VISIT TO THE , CENTRAL & SOUTHERN EUROPE The Revd Dr Martyn Atkins (President of the Conference) and Mr Colin Ride (Europe Secretary), 13 th - 20 th March 2008

The purpose of the visit was to enable the President to develop insights into in central Europe, including the Balkan Region, and the nature and value of Methodist relationships across the various cultural, linguistic and tradition boundaries. The visit began with a meeting of the UMC Central & Southern Europe Executive in Schaffhausen, , followed by visits to and Serbia. All the arrangements that were made on our behalf worked extremely well. We were warmly hosted; the programme (organised mainly by Mr Urs Schweizer, Assistant to Patrick Streiff) worked very well and met the purposes of the visit, and the value of on-going partnership was highlighted in different ways.

Switzerland We were in Switzerland, as this was the location of the UMC Executive meeting. We had no time to visit any congregations or projects. Due to the President’s responsibilities in the UK, I travelled a day earlier to the Executive. This gave me a longer time for personal conversations with a number of people, many of whom I have developed relationships with over the years in post and who are key people in the life of the UMC in central and southern Europe. With the President we had an opportunity to speak about Team Focus and to reassure that there is no intention of changing the nature of our partnership, even enhancing it. The President spoke about his role and his passion for mission. This led to a lively question and answer session. I spoke about the current practical expressions of partnership – NMAs; the “Let’s Celebrate” Festival in Bratislava, (August 2008); the role of Special Grants; other resources (like the prayer handbook); and personnel matters.

UMC Hungary There were two main aspects to the programme in Hungary: • Visiting congregations and preaching in NE Hungary, • Listening to stories and learning about the history and social commitments of the UMC in Hungary We visited three congregations at Miskolc (morning); Alsozolca (afternoon), where the local pastor is Laszlo Erdei Nagy (NMA); and Kistokaj (evening). All three were very different in virtually all aspects! Miskolc was a smallish all–age congregation with an excellent choir and organists; the church itself was combined with the manse/church apartment. Alsozolca was a large, vibrant, all-age Roma congregation, again with excellent musicians/worship band. When we arrived the service had already been running for 30 minutes, and we were royally welcomed. The place was packed and even the doors were removed to allow people in the vestibule a chance to take part! Afterwards we joined in the cake eating and coffee drinking session, before being given a tour of the village. We were told that this extremely economically poor community had an unemployment rate of nearly 90%. The church shared in a scheme to help people develop some sense of self- sufficiency through teaching people to grow vegetables and keep chickens. Clearly the minister was well respected, being greeted by many people as we wandered amongst the houses and mud baked streets. We were told that by visiting this community we were showing great respect – a very humbling thought. Before 1990 there was only one Roma congregation, now there is more and more work amongst minorities. The evening service - 1 - was at Kistokaj, a more traditional looking Methodist Church and in the only street in Hungary by the name of “Wesley”!

Whilst in the Budapest, we visited the Martha-Maria Home in Budakeszi, and met with the Director. This is a residential home for the elderly.

The UMC in Hungary has 11 circuits and 30 congregations, plus a number of home fellowships. Like most of the countries of central Europe, communism was the dominant force and the church suffered during its dictatorship. Pastors were imprisoned and church buildings confiscated. Yet people still met as home fellowships were formed. Methodism survived in and through small groups! In 1994 confiscated land was returned to the church and the work began again. At its beginnings the church began amongst German language speakers, but many were forced to leave the country at the end of the Second World War. 1946-48 saw many tensions between German speaking people and Transylvanians. Other tensions were experienced during the communist period. For instance in 1973 and the election of a new superintendent, the state tried to control what happened in the church. There were many issues connected with buildings; communism closed many and congregations argued about others. Yet during these years the church was shaped. The pietistic tradition was strong, which led to a spirituality of withdrawal from the world. I expect this was a way of protecting itself against communism and its various attacks, and the home fellowships helped. Property, though, is still a serious issue, and the church’s strategy has developed around property. Attitudes have been about how large a building can be afforded, and little about people and mission. Comments were made to us that the church, influenced by whatever is happening in society, has been slow to respond to the new social situation that Hungary now finds itself in. If this seems to be a life of struggle, at the same time we heard inspiring stories of heroic commitments, for instance, to aid Jewish people during the 2 nd World War, who were threatened with deportation and death.

Where the church has taken risks and made new commitments, new life and growth has been planted. A good example is the work among minority peoples like Roma gypsies, where growth is being experienced and where a deep pastoral ministry is being exercised and appreciated. Maybe this gives a good insight into what a new mission strategy could look like.

UMC Serbia For the Europe Secretary it was good to follow up the visit he made in 2002. The visit began in Vrbas, continued in Kisac, Pivnice and Sid, and concluded in Novi Sad. Over the past few years the derelict Methodist Church in Vrbas (when I visited in 2002 all churches in Vrbas were derelict!) has been completely renovated and is now a most beautiful building. However there are difficulties, in that it has no heating system in it, so it cannot be used during the cold winter months. The congregation continue to use the meeting room next door for worship. Also, the facilities behind the church, which are needed for children’s and youth work, lie in a poor physical state. It is as if the wrong building was renovated, yet one understands the significance of buildings in Serbia, particularly for a small church struggling for recognition and trying to avoid being labelled a sect. The church is now recognised in the new religious law but only after a struggle and external diplomacy by the Conference of European Churches and others.

At Kisac a new residential and conference centre has been established, with plans for further expansion. Here we had a two and a half hour meeting with the pastors and leaders of the church. It was an opportunity to explore ideas and understandings of mission in our very different contexts, and to tackle some questions about what it is to be a - 2 - Methodist. This is a point of some concern and tension. At what point, for instance, will someone have taken themselves, or be deemed to be, outside Methodism in the way they express their faith or the theological views? It struck us that this deeply felt tension was mainly between older and more traditional ministers, and some of the younger, more charismatic ministers, with the former trying to establish some “Methodist” boundaries within which the identity of Methodist could be contained. We sensed this struggle possibly came from the pressures of being a minority church, and the felt need to have a common outlook and means of expression, and anyone who doesn’t comply with this or is very different becomes an internal threat. Having said this, the meeting itself was constructive and worthwhile. We shared information about Our Calling and Priorities for the Methodist Church , and we heard about the challenges and opportunities for Serbian Methodists.

At Pivnice we saw the kindergarten provision, partially funded with a special grant from the Fund for World Mission. The kindergarten provides very important provision for local families. It is explicitly Christian in its approach. The minister has been the driver and the visionary for the work. Later we were involved in worship at Sid . Slowly the building is being completed with the help of further grants from FWM, and is making its mark in the community. The minister, the Revd Novica Branco, an NMA, explained how he and other church leaders in Sid, had developed a project for doctors to visit housebound people, and a further project that had provided seeds to help people grow their own food.

Our final visit was in Novi Sad , to the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation. Here we met with the Director, Karoli, and other members of staff. We were very impressed, not only by their quality of work, but the number of projects designed to some of the populations basic needs, needs that in western Europe we take for granted but in countries like Serbia cannot be assumed. Again, with the help of a substantial grant from the FWM, a new building was being completed that would cater for around 100 people with a range of special needs.

Summary This was the third visit to European Methodism for the President. We are very thankful for all the arrangements made, and the hospitality we received. There was a genuine engagement with each other. People shared with openness and transparency which, I believe, was a sign and affirmation of a genuine and honest relationship, indeed of a high quality partnership. We need to ensure as partners in mission that we continually find ways of learning from each other, and of engaging in and supporting new areas of mission development.

Colin Ride Europe Secretary

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