German Protestants celebrate Reformation Day

WITTENBERG, Germany — German Protestants celebrated the 485th  anniversary of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses Oct. 31, Reformation Day, in sermons and addresses emphasizing the importance of renewal in the church.

Idea News Agency reported that church leaders emphasized both ecumenical efforts and the need for churches to address important social issues.

East Germany, Luther’s homeland, has suffered under years of Nazi and communist rule, reported Idea. Only one in four residents of the former East Germany belongs to a church and nearly 200,000 Germans cancel their church memberships every year. Luther’s attempts to unify the church of his day need to be recaptured by German churches today.