 Between 1962 and 1965 he was the official representative of the Evangelical Church in Germany to the Second Vatican Council.At the start of the first session of the council, he was selected by the official non-Catholic observers to serve as one of their official spokesmen.When Cardinal Augustin Bea hosted a formal reception for these non-Catholic observers at the start of the first session, Schlink was chosen to give the official response on behalf of all observers.