The author reflects upon the present debate about the future development of the social shape of Europe and discusses possibilities and perspectives for the realization of a solidary social order in the process of European unification. In these recollections the pluralism of the social security systems is considered. Against the background of protestant traditions the author pleads for a critical orientation at the priciple of subsidiaries. In the frame of this principle people in need of help are to be enabled (...) to active self-help. (shrink)

The debate about the so-called humanization of the matters of labour is presently concentrated on the safety of health during the working process, upon the preventive industrial safety. The social department of the Protestant Church in Germany has published a memorandum about this, in which the situation of industrial safety is analyzed against the background of the European development; this memorandum also contains ethical principles for an all-embracing understanding and method, concrete suggestions for a further organization are given. Challenges for (...) example result from the effect of uncountable chemical substances, in the application of new and complex technical methods, in bio-technologics an genetic analysis. The church tries to overcome the predokeinant mono-causal method of analysis and it considers carefully the dimensions of a far-reaching responsibility for health. (shrink)

Besides the economical criteria of convergence, which have been precisely laid down in the EC-treaties, especially in the treaties of Maastricht, the integration of labour markets is an explicit aim of the European Union. Considering that approx. 19 million employees within the EC are not gainfully employed, a common and well-aimed labour market policy seems to be one of the major responsibilities of European economical and social policy. The instruments of job creation and preservation in Germany are being compared with (...) the aims of the EC-comission, also experiences of other countries are being involved. The Christian Churches in Europe are committed to get involved in tackling unemployment and its human-destructing effects. The Social Chamber of the EKD has made continuous proposals. At present, it is working on continuing its previous memorandums on unemployment. With this, also the memorandum ))Responsibility for a Social Europe« is being continued and put into concrete terms. (shrink)

The author reflects upon the present debate about the future development of the social shape of Europe and discusses possibilities and perspectives for the realization of a solidary social order in the process of European unification. In these recollections the pluralism of the social security systems is considered. Against the background of protestant traditions the author pleads for a critical orientation at the priciple of subsidiaries. In the frame of this principle people in need of help are to be enabled (...) to active self-help. (shrink)

Besides the economical criteria of convergence, which have been precisely laid down in the EC-treaties, especially in the treaties of Maastricht, the integration of labour markets is an explicit aim of the European Union. Considering that approx. 19 million employees within the EC are not gainfully employed, a common and well-aimed labour market policy seems to be one of the major responsibilities of European economical and social policy. The instruments of job creation and preservation in Germany are being compared with (...) the aims of the EC-comission, also experiences of other countries are being involved. The Christian Churches in Europe are committed to get involved in tackling unemployment and its human-destructing effects. The Social Chamber of the EKD has made continuous proposals. At present, it is working on continuing its previous memorandums on unemployment. With this, also the memorandum ))Responsibility for a Social Europe« is being continued and put into concrete terms. (shrink)

The author examines the reasons of the rising expenditures in the Public-Health-System. He pointsout the different ways and strategies for solving this problern and tests out criterions for the radius and realistic capacity of solidarity and responsibility in an ethical perspective: Solidarity is not only a single matter of those, who are depending on solidarity of the society.

Over the years the consulting chambers of the EKiD deliberate in recommendations about the reform upon the system of social securitiy in modern welfare state. In the last months the Social Chamber of the EKiD draw up proposals and results of the discussion; the chamber presents a set of thesises to the Council of the EKiD. The essay gives survey of the present result of the decisions. The intention is to promote the reform and consolidation of the social state and (...) to keep off the strategies which aim at a destruction of social security. (shrink)

On the occasion of the 1 001h birthday of Heinz-Dietrich Wendland, it's timetoset one of the key thoughts of his social ethics on the public agenda. He developed the term »responsible society« as »imaginal goal of a future society«. He justified it theologically and made it concrete in social ethics. Theseconnections were brought together and tested in regard to their relevance today in Theodor Strohm's paper.

This article shows clearly the experiences of the author concerning the social restart of Germany after 1945. The ZEE was and is a place for reflection and reorientation. Personal encounters with personalities of the »first hour« constitute the opening. This is followed by five central situations which were witnessed and devised by the author. They had a direct effect on the ZEE. 1. The participation in the senior staff of Willy Brandt had an effect on the contemplation of an »ethos (...) of inner reforms«. 2. The reform process in South Africa with its »peaceful revolution« brought the author there, having intense working relations to the leaders of the »black majority«. These experiences found their way into the ZEE. 3. As chairman of the chamber for social order of the EKD the author worked nearly 20 years intensively on memoranda concerning the reorientation of the welfare state in many dimensions. The ZEE was a central place of scientific debate. 4. and 5. As head of the Diakoniewissenschaftliches Institut of the University of Heidelberg basic questions of deaconry theologically and at the same time world wide aspects were at the centre of interest also at the ZEE. (shrink)