This occasional newsletter gives up-to-date information about the Russia Initiative, which includes the countries of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova.
To Partners and Friends of the Russia Initiative, a mission program of The General Board of Global Ministries:
Dear Friends,
This letter contains:
1. A brief reflection on the annual conference season
2. A copy of a letter recently mailed to contributing churches
3. Updated version of Funds Transmittal Form attached or downloadable from the website.
1. Warm greetings to you in this special season of United Methodist conferencing. Our Eurasian brothers and sisters are also meeting in their series of annual conferences. Bishop Växby has reported that the South Russia Annual Conference meeting in Voronezh was "the best ever," energized by serious discussions of the main tasks of ministry and priorities for the future. A delegation from the Baltimore-Washington Conference attended and Bishop John Schol led a Bible Study that was very well received. When he finished, one of the pastors went up and hugged him, because "his Bible study touched me."
I will be joining a delegation of guests from America and various countries in Europe in attendance at the Northwest Russia Annual Conference in St. Petersburg, June 11-14. We will participate in the celebrations of the 120th anniversary of Methodism in Russia and the 100th anniversary of the official recognition of the Methodist Church in St. Petersburg. We will also visit the building recently purchased and designated as a ministry center with a generous gift from the Minnesota Annual Conference. This is the first Eurasian UMC property in the city of St. Petersburg since the early beginnings a century ago.
2. Among other priorities, every annual conference in Eurasia is discussing the realities of available partnership support during the economic recession. We have seen both a decline in contributions over 18 months and also a resolve to maintain mission commitments as much as possible. We realize that we are all brothers and sisters together in these difficult times. Last month we mailed a letter to contributing churches calling attention to the needs of the Eurasia UMC. We encourage you to make the letter available to your mission leadership and congregation members. A color photo montage was enclosed that might be useful to post on your bulletin boards.
A copy of the letter is below:
May 22, 2009
To: Senior Pastors and Mission Leaders
Re: The Russia Initiative, a mission program of the General Board of Global Ministries
The Russia Initiative began in 1991 as a renewed ministry of United Methodism in Russia. This year we celebrate the 120th anniversary of the first Methodist ministry in Russia and the 100th anniversary since a Methodist Church was officially recognized in St. Petersburg. There are 129 churches and Bible groups in the Eurasia Episcopal Area, including Russia, Ukraine and other surrounding countries of the former Soviet Union. There are 128 pastoral leaders and 5 missionaries serving in the area. In a few weeks Bishop Hans Växby will lead the five annual conferences of the Eurasia UMC in developing a "road map" as a six-year vision for the whole Episcopal Area.
The heart of the Russia Initiative is in the partnerships between United Methodist congregations in the United States and Eurasia. Relational and financial support sustains many churches in their ministries throughout a vast area of eleven time zones.
This letter comes to you at a time when we have been seeing a decline in contributions through the Russia Initiative. We are now concerned whether there will be sufficient funds over the course of this year to support pastoral salaries and various important ministries. No doubt the economic downturn over the past year has been a factor. This letter is to let you know of the critical need in the Eurasia UMC. We kindly ask you to consider making a contribution to the Russia Initiative if at all possible in the next few months.
You may be a leader of a congregation that is currently partnered with a church in Eurasia. We are very grateful for your continuing support. Your congregation may be a former partner or may have made occasional contributions to the Russia Initiative. Whether you contribute to your respective partner church or give an undesignated gift "to be used where needed" - we thank you for your support that is urgently needed for our brothers and sisters at this time.
Funds transmittal forms are enclosed, also available on our website at: http://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/initiatives/russia/
Grace and peace,
Jim Athearn
Dr. W. James Athearn
Coordinator, Russia Initiative
GENERAL BOARD OF GLOBAL MINISTRIES
The United Methodist Church
116 Frasher Drive, Clear Brook, VA 22624
Tel: 540-662-2066 Fax: 540-662-6998
jimathearn@gmail.com
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/work/initiatives/russia/
Funds Transmittal Form, PDF (1pp, 18K)
