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Congratulating Margot Kassmann on her election as the chairperson of Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) Council, Hindus hope that she would promote interfaith dialogue in the world.

Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, hoped that EKD under Kassmann would work for promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperating in common causes such as peace, ecological responsibility, social development, etc., with different religions and denominations. "Dialogue brought us mutual enrichment and helped us overcome prejudices passed down to us from previous generations," Zed added.

Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out: "Religion is a complex component of human life. Dialogue helps us to see interconnections and interdependencies between religions and even similarities in doctrines. In our shared quest for the truth, we can learn from one another and thus come closer to the truth."

EKD (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland) elected its first female Council chairperson in history in Ulm (Germany) on October 28. Kassmann, 51, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, who succeeds Wolfgang Huber, obtained 132 of the 142 votes cast. Kassmann, who is divorced and was once described as "mixture of Mother Teresa and Demi Moore.", is elected for a six-year term. She holds a doctorate in theology and has four grown children.

Formed in 1948, EKD is the umbrella organization for 22 regional Lutheran, Reformed and United Protestant church bodies, and claims membership of over 25 million. Ordination of females is practiced and there are several women bishops.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksha (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

ENDS