At the start of the meeting, Frieder Otto Wolf, President of the Federal Association since 2010 and confirmed in office in 2011, expressed his thanks and respect to all members of the association. Their joint work for the “project of ideological, practical humanism” is an “important, indispensable commitment” that should not be hidden: “What we are doing here is something new in the history of mankind,” Wolf emphasized, recalling that the city of Berlin is a special meeting place. “There is hardly anywhere else in the world where it is possible to live so freely as a person without religion”. Humanists therefore also have a special responsibility here, Wolf continued: not only for non-religious people in Germany, but also for non-religious people elsewhere in the world. “They deserve our support,” he emphasized. In his report to the Federal Delegates’ Assembly, the President of the Federal Association then emphasized that the development of the Federal Association as an umbrella organization for the communities in the federal states and regions had been carried out “with a sense of proportion and care”, as demonstrated by the successful inclusion of the Humanists Baden-Württemberg and the strengthening of smaller and younger state associations. Furthermore, with the help of work at the media level, it was possible to make modern, practical humanism a point of reference for public debate in Germany on important issues. It has also begun to strengthen its own ideological profile in positions beyond the existing fields of practice. He expressed confidence that in the coming year the Humanist Self-Conception could also be presented in a renewed form as a document of fundamental common orientations and convictions and would then meet with broad approval. With regard to the efforts already underway to help the Federal Association achieve greater public recognition through its status as a public corporation, he said: “We will address the serious questions and problems that have been raised in recent months carefully and in a consensus-oriented manner.” As a fifth point, Frieder Otto Wolf pointed out that a multi-dimensional alliance policy had grown in recent years, in which there had been successful cooperation with non-denominational organizations as well as with other civil society bodies and smaller religious communities. At the same time, a critical and constructive dialog has been conducted with the established churches and state institutions in order to work towards the reduction of existing discrimination against non-denominational people and for the equal treatment of the Humanist Association as a worldview community. Frieder Otto Wolf concluded his report with the words that he could correct his earlier statement that “the wind is currently blowing in the face of practical humanism worldwide due to a constellation of economic, ecological and militarized disasters” in two respects: “The still weak counter-forces have also begun to form,” said Wolf, “and the international organizations of humanism are making a relevant contribution here.” In Germany and Western Europe, “a window of opportunity is opening up”.
It is therefore the responsibility of the members of the Humanist Association to “seize this historic opportunity in the coming years”. The main focus of the meeting in Berlin was the election of the new Presidium of the Federal Association. Frieder Otto Wolf was confirmed in office by the delegates, as were Vice Presidents Helmut Fink and Erwin Kress. Dr. Ines Scheibe, psychologist and head of a pregnancy conflict counselling service in Berlin, was also re-elected to the Executive Committee as Treasurer, and Ulrike von Chossy, founder and manager of Germany’s first humanist elementary school, was re-elected as an assessor. The new members of the Executive Committee include Guido Wiesner, banker and President of the Humanist Association of Lower Saxony since 2012, Dr. Florian Zimmermann, mathematician and Chairman of the Humanist Association in Hesse, Dr. Norbert Röhrl from the Humanist Association of Baden-Württemberg, also a mathematician, and Ulrich Tünsmeyer, Education Officer at the Humanist Association of Berlin-Brandenburg and Federal Commissioner for Education about destructive cults (sects) and modern occultism. Jan Gabriel, a self-employed IT consultant from Berlin, will represent the interests of the Young Humanists in Germany vis-à-vis the Federal Association in future. Hero Janßen, Michael Niepel, Bruno Osuch and Andreas Henschel did not stand for re-election. On behalf of the Federal Delegates’ Assembly, Frieder Otto Wolf therefore thanked them for their commitment during the past election period. The Federal Association’s Executive Committee has been significantly rejuvenated as a result of the elections. However, Ines Scheibe emphasized to the meeting that women are still underrepresented in the new executive committee. There is still a clear need for action here, she made clear to loud applause from the delegates. The Federal Assembly also passed four resolutions in which the representatives of the Humanist Association of Germany defined or renewed their joint position on specific political and social issues. At the center of this is the resolution on the teaching of life skills. This school subject is an autonomous humanist alternative to religious education that is independent of the state and is aimed at adolescents and parents without religion. With this resolution, the Federal Delegates’ Assembly reaffirmed the Humanist Association’s demand for the implementation of equal treatment of religious and ideological communities throughout Germany, as stipulated by the Basic Law. “The monopoly of the churches on denominational education that still exists in most federal states must be complemented by ideological education in which children and young people from non-denominational and humanist families can deepen and reflect on their ethical and moral foundations,” the resolution states. Following a discussion, the delegates also adopted an initialcode of conduct, which is intended to serve as a guide for the actions of humanists who represent the association or assume special responsibility for it.
Among other things, the new Code of Conduct obliges them to actively consider the interests of employees, but above all the Code sets out clear guidelines for action in relation to religious communities. “In its public appearance, the HVD makes a contribution to the tolerant and respectful coexistence of all people in our country. It cultivates a respectful dialogue with other ideological and religious organizations and their representatives – also in criticism. Criticism of churches or religion is always factual and serves solely to clarify its own position and secular attitudes in the discourse of society as a whole.” The code thus strengthens the association’s profile as a worldview community whose members contribute to society in a positive way on the basis of humanistic ideas and convictions. Delegates also adopted an arbitration code, which serves to regulate possible legal disputes between bodies and members of the association and between individual members, insofar as these concern association matters, as well as resolutions to exclude members. The attack on Elke Baezner, President of the German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS), which caused a nationwide sensation, was finally condemned unanimously by the delegates in a further resolution. Baezner was injured by an attack with butyric acid on June 18, 2014 during a lecture on the Swiss model for the legal regulation of assisted suicide. The DGHS and the Humanist Association of Hesse had invited people to the lecture. Statements made by the perpetrator, who was caught, suggest that he belongs to the so-called right-to-life movement. The resolution passed on Saturday states that “the assassin’s statement ‘Now you stink like your victims’ clearly shows where the refusal to conduct necessary social discussions objectively and without prejudices leads.” The resolution therefore emphasizes that religiously motivated ideas of a God-pleasing death must not be used as a yardstick for political action and must not be a reason for personal persecution. In his closing remarks at this year’s Federal Delegates’ Assembly, Frieder Otto Wolf reminded the delegates “that we still have a lot to do and must continue to work on making lasting gains from our inner plurality.” Together, we are already well on the way to “making our different backgrounds and experiences truly productive in an inevitably controversial exchange.” Wolf also said that the representatives of the umbrella organization are ready for impulses and initiatives from the countries. “Don’t wait for us to approach you, but talk to us if you have a federal policy issue,” said the President of the Humanist Association. This would make it possible to reach even more of the millions of people “whose lives are oriented towards modern humanism as we represent it – both practically and discursively”. In the discussions outside the framework of the official meeting, it became clear that the next few months could bring some exciting developments. One of the topics was the Sunday meetings for people without religion invented in England.
Such Sunday Assemblies could also be held in German cities in the future. The idea of such cooperation in Berlin and Bavaria has been discussed and has met with positive interest. Initial talks with representatives have already taken place. However, according to Frieder Otto Wolf, the focus should be on the further development of already established projects. These include improved funding for smaller state associations and regional communities, the reorganization of the Humanist Academy Germany and full equality in the education of values in schools or the introduction of humanist counselling for members of the German Armed Forces as part of the pluralization of military chaplaincy, as well as the consolidation of international cooperation. Wolf: “We currently have great opportunities in Germany – let’s work together to seize them and make them a reality.” The next Federal Delegates’ Assembly will be held in 2017 in accordance with the provisions of the statutes of the Humanist Association of Germany.
