Cologne churches host inclusive queer services for Pride parade

On the eve of Cologne's Christopher Street Day (CSD), the Evangelical Church district Cologne‑Rechtsrheinisch organized a worship service in the AntoniterCityKirche. Pastor Markus Herzberg opened with "Bitte nehmt Platz" and preached about love and diversity, citing biblical texts and noting a visitor’s hostile reaction to a rainbow flag, underscoring the ongoing need for tolerance.

In Cologne‑Deutz, St. Johannes‑Kirche held a large queer service coordinated by the Queer Church Köln. The event featured musical performances, a choir, and a dance piece by a 16‑year‑old artist. Pastors Janneke Botta and Tim Lahr delivered sermons calling for universal love; Lahr declared, "Der Segen gehört allen Menschen in allen Lebens‑ und Liebesformen," and blessed a married couple. Both services were part of the CSD festivities that attracted roughly 1.5 million participants, signaling explicit church support for LGBTQ+ rights.