On 10–11 September, the Reconciliation Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Poltava hosted a conference of ministers of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine (GELCU).
The gathering offered the Church’s ministers an opportunity to listen to one another, share their experience and discuss the challenges faced by congregations during the war. Alongside practical matters, participants reflected together on theological questions and sought answers relevant to the Church’s life and ministry today.
Work on church documents was an important part of the programme. Participants continued developing the Guidelines on the Sacrament of Holy Communion and began work on the Guidelines on the Rite of Confirmation. These documents are intended to provide practical guidance for GELCU’s ministers and congregations.
Work on these documents forms part of a wider process of developing GELCU’s church order, reflecting on and shaping its common life in light of biblical foundations, the Lutheran tradition and the actual needs of congregations. A vital part of this process is the opportunity to hear different perspectives and seek balanced theological and practical approaches together.
Another part of the programme introduced new publications prepared by GELCU. Participants were presented with Grace Unveiled by C. Beard, A Simple Way to Pray by Martin Luther, Biblical Hebrew by D. Tsolin, Ancient Saints by J. Jordan, and Adult Children of Alcoholics by J. Woititz.
One of the publications, Grace Unveiled, was printed with support from the Martin Luther Association and Spiritual Orphans Network. Its academic editor, GELCU Pastor Dmytro Tsolin, introduced the book. He then presented his own Biblical Hebrew textbook. Participants were also introduced to the first Ukrainian edition of Martin Luther’s letter A Simple Way to Pray, published with funds contributed by our congregations. Pastor Serhii Terentiev of the partner Reformed congregation in Rivne then presented Ancient Saints, translated and published by the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches in Ukraine.
The conference also paid particular attention to adult children of alcoholics and opportunities for ministry among them. The GELCU Bishop presented the book Adult Children of Alcoholics. Participants discussed the issues it raises and possible approaches to pastoral support.
For the ministers, the conference was not only an opportunity to work together but also a time for prayer, personal conversation and rest. Ministry requires more than drafting documents and addressing practical matters: it also means remaining a community able to listen, support one another and pray together.
Vladyslav Fediuk, secretary of St Martin’s Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Kyiv, shared his impressions. For Vladyslav, this was his second GELCU ministers’ conference:
“It was a good time to hear one another, talk about the experiences and challenges of the congregations in which the Church’s ministers serve, share our experience and seek answers to practical and theological questions together. The discussion of church documents was particularly valuable. In fact, GELCU is currently rethinking and, to some extent, putting into writing its own church law and order on the basis of the Bible and the realities of church life. It is interesting to observe this process and, as far as possible, take part in it.
I am increasingly convinced that the many voices within the Church give rise not to shifting compromises but to carefully considered theological and practical approaches. It is important not only to talk about documents and decisions but also simply to be together: to talk, pray and hear one another. Such moments do not come very often in church life, which makes them especially precious.
Thank you all for this time of meeting, shared work, prayer and fellowship, especially the Church leadership for organising it and the Reconciliation Lutheran congregation in Poltava for its hospitality.”
We thank God for the opportunity to spend this time together, and everyone who helped organise the conference. Special thanks go to Nordisk Östmission for many years of support for the Church’s ministry, including educational events and ministers’ conferences. This support made the meeting in Poltava a time of shared work, learning, prayer, fellowship and renewal.
We also thank the Reconciliation Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Poltava for its hospitality in welcoming the conference participants.
