This occasional newsletter gives up-to-date information about the Russia Initiative, which includes the countries of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova.
Greetings to all participants and friends of The Russia Initiative, a program of the General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church. This newsletter contains the following features:
1. Teams to Eurasia in 2006
2. Information request regarding leadership development seminars in Eurasia
3. Information request concerning pastoral appointment changes in the US
4. Several observations
5. Message from Bishop Hans Växby
Grace and peace,
Jim Athearn
1. Teams to Eurasia in 2006
Mission teams continue to be a vital part of The Russia Initiative. Passion for mission flourishes and turns into long term relationships when our church members become personally involved and share their faith with our Eurasian brothers and sisters. There are some 50 teams scheduled to travel to Eurasia during this year so far, including some 19 teams in July alone. Obviously the summer season is a very busy one for our program assistant, Sabine Barnett, and for our logistical partners in Moscow. Without the Rossia Hotel this year, it has been unusually challenging to find suitable accommodations for teams visiting in Moscow. We are also learning that when teams make multiple late changes in their program itineraries and request extra individual programs, it adds unusual challenges to the logistical arrangements. Please help us to keep it simple. Normal international mission trips require the utmost in patience and flexibility--all the more so in this unusual year. Yet the benefits of building friendships in Christ are immeasurable. Please continue your journeys on behalf of our mission partnerships as we pray for each other and for those who are in mission.
2. Information request regarding leadership development seminars in Eurasia
There has been a considerable number of great leadership development seminars presented by teams for Eurasian pastors and laity over recent years. Many talented people have invested much preparation in these experiences for the young churches. But unwittingly, some of the seminars duplicate what has been earlier presented. Eurasian pastors and laity are beginning to identify some of the themes and topics they feel they need in future seminars. Bishop Växby would like to develop a more proactive intentional plan for leadership training across the whole area.
First question: We would like to receive from American churches and mission teams information about what they have taught when they have visited Eurasia. Who has made the presentations? General lesson plan and resources used? Where and when were the seminars offered?
Second question: Would you (or your district/conference colleagues) be willing to offer a seminar on another district in Eurasia?
Third question: Are you willing to offer leadership development experiences in response to some of the topics and themes requested in Eurasia?
Patrick Whaley is working in Moscow with Bishop Växby and his Conference leadership to assemble information and develop an overall leadership development plan. Please share your information with Patrick at whaley1997@bellsouth.net and copy to Jim Athearn at jimathearn@gmail.com. The Eurasia Churches, their pastors and members, have so much to learn. We would like to work together within the framework of an intentional plan.
3. Information request concerning pastoral appointment changes in the US
As we maintain communications with supportive congregations, it would be helpful to know where there have been changes in pastoral appointments, key staff and lay leadership positions in the US. Please advise us of any changes that may affect our communications.
4. Several Observations
I had the privilege of attending two annual conferences in May: East Russia and Central Asia Conference in Yekaterinburg, and Ukraine and Moldova Conference in Kiev. I was impressed with the fact that although the groups were more intimate in size, their meetings were still very much characteristic of a United Methodist Conference. It was great to meet all of the pastors and to hear words of appreciation for their supportive partners. Bishop Växby is doing a masterful job at leading the young churches in taking responsibility for their lives together and making important decisions for the course of their development.
I am grateful for the reports I am receiving of mission team visits and the reports of continuing support that is sustaining the Eurasian churches in their early years. But it should be known that the Eurasian churches are beginning to focus seriously on stewardship and tithing, and many of them are developing their own mission programs. We are still searching for new supportive congregations to partner with several Eurasian churches, but the list of churches without partners is much shorter than it has ever been. We welcome inquires from anyone who would like to participate in these life changing partnerships.
5. Message from Bishop Hans Växby
Method-EAST
News from The United MethodistChurch in Eurasia
Khamovnicheskiy val, 24, stroenie 2, Moscow 119048, Russia
Telephone & fax: +7-495-242 1774;
Email: office@umc-eurasia.ru andbishop@umc-eurasia.ru
July 15, 2006
Your Kingdom Come in Eurasia
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, Your kingdom come, he based it on the conviction that the earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it (Ps 24:1-2). And when he continued, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Mt 6:10), he wanted us to join him in the reclaiming: Give the world back to God! Give mankind back to God! Peoples in Russia and most other countries in the Eurasia Area live in political freedom, but we still need to pray and work for God's Kingdom to come, Bishop Hans Växby said in the opening of the five annual conferences in Eurasia in May, June and July. Based on Paul's letter to the Romans (14:17) he preached three sermons: "The Kingdom of God is Righteousness… Peace… Joy." (See www.umc-eurasia.ru)
The theme for the conferences was "Next step of faith". Several steps have been taken by the denomination together, and the members and guests of the conferences were challenged to discern what their next personal step would be in the service for the Kingdom of God.
Salary Raise and Tithing
Instructed by the Russia United Methodist Conference (common for the whole area) last year, the Administrative Council during the year developed a new salary policy for pastors. The first phase, beginning January 1, gave a small raise, and based on the good response from Supportive Congregations abroad, it was announced that the second phase will be entered from July 1. The base salary for a seminary student in his or her first appointment is now $200/month (earlier 150). The top salary guaranteed by the conference is $399/month. The new regulation for increments is based on evaluation.
During the year a teaching document on Tithing has been published, also after instruction from the conference last year. There is a strong wish to deepen the awareness and commitment to the offerings in the local churches. And as a part of the adopted salary policy, the local churches add 10% of their offerings to the salary that comes from the conference. The conversations in the annual conference this year were less about how we can get more support, and more about how we intentionally can move toward self-support.
Four New Local Pastors in Central Asia
The first of the 2006 annual conferences was East Russia and Central Asia. It was a very inspirational conference. A great joy was to hear about the development in Central Asia. The official registration of our church in Kazakhstan still meets difficulties, but last December it was finally possible to buy a Mission Center in Almaty. A generous gift from Flushing UMC in New York has long been waiting to be used. The center has now undergone renovations, and will be consecrated in September.
The conference did not only hear, but could also see the development in Central Asia. The stories and personal testimonies were a great inspiration, and two of our coworkers in Kazakhstan and two in Uzbekistan were licensed and welcomed as local pastors.
Sorrow and Joy in Ukraine
The Ukraine and Moldova conference started out with the sad news that two pastors left the ministry and connection during the winter, in one case together with his congregation. But at the same time a new coworkers were introduced. Rev. Todd Wilson is a UM pastor who has lived in Ukraine for some years, working in interdenominational mission projects. He has now received an appointment and assumes responsibility for our church in Poltava. Lyubomir Rudko became a new local pastor at the conference. He is a fruit of the student ministry in Lvov, where he has now been appointed as assistant to the missionary, Rev. Fred Vanderwerf. The conference had also the joy to welcome representatives from an independent protestant church in Moldova that has voted to seek membership in The United Methodist Church. In accordance with area policy, they will be considered affiliated members to the closest UM church, and guided into the connection during this year with its pastor, and be welcomed into the conference next year.
Three New Elders in the South
South Russia had the joy to see three of their pastors, Vladimir Pakhomov, Alexander Kozorezov and Georgiy Lavlinskiy be ordained elders. A new local pastor was appointed to Lipetsk, which now again has a pastor living in the town. Pastor Irinia Mitina in Voronezh received Kursk as an additional appointment. A Bible group has started there, and Resurrection UMC in Voronezh has made it its mission to send their pastor to Kursk and support the new ministry financially.
The conference was held at Camp Voronezh, which was bought a few years ago mainly with the help of gifts from German Sunday schools. It is owned by all the five conferences, but since last year most of its board members live in the area, and are working hard with the financial challenges and ongoing renovation. The original hope was that the camp would attract also non-methodist users, and become self-supportive. Other Christian churches have leased it, but we can't expect to come in financial balance until we have made a total renovation of the kitchen and dining hall building.
Northwest Starts Publishing
Northwest Russia saw the passing on of ministry to a new generation. Rev. Irina Mukhachyova retired, and was succeeded in Kirov by this year's seminary graduate, Kira Volkova. It was a moving moment when Pastor Mukhachyova told how worried she was when she heard that a girl directly from the seminary was going to be appointed after her. However she saw God's grace and guidance when she realized that the young girl was Kira, whom she had known and pastored in a youth camp, and from whom she had received a wonderful letter. Also the new pastor in Sovietsk, Valentina Stavrova, is this year's graduate from the seminary in Moscow.
St. Petersburg District has taken two initiatives in publishing. "Sol", the Russian word for "salt" is a quarterly magazine with the main purpose to be used in contacts with non-members. It has a fresh, modern layout, simple teaching about the faith, testimonies, introduction of Methodism, information about where our churches are, and some fun. The district has also published a United Methodist calendar. Both publications have been spread also to other parts of the area.
Central Russia in the Seminary
The Central Russia Conference could, for the first time, meet in the Seminary building in Moscow. The chapel was the plenary hall, and most of the delegates from the Volga District stayed in the student and guest rooms. It was a little uncomfortable for the Moscow delegates, of whom several spent over an hour commuting from their homes, but there was a lot of joy and pride over the fact that we were assembled in our own facilities.
Central Russia has at the same time the most experienced leadership and the most diverse set of congregations. As the capital, Moscow naturally has been the center of Methodism since its reestablishment 15 years ago, and has fostered several of its key leaders. But the conditions for ministry in the 12 million big capital are different from both cities and villages in the Volga district. The conference struggled to find an apportionment formula, which would both meet the conference needs and be fair to churches of different sizes and situations.
Hearing Confirms Slim Organization
The Administrative Council for the whole area reported to all annual conferences. In addition to the assignments from last year, it had followed up on the debate about the organization that started last year, and picked up the sensitive question of church property. It had produced a document on each of the two subjects, and asked the annual conference to discuss them and give their feed-back.
The hearing clearly confirmed the thoughts expressed last year that we want a slim organization on the area level, and do as much as possible of our connectional ministry on the district and annual conference level. On the question, "Do we want to keep the Board of Ordained Ministry on the area level or do we want to gradually transfer it to the annual conference level?" the conferences were divided. Northwest said a clear No to changes, Ukraine wanted them as soon as possible. The conversation continues, and the earliest date for any changes will be 2008.
Several delegates expressed their appreciation of the work of the Administrative Council, and for the fact that almost all reports and documents were sent out to the delegates beforehand.
Emphasis on Education
In spite of the wish for a slim organization, it is obvious that there are functions that need to be carried out and coordinated on the area level. So the Russia UMC Conference, which in the future internally will be referred to as the Eurasia Conference, authorized the Administrative Council to employ four area directors as soon as the budget allows it: A Lawyer, an Area Communicator, and two Directors of Education, one administrative and one executive.
Farewell in Six Conferences
Ev and Teri Erbele came as missionaries to Eurasia in early 1996. They have lived with the Russia United Methodist Church in two thirds of its existence, but now they have transferred to Lithuania. Of course all five annual conferences wanted to express their gratitude separately, where also the new Area Finance Executive, Rev. Richard Bryant was welcomed. As a grand finale the Eurasia Conference turned one of its evening sessions into a concert with several gifts and speeches to honor the Erbeles.
(Method-EAST)
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