Encounter, Learning, and Lived Partnership: The CCAP Journey to the East of Lake Victoria Diocese
Hamburg, January 2026. On January 16, a long-anticipated highlight began for the German participants of the CCAP project: the major encounter journey to their partners in the East of Lake Victoria Diocese (ELVD) in Tanzania. Following the visit of the Tanzanian participants to Germany in October 2024, this trip completed the circle of mutual exchange and deepened the shared partnership.
Shared Learning and Theological Reflection
With a total of 28 participants from Germany, the delegation was exceptionally large. During the first two days, all those involved in CCAP—more than 60 people from Germany and Tanzania—came together for a joint seminar. These seminar days created space for intensive dialogue, shared learning, and theological as well as socio-political reflection. Distinguished speakers explored the causes and consequences of climate change, alongside concrete approaches to climate protection and adaptation in different contexts. Another key focus was the joint examination of the colonial histories of Germany and Tanzania and their impacts, which are still felt today.
Theology, everyday life, and ecological responsibility:
One particularly powerful contribution came from Rev. Mwaikuju, whose impulse on ecotheology left a lasting impression. Using the simple yet striking image of a table tennis game, he illustrated that human beings must first take responsibility for creation before they can live their relationship with God in a credible way. Environmental protection, he emphasized, is not a side issue but a lived interaction with God. This perspective vividly connected theology, everyday life, and ecological responsibility.
Photo: CCAP-Seminar
Congregational life at ELVD
After the shared seminar phase, the German participants dispersed to their respective partner congregations. For one week, congregational life took center stage: worship services, encounters, project visits, and countless conversations shaped this time. All eight participating congregations had prepared rich and thoughtfully designed programs. These days not only showcased impressive hospitality, but also made visible the development the CCAP project has undergone over the past three years.
The German participants were deeply impressed by the high priority CCAP holds within the ELVD. In many congregations, climate protection has become an integral part of church life. Numerous communities have launched large-scale reforestation projects, in some cases on land acquired specifically for this purpose.
Photo: Action team members of the partner parishes Kanaani-Bupandwa and Goldberg-Dobbertin plant a tree
Celebrating achievements before saying goodbye
After an intense week in the congregations, the entire group came together once more. A joint excursion to the Serengeti offered the opportunity to experience the beauty and richness of Tanzania’s natural environment.
A shared milestone celebration honored the work accomplished, expressed gratitude, and marked the farewell.
The following day, the German participants began their journey home. A brief stopover, including a visit to the National Museum, allowed for further reflection on the experiences gained. On the evening of January 30, the group arrived safely at Hamburg Airport—enriched, inspired, and full of new perspectives.
The encounter journey powerfully demonstrated what ecumenical partnership can mean: learning together, engaging in honest exchange, and sharing responsibility for a just and sustainable future. The experiences gained will continue to resonate in the congregations long after the CCAP project has come to an end.
Photo: Members of the German CCAP team present gifts to the Tanzanian coordinators
Photos: Ökumenewerk