Director at Comenius-Institut 1971-1988
Secretary and President of ICCS between 1976 and 1989

died on the 6th of June 2009

Prof. Dr. Herbert Schultze has contributed remarkably to the history and the development of the Comenius-Institut, the Protestant Centre for Research and Development in Education. He became its director in 1971 and served in this function up to 1988. Through his commitment and activities the institute organized and supported European exchanges, comparative research in religious education and the establishment of various European networks and organisations. The most prestigious example during his time at Comenius has been his active involvement with the Intereuropean Commission on Church and School (ICCS). He was appointed as Secretary in 1976 and promoted a pan-European inter-religious understanding of Religious Education. In 1982 he became president remaining in this post until 1989.

Among his projects and activities the following should be mentioned:

• The Comparative research of curricula, e.g. the project "Islam in German Schoolbooks" that became later a European Research project "Islam in Textbooks".
• Intense contacts especially with the Netherlands and England. He was invited to become a member of the Shap Working Party on World Religions in Education in the 1980s bringing enormous insight and experience to the Working Party and a rich collection of contacts around Europe.
• Finally after his retirement from Comenius the founding of the European Association for World Religions in Education (EAWRE) in 1990 where he became the first chair.

Herbert joined ISREV (The International Seminar of Religion, Education and Values) many years ago and contributed with his rich academic background to the discussion and exchange among international membership of the seminar. Herbert organized in 1978 an International Seminar “European education – Challenge for the church“. Issues were cultural collaboration, ecumenics in Europe and encountes betweenof cultures and languages. In the recommendations of the seminar it is said:

A close collaboration of different bodies of church education in Europe is urgently needed. Knoweldge, Coordination and collaboration must be improved. Representatives of practice and decision makers should work closely together.

Europe has been changed since 1978 but the requested "Collaboration of different bodies of church education" is still not yet realised in a sufficient way.

Another important issue high on the agenda of Herbert’s commitment has been the place and value of World Religions in education. How can we organize an impartial and constructive teaching and learning about and from World Religions in schools? The task has been and still is to provide space and opportunities in schools of Europe for the teaching of World Religions. As a result of another international seminar in Goslar/Germany guiding principles were adopted that are still valid today. This seminar said

”Teaching about World Religions can only be done when the Other become an explicit or implicit partner in dialogue"

This principle of dialogue has been a feature of Herbert's life and work. We will honour him as a pioneer of collaboration of religion in education in Europe and beyond.

Peter Schreiner

In June 2009