Situation analysis and contemporary diagnostics - On the mutually ethical texts of the Evangelical Churches of Germany (EKD) and the German Bishop's Conference (DBK)

Since 1990 the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Germany (DBK) and the Evan gelical Churches in Germany (EKD) - sometimes in cooperation with the "Coun cil of Christian Churches in Germany" (ACK) - are constantly publishing so- called "joint statements" ("Gemeinsame Texte") concerning ethical issues. S tatements are either concentrated on bioethical or on social-ethical topics . It is clearly visible that documents discussing matters of bioethics refe r to one basic argument when analysing present situations: "Life as gift an d life endangered", a thought first presented in the common 1989-document " Gott ist ein Freund des Lebens. Herausforderungen und Aufgaben beim Schutz des Lebens" (God - a friend of life. Challenges and tasks of life protectio n). In comparison common statements concerning matters of social ethics how ever do not show a criterion of a precisely similar kind. This is due to th e wide range of subjects in discussion creating a wide range of highly diff erentiated descriptions analysing today's situation in question. Both types of statements however fundamentally underline the Christian view of person as essential to ethical argument. Differentiation in analysis of present-d ay social situation leads to differentiation of ethical instruments. In con sequence some suggestions are to be considered: clarification of who precis ely is the addressee of future joint statements, clarification of how to us e and create possibilities of mass media-communication, clarification of cl early Christian intentions within the realms in discussion.