Russia: Partnerships with Churches Abroad, New Constitution Focus of Regional Synod
Bishop Springer: External Relations Important but Each Church Must Determine Its Own Way
KALININGRAD, Russia/GENEVA, 7 April 2004 (LWI) – Partnerships with churches abroad and the need for a new constitution for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of European Russia (ELCER) formed the main discussions at the recent synod of the church.
“We need partners. But just as we cannot tell our partners which way their church should go, neither can our partners determine the way for our church,” ELCER Bishop Siegfried Springer said in his report to the church’s eleventh synod. He spoke of the need to also adopt new structures for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States (ELCROS), as its establishment in 1988 was within the territory of one unified state. The ELCER is an autonomous regional member church of ELCROS.
Springer underlined the importance of partnerships but pointed out that each church must determine its own way. Reiner Rinne, EKD theological secretary for eastern and south eastern Europe, assured the ELCROS member churches of continuing financial assistance, but noted subsidies could not be increased because of the current economic situation in Germany. The February 3-5 synod was attended by 126 delegates and representatives of partner churches and agencies in Germany and the United States of America.
Eva Mader, representing the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, gave an account of the experiences gained in partnership relations between American and Russian congregations. “We have the same faith and similar weaknesses,” she noted.
Alexander Pastor, president of the ELCROS general synod, spoke of the missionary role of the church and its uniqueness in Russian society. “We are a bridge linking Russia and Europe, thus the ELCROS should remain open to all ecumenical contacts,” he said.
Another focus in the discussions was the question of baptizing children whose parents were not ELCER members. This issue reflects the special situation of the Russian Lutheran church as a minority church. Around 80 percent of the Russian population is Orthodox Christian.
The synod closing service, conducted jointly by Sailer, Springer and ELCROS Archbishop Prof. D. Georg Kretschmar, was also an occasion to commemorate the 1924 general synod and the Stalinist persecution in the former Soviet Union. During the persecution several church members and employees, including pastors of Lutheran and other churches and religious groups, were sentenced to lengthy imprisonment or executed. Some 200 Lutheran pastors alone died because of their faith and ministry.
“The Calling to Ordained Ministry in the Lutheran Church,” was the theme of a pastors’ conference prior to the synod. It dealt with questions of exegesis, history of theology and practical theology.
The ELCER has 175 congregations and parish groups that make up 12 districts. Its headquarters are in Moscow, but one third of the members live and work in Kaliningrad, its largest district with 42 congregations. Springer has been head of the church since 1992. (492 words)
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