On December 1, 2018, Harding Meyer died. He was one of the most important personalities in the recent history of the worldwide ecumenical movement. As a guiding intellectual force and pioneer, he opened up and broke new ground. Many recent developments in worldwide interchurch relations go back to him.
Establishment of the Prize
In close association with Harding Meyer’s family, the Board of the Lutheran Foundation for Interconfessional Research has decided to establish the Harding Meyer Prize in Ecumenism. This Foundation, located in Geneva, was founded in 1963 by the Assembly of the Lutheran World Federation. In 1965, the Foundation set up the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, where Harding Meyer worked for over 25 years.
A prize of 3000 €, donated by the family, will be awarded every two years. The prize will be formally presented at the International Ecumenical Seminar, organized by the Institute for Ecumenical Research each year in the first week of July.
Outstanding Contributions
The prize will be awarded to works dedicated to the ecumenical dialogue between Christian confessions. Monographs (such as doctoral theses, habilitation theses) and important theological works in the service of ecumenism are to be awarded in this way. This will both honor the theological legacy of Harding Meyer and promote the continuation of his vision.
Oversight of the Prize and Jury
Responsibility for the prize lies with the Foundation for Interconfessional Research.
The jury of the award consists of former research professors of the Institute who worked with Harding Meyer, a member of the Institute’s current research council, a member of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and a representative of the Johann Adam Möhler Institute in Paderborn. If necessary, additional recognized researchers may be asked to review the submitted work.
Applications
Applications for The Harding Meyer Prize in Ecumenism 2022 can be sent in from September 1, 2021, until February 15, 2022, to:
Institute for Ecumenical Research
ATTN: Harding Meyer Prize in Ecumenism
8 rue Gustave-Klotz
F-67000 Strasbourg, France
StrasEcumATecumenical-institute.org