Center, Präsident EAZ
Rachel Stoessel, Campus für Christus
Rahel Strahm, Viva Kirche ZH
Roland Dell’mour, Siebenten-Tags-Adventisten ZH
Martin Brütsch, ETG in Zürich
Markus Muntwiler, Heilsarmee Zürich Zentral
The Lutheran World Federation greets you with the words from Ephesians: “making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). These words guided the dialogue that began in 2002 between Anabaptists-Mennonites and led to the liturgy of forgiveness and reconciliation in 2010. The healing of memories has continued between our two communions and with other historic communions, notably in the Lutheran-Mennonite-Roman Catholic trilateral conversation that has produced an important study: “Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church.”
Looking together at the past is itself an act of reconciliation. But the journey does not end there. We continue to make every effort to maintain and strengthen unity and the bonds of peace. The Trilateral Report calls us to greater cooperation. Our journey of dialogue continues--a dialogue that bears fruit in repentance, in practice, and in daily life as we seek to live and witness together to the Gospel. The Lutheran world gives thanks today for the witness of the Anabaptist-Mennonite communion, for its radical and uncompromising commitment to love and to seek peace. We can all learn from your courage to love, a love that continually opens doors towards deeper communion among us.
Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt
General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation
Dear sisters and brothers in the Mennonite World Conference,
It is a particular honour to greet you on behalf of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. In 2025, you celebrate the 500th anniversary of the first believers’ baptisms in Zurich. We rejoice with you and thank God for the 500 years of committed Christians witness evident in the Anabaptist tradition. As Reformed Christians, we are very aware that the perseverance of the Anabaptist churches took place in the face of fierce resistance from other Christian churches. As Reformed Christians, we acknowledge that we have largely suppressed the memory of the persecution of the Anabaptists. We confess that this persecution was, according to our present conviction, a betrayal of the Gospel.
As Reformed Christians, we are deeply grateful to the Mennonite World Conference for inviting us to journey together toward mutual understanding and reconciliation. At the commemoration of the 500 years of Anabaptism in May in Zurich, we will issue a joint statement with the title “Restoring Our Family to Wholeness: Seeking a Common Witness.” In this statement, we remember our common roots in the Zurich Reformation and try to reconnect to what we have in common. Despite our troubled history and the remaining differences, we believe that we have a sound foundation that allows us to witness together in a world yearning for peace and justice.
Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi
General Secretary, World Communion of Reformed Churches
The World Evangelical Alliance extends warm congratulations to the Mennonite World Conference on the double commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the MWC and the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement. We recognize the tremendous courage of Anabaptists who have so often been persecuted for their beliefs and practices. We recognize the missionary zeal of Anabaptists who have spread the gospel in many countries around the world.
We ask God’s blessing on the ongoing work of the Mennonite World Conference. May God, the Father, give us courage to love in a world where we see much hatred. May Jesus Christ, Son of God, who saved us from sin and death, be our example in giving his life in service to others. And may the Holy Spirit keep us all from evil and lead us in paths of righteousness.
Rev. Dr. Goodwill Shana, Executive Chair
World Evangelical Alliance
Thank you for this opportunity to bring you warm greetings in Christ from The International
Salvation Army. As you gather in Zurich on this Ascension Day to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement, be assured of our prayer support for you at this wonderful celebration. “The Courage to Love!” challenges the people of God to continue following in Christ’s footsteps, no matter how high the cost may be. Radical holy living is needed today, when the opposite seems to be so prevalent and the teachings of Christ are no longer familiar. All Christians share a huge responsibility to live out their love for God and others.
One of the songs in The Salvation Army songbook expresses this desire:
My life must be Christ’s broken bread, / My love his outpoured wine… / That other souls, refreshed and fed, / May share His life through mine. (Albert Orsborn)
Looking forward to the future, we pray: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Lynndon Buckingham
General, The International Salvation Army
It is with much joy that I send greetings on behalf of the Anglican Communion to the Mennonite
World Conference on the occasion of your anniversary commemorations in Zurich.
The theme “The Courage to Love: Anabaptism@500” captures the long, very courageous and painful witness of Mennonite Christians over five centuries. It is very good that we can now meet as reconciled friends and rejoice in the mission and witness you have kept alive, especially in your commitment to justice and peace.
The world and the churches are in urgent need of reconciliation today, and I thank God for the lead that you give all of us, encouraging us to renew our commitment to Christ daily.
With prayers and all good wishes.
Yours in Christ,
The Rt Revd Anthony Poggo
Secretary General, The Anglican Communion
Warm greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, conveyed on behalf of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). It is with great pleasure and in recognition of our shared heritage that we join the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) in marking the 500th anniversary of the birth of the Anabaptist movement.
As a global community of believers, the BWA brings together 253 Member Partners in 130 countries and territories, uniting 51 million individuals under the banner of faith and fellowship. Today, we celebrate
this historic anniversary and the courage and love of our forebears.
We thank God for BWA’s long standing relationship with MWC and pray that this commemoration and rededication will exemplify our common values of love, service, religious freedom for all, and a deep-
rooted commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray that our next 500 years will be filled with ministries that make a lasting difference in the lives of others. To God be the glory!
With warmest regards,
Rev. Elijah M. Brown, PhD
General Secretary and CEO, Baptist World Alliance
On behalf of the World Methodist Council I would like to present greetings to the Mennonite World Conference--to the MWC General Council and to “The Courage to Love” 500th anniversary commemoration of the Anabaptist movement taking place in Zurich on May 29, 2025. I would like to express our gratitude to God and our congratulations to you, for the divine calling of Mennonites in your faithful ministry of peace and reconciliation, in speaking out against injustice, and in building resilience through many initiatives on trauma healing.
On a more personal note, the 1920s persecution of Mennonites in South Russia led one group to migrate to southern Brazil where there is still a strong Mennonite church and community. My mother, towards the end of her life, was under the care of the Lar Menonita, a residence for the elderly in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, for which I am eternally grateful to the Mennonite family.
Revd Dr Reynaldo Ferreira Leão Neto
General Secretary, World Methodist Council
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27
The courage to listen to God’s inspiration and follow one’s conscience and convictions gave birth to the Anabaptist tradition 500 years ago. It is fitting that as the Mennonite family gathers on this momentous anniversary you do so under the theme “The Courage to Love.” The history of the Anabaptist tradition has often required courage during times of extreme persecution and challenge. Your tradition has also flourished through such courageous witness and we – your ecumenical brothers and sisters in Christ – rejoice with you as you commemorate 500 years and look ahead in hopeful anticipation to where you shall be led next.
The Global Christian Forum is a convening space for all Christian traditions to meet, encounter others, share stories of faith, and be strengthened by the great diversity of the church worldwide. Your presence in our gatherings and your accompaniment in the journey for unity among Christians is indispensable. Indeed, the GCF was blessed with the leadership of the Rev. Larry Miller, an esteemed Mennonite, for many years! The gifts of your tradition encourage reflection in other traditions; each individual story of Mennonite or Brethren faithfulness deepens the faith of others. The Anabaptist commitment to peace, faithfulness, justice, and reconciliation reaches far beyond your own tradition and is a gift beyond measure for the oikoumene.
During your commemoration this year, and in particular the Anabaptism@500 gathering in Zurich, be assured of the prayers and thanksgiving of the ecumenical movement and specifically the Global Christian Forum. Our hearts are glad for your witness over the centuries and we look to your future with courageous love, as you have shown us to do.
With every blessing,
Revd Dr Casely Essamuah
Secretary, Global Christian Forum
It is a profound honor and privilege to extend greetings on behalf of the Disciples of Christ World Communion, a fellowship deeply rooted in the heritage of the Christian unity movement that emerged from North America. As a relatively young communion, we hold immense appreciation for the enduring legacy of the Anabaptist movement.
The global Disciples community is profoundly grateful to the Anabaptists for their steadfast faith and resilience in the face of persecution and oppression, as well as their unwavering commitment to peace and reconciliation. These values have inspired Christians worldwide to embody the teachings of Jesus Christ in their daily lives. Disciples strongly resonate with the words of Menno Simons, who proclaimed in 1552: “The Prince of Peace is Jesus Christ. We who were formerly no people at all, and who know of no peace, are called to be a church of peace. True Christians do not know vengeance.” In this era marked by polarization, conflict, and war, we are reminded of the Anabaptist call to be agents of peace and reconciliation. The Disciples of Christ humbly reaffirm this commitment as we strive to restore peace in our world.
As we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement, we join with Anabaptists worldwide in giving thanks for the enduring witness of love, reconciliation, and unity. We look forward with hope and confidence to the continued impact of the Anabaptist movement in shaping a more just and peaceful world.
Congratulations and blessings to all Anabaptists on this remarkable milestone.
Paul Tche
President, Christian Unity and Interfaith Ministry, Disciples of Christ World Communion
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
On behalf of the Worldwide Moravian Unity, I bring warm greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We joyfully celebrate with you on this 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement, and we are thankful to God for your ministry to the world during half a millennium.
The Moravian Church dates back to 1457, when Brothers in Bohemia felt called to establish the Unitas Fratrum through congregations based on the principles of the early Christians: communal living in Christian fellowship, belief in the Triune God, and an emphasis on salvation in Jesus Christ. Already in its early years, the Moravians felt a call to work for peace among Christians. In the sixteenth- and seventeenth-centuries, persecution for faith was not unknown to the brethren.
Like the Mennonites, the Moravians believe in the mission of God, being faithful in our task to live in mission to the world and reaching out to the poor and needy. To this day these themes are emphasized in the Renewed Moravian Church.
The Moravian Church celebrates the Mennonite work toward peace and justice, and we are thankful for the many ways our two Communions are working under similar calls and sharing fellowship.
May God richly continue to bless the Mennonite World Conference. Thank you!
Rev. Dr. Jørgen Bøytler
Unity Board Administrator, The Worldwide Moravian Unity
January 28, 2025
Dear César García, MWC General Secretary and those within the Mennonite World Conference (MWC),
I, along with our Chair, Dr. William Wilson, and my colleagues at the Pentecostal World Fellowship are honoured to offer our warm fraternal greetings to you as you commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement. What a meaningful and God-honoring event this will be. We are grateful for the opportunity to express our congratulations and to have in-person representation in Zurich.
The Anabaptist movement has provided a valued and needed witness in word and deed of the Gospel of our Lord and of the call to “do justice, love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.” We, your colleagues in the Pentecostal World Fellowship, express our warm gratitude to the MWC for your faithful and fruitful years of purposeful Christian ministry, both globally and regionally.
We praying that following this meaningful commemoration you as members of the Anabaptist movement will know the Lord’s powerful presence and peace in this next season of service,
Yours in Christ,
Rev. David Wells MA, DD,
Vice-Chair, Pentecostal World Fellowship; Chair, PWF Christian Unity Commission
(on behalf of Dr. William Wilson, Chair of the Pentecostal World Fellowship and PWF’s Executive Officers)
You Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness: On the 500th Anniversary of the Anabaptist Movement
On behalf of the World Council of Churches and its global fellowship, I am honoured to bring greetings and best wishes to this joyful and reverent quincentennial celebration of Anabaptist confession, witness, and discipleship.
Historically, the courageous, yet costly, witness of the Anabaptist movement and its founders has offered a critical correction to the churches, prophetically pointing them to the radical message and example of Jesus and its pertinence for authentic Christian discipleship in the world.
Over the centuries and across the continents, Anabaptists have demonstrated their deep desire to adhere not only to the words of Jesus and the example of the early church but also to a radical commitment to nonviolence, insistence on religious freedom, a clear countercultural critique of secular power, and decisive confession and witness for peace and justice in the world. These characteristics and values are so pertinent for the world all through the ages, but are even more needed today in a world facing wars, conflicts, poverty, climate catastrophe, migration, and injustices. We need to hear afresh God's call for “peace on earth.”
In light of that bold ancestral Anabaptist witness and your indomitable spirit over the years, with our Lord I say to you, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matt. 5:6). Indeed, theirs is the kingdom of God.
Yet, perhaps at no time since 1525 have the gratuitous gift, witness, and devotion exemplified in the many Anabaptist traditions been more important to the larger ecumenical fellowship, and to a pained and imperiled world, than right now. As a creative and committed minority, firmly rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the witness of the early churches, you stand as a beacon for all of us, illuminating for the larger church and society the ways of peace and hope. Indeed, we continue to learn from you.
Gifted with these vital markers of discipleship, you have so much to contribute to today's most pressing challenges—whether climate, inequality, racism, or war. Legitimated and inspired by your costly historical witness to the larger church, may you always be champions of unity, advocates for justice, and agents of reconciliation.
Indeed, as we revere and critically appropriate Anabaptist history and its enduring legacy, all of us in the wider ecumenical fellowship join your centuries-long, sacred pilgrimage of faith, always seeking God’s reign of justice, searching Jesus’ ways of peace, and sharing the fruits of life in the Spirit for the sake of the world. May that legacy of faith endure and flourish for many centuries henceforth. May your celebration grant you the inspiration, hope, and joy to continue your faithful witness to Christ in a broken and suffering world as the world continues to hunger and thirst for God's righteousness.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary, World Council of Churches
Greetings and Congratulations for the 500th anniversary of Anabaptism!
It is a pleasure and privilege to join in congratulating the Mennonite World Conference on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the international Anabaptist movement. Moreover, it is a joy and delight to see this historic milestone observed with an extraordinary outreach of reflection, reconciliation, and renewal through particular worship and workshops. Most importantly, it is moving and noteworthy to recognize the ecumenical emphasis of this commemoration with invitations extended to leaders and members of other confessions and communities. This is especially welcome and encouraging because dialogue among believers is more critical and vital than ever before.
Therefore, on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the first Throne of the Orthodox Church worldwide, we express our wholehearted and sincerest prayers and wishes for a fruitful and blessed future for the benefit of God’s people and the entire world.
At the Phanar, in Istanbul, 20 November 2024.
BARTHOLOMEW
Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch
