wfn.org | Educated pastoral leadership critical need in Eastern Europe

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Oct. 10, 2000 News media contact: Linda Green·(615)742-5470·Nashville, Tenn.
10-71B{464}

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - It cannot be the church's role to find the
economical solutions for a new Europe, but the church is expected to have a
vision for the people, said the bishop of Central and Southern Europe.

Guest lecturer for the annual banquet of the United Methodist Board of
Higher Education and Ministry, Bishop Heinrich Bolleter gave the 63
governing members and other visitors a glimpse of the challenges before the
United Methodist Church in its ministry in Eastern Europe. The lecture was
part of the board's organizational meeting Oct. 5-7. The governing members
serve four-year terms beginning this fall. 

Bolleter, who leads the church's Central and Southern Europe Area, was
elected bishop during a time of great upheaval, when the foundations of
communism were being replaced by a new system. For approximately 40 minutes,
he provided banquet attendees with an analysis of the shift to a new system
and of the social and political dynamics of Eastern Europe. 

Described as an agent of change, Bolleter is known for helping guide the
denomination through difficult times in 14 nations of the region. 

Ten years after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Bolleter said the "painful
reality" is that Europe is still divided, but with different boundaries.   

Bolleter noted that Eastern Europe does not hold membership in the European
Union, 15 member states seeking cooperation in promoting economic and social
progress. Another 13 states are participating in an enlargement process to
become part of the union. Creation of the European Union "erected a new
fence against the poor nations in Europe like Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Ukraine,
Slovakia and many others," he said.

The union also created numerous problems for the United Methodist Church in
Central and Southern Europe, such as the refusal of visas for church members
who wish to attend a  meeting in another country. 

Ten years ago, changes in the region led from a "state of distress into new
freedom," giving strong impetus for the life of the church, he said.
Evangelism and church planting began enthusiastically, but problems and
challenges emerged.  Concerned that the gap between the rich and poor will
increase, he said many people today are in worse condition than under
previous socialist regimes

While the church cannot solve the economic problems of the country, Bolleter
said, "the church has to continue in the effort to give Europe a soul."
 
Providing a geography lesson to the board members, Bolleter said Europe,
populated by 600 million people, more than twice the number of people in the
United States and Canada combined, is a cluster of more than 50 nations
where 189 languages are spoken and six different alphabets are used. "Europe
represents a greater diversity than we are ever able to understand," he
said. 

United Methodism in the region falls into three episcopal areas: the Nordic
Baltic, Eurasia, and Central and Southern Europe. Since United Methodists
are such a minority, he said they find encouragement in belonging to the
worldwide Methodist connection. "This gives them an identity and saves them
from parochialism," he said. On the other hand, he said a minority church,
especially one sponsored from abroad, is vulnerable and is often lumped
together with foreign sects.

Great opportunities exist for mission and ministry, but the bishop said
there is a critical need for educated pastoral leadership. Delegates to the
church's 2000 General Conference began to address this need when they
established a "Fund for Theological Education in Post-Communist Europe." A
goal of $4 million was set for the 2001-2004 quadrennium. Of that, $2
million would be in new funds budgeted by the General Conference and $2
million from the budget of the United Methodist Board of Higher Education
and Ministry. 

# # #

*************************************
United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org