Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
The Protestant church in Oberhausen, Germany offered to make the group of 50 feel more welcome.
Pastor Joachim Deterding said: “Before the refugees can move in, the seats have to be taken away. Also the altar, the pulpit and font are movable.”
Washing machines will also be installed at the church square and refugees will be given free meals, according to German newspaper Handelsblatt.
City spokesman Rainer Suhr said: “The parish had offered that to the city. We accept it gladly.”
Earlier this month the Bishop of Stockholm told a church in her diocese to remove all signs of the cross to make the building “more inviting” for Muslim worshippers.
She also said the direction of Mecca should be marked and called Muslim refugees “angels”.
Eva Brunne added: “It is important that there are places for praying sisters and brothers and we show hospitality and tolerance, regardless of faith.
“Good people of different beliefs must be able to meet and help each other.”
Her comments sparked fury, with a priest in her diocese branding them “theologically unthinking”.
Father Patrik Pettersson said: “The only argument bishop Eva really put forward in support of her view is ‘hospitality’…
“How do you respond to that? Not much of a basis for discussion, as one colleague put it.
“The theological, ecclesiological, pastoral and working issues are left untouched.”
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