- CODE Forum brings researchers, academics, practitioners and students together with a focus on approaches which relate community development to diakonia and Christian social practice.
- CODE Forum is an international, ecumenical space for the exchange and development of research, learning and practice.
- CODE Forum facilitates and promotes international projects developed in the Forum face to face meeting.
Main Themes for CODE Forum 2026
In this CODE Forum, we want to focus on the theology and practice of community development and local diakonia in the light of the fact that we face multiple crises. Contributions are invited, which may be the fruit of research or reflected practice, or which may propose new ideas for diaconal practice, or for a workshop in which we can share international experience. There are three main themes for our meeting:
- The role of Diaconia in diverse communities and in response to crisis phenomena.
- Diaconia and Christian social practice in a time of political polarisation.
- Diaconal identity in a multifaith context.
Updates from the planning group
The international planning group for CODE Forum 2026 met the first week of May and
focussed on the main themes and developed ideas for the programme. Among themes
which were built on the present CODE Forum initiatives, and which were highlighted were:
Food security and food sustainability are facing economic and ecological crises, building
on the webinar series from 2025 – 2026.
Modern Slavery, based on a co-edited book which examines theological and historical
understandings, present experiences and responses rooted in diaconia and Christian
social practice.
Diaconal identity among Christians engaged with people who have diverse identities,
with a particular focus on refugees, asylum seekers and undocumented people.
Reminder to submit proposals and to register attendance
Please submit your proposals on the conference web page! We will respond to them
within two weeks! Please also register your attendance and share the invitation with
people in your networks!
The conference web page is: https://idwm-bielefeld.de/code-forum-2026