Odessa, Ukraine
“I see a brigade of construction workers, trying to restore a building. They frequently argue with one another and do not trust one another. Some say that neither a plan nor building material is necessary, the only thing that matters is stirring the cement. Someone else says that you just need to build one wall and to destroy the other ones completely. Others still try to control everything but don't know the difference between paint and white wash...” In his report to the synod Bishop Sergey Mashevsky painted this portrait of a building that could be compared with the state of the Ukrainian church today. The theme of the synod of the GELCU - “Thinking about the past, striving ahead” - called everyone to think about such questions.
The meetings lasted from Oct 20-22 in Odessa, and the most important point was the election of a new Presidium of the synod. In the GELCU church structure the Presidium of the Synod has many tasks; it fulfills the role of the synod council, as such, administers the church.
According to the new rules for election, each of the 5 geographic regions of the GELCU presented two or three candidates up for election. The new presidium is made up of Oksana Klundt, Odessa (South), Oleg Fisher, Krivoy Rog (Southeast), Alla Wolf, Lozovaya, (East), Evgeniya Donetskaya, Simferopol (Crimea), and Konstantin Burlov, Kiev (Northwest). The church council president of St. Catherine's in Kiev, Konstantin Burlov, was elected President.
Former pastor of the congregation in Zmeevka and the long-time friend of Ukrainian Lutherans, Ulrich Zenker, presently representing GELCU's partner the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria, gave the main report on the synod's theme. Synod delegates split into working groups based on his analysis to discuss spirituality in action, the use of gifts, optimal church structure and strategic development.
Bishop Sergei Mashevsky emphasized in his report that the first need of the church is to create a clear and functioning system of management and transparent structures. The first step to this, according to his words, should be a new document defining the structures of GELCU; this document was confirmed by delegates on the last day of the synod. Also Bishop Mashevsky underlined the importance of the representation of the church on the government level; work still needs to be done in this area for better cooperation. He spoke of the the successful development of partner relations with the churches of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which are not meant, however, to replace existing relationships with other churches, but only to widen and enrich them.
The Synod ratified the agreement of the Union of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (ELC), as a member of the organization. At the same time synod delegates confirmed the importance of direct membership of the GELCU in the Lutheran World Federation; this needs to be done in the immediate future. At present the Ukrainian church is represented as a part of the ELC Union.
“...but there are others still who carefully and constantly work. Brick by brick, mortar after mortar, screw by screw...these people build the house not only for themselves, but they think about residents of the whole area. They have blistered hands and bruised knees, but their eyes are clear and honest.” This is the kind of building of the Church, according to the opinion of Bishop Sergey Mashevsky, that needs to be striven for today.
“I see a brigade of construction workers, trying to restore a building. They frequently argue with one another and do not trust one another. Some say that neither a plan nor building material is necessary, the only thing that matters is stirring the cement. Someone else says that you just need to build one wall and to destroy the other ones completely. Others still try to control everything but don't know the difference between paint and white wash...” In his report to the synod Bishop Sergey Mashevsky painted this portrait of a building that could be compared with the state of the Ukrainian church today. The theme of the synod of the GELCU - “Thinking about the past, striving ahead” - called everyone to think about such questions.
The meetings lasted from Oct 20-22 in Odessa, and the most important point was the election of a new Presidium of the synod. In the GELCU church structure the Presidium of the Synod has many tasks; it fulfills the role of the synod council, as such, administers the church.
According to the new rules for election, each of the 5 geographic regions of the GELCU presented two or three candidates up for election. The new presidium is made up of Oksana Klundt, Odessa (South), Oleg Fisher, Krivoy Rog (Southeast), Alla Wolf, Lozovaya, (East), Evgeniya Donetskaya, Simferopol (Crimea), and Konstantin Burlov, Kiev (Northwest). The church council president of St. Catherine's in Kiev, Konstantin Burlov, was elected President.
Former pastor of the congregation in Zmeevka and the long-time friend of Ukrainian Lutherans, Ulrich Zenker, presently representing GELCU's partner the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria, gave the main report on the synod's theme. Synod delegates split into working groups based on his analysis to discuss spirituality in action, the use of gifts, optimal church structure and strategic development.
Bishop Sergei Mashevsky emphasized in his report that the first need of the church is to create a clear and functioning system of management and transparent structures. The first step to this, according to his words, should be a new document defining the structures of GELCU; this document was confirmed by delegates on the last day of the synod. Also Bishop Mashevsky underlined the importance of the representation of the church on the government level; work still needs to be done in this area for better cooperation. He spoke of the the successful development of partner relations with the churches of Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which are not meant, however, to replace existing relationships with other churches, but only to widen and enrich them.
The Synod ratified the agreement of the Union of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (ELC), as a member of the organization. At the same time synod delegates confirmed the importance of direct membership of the GELCU in the Lutheran World Federation; this needs to be done in the immediate future. At present the Ukrainian church is represented as a part of the ELC Union.
“...but there are others still who carefully and constantly work. Brick by brick, mortar after mortar, screw by screw...these people build the house not only for themselves, but they think about residents of the whole area. They have blistered hands and bruised knees, but their eyes are clear and honest.” This is the kind of building of the Church, according to the opinion of Bishop Sergey Mashevsky, that needs to be striven for today.
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