Meeting with American Partners

Bishop (ret., ELC in Canada) Cindy Halmarson became ELCA Global Mission Area Program Director for Europe, the Middle East and North Africa in February 2015, and in the beginning of November she came to together with Arden Haug, ELCA area representative for Russia, to Moscow and St. Petersburg in order to get acquainted with the work of the churches. In Moscow they met with ELCA Pastor Bradn Buerkle, with representatives of the ELCER, of the French-speaking Lutheran congregation and of the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy. In St. Petersburg they met with Dean and Pastor of Petrikirche Michael Schwartzkopf, ELCR Administrator Marina Khudenko and Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia, Arri Kugappi. The partner relationship between Lutheran churches in America and Russia have existed for quite some time, and it is important to learn about new projects, ideas, problems and successes.

Arri Kugappi spoke about recent events in the Ingrian Church, and in particular about events – especially youth events – that have taken place inside St. Anna's Church, which is in need of restoration.

Arden Haug and Cindy Halmarson expressed their hope that contacts will be strengthened and that in the future they can regularly receive information about the life of both churches.