“Free in Christ” 25 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain
Wrocław, Poland/Geneva, 11.07.2014.
At the closing worship service of a gathering of Christians from 12 Central and Eastern European countries in Wrocław, LWF General Secretary Rev. Martin Junge called for a responsible use of freedom. Preaching in the Cathedral of Mary Magdalene on 6 July, Junge urged the congregations not to fear the challenges that come with freedom 25 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain. “It is time to hold fast to freedom and keep moving forward, not backward,” he concluded. The General Secretary expressed his view that it is the abuse of freedom, not freedom itself, that is responsible for difficult social situations such as mass unemployment among young people, conflicts between nations, or threats to creation. From a Christian perspective, freedom finds its true nature only when “it is bound to the loving service of our fellow human beings”, Junge emphasised.
“Free in Christ”
More than 5,000 people from 12 countries attended the 9th Meeting Days for Christians from Central and Eastern Europe on 4–6 June in Wrocław. The theme “Free in Christ” (Gal 5:1) “was developed against the backdrop of the changes in the region that have taken place since the fall of communism. The Meeting Days are intended to foster “an exchange of views among different local traditions”, explained Bishop Ryszard Bogusz of the organising church – the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, at the opening worship service. Offering discussions, singing and prayer, the meeting took place across many seminars, interactive programmes and youth concerts. There was a spirit of mutual understanding that crossed language barriers both in and around Wrocław’s Centennial Hall. Among the activities were concerts, a sports programme for teenagers, and an opportunity fair for the many visitors. Participants came from neighbouring countries and from further afield. The Polish church was especially pleased to host so many ecumenical participants, representatives from foreign diplomatic missions, and guests of honour.
Bible studies, lectures, discussions
The second day began with Bible studies on the theme of the Meeting Days. Saxon Lutheran Bishop Jochen Bohl took the opportunity to criticise the way freedom is attained. “Instead of accepting God’s gift of salvation, people earn it with great effort,” Bohl affirmed. Nevertheless, he said that freedom is God’s gift and that it must be “lived out responsibly”. The climax of the meeting was an address by former Polish Prime Minister and President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek. He emphasised the historic achievements of the churches during the political transformation of Eastern Europe. “Our continent was torn in two, and society had no institutional backbone. Often the only institutional support was provided by the church.” European integration is a unique process that brings peace, freedom and prosperity, he said, emphasising that the churches played an important role at that time by providing a moral compass, and still do so. For Buzek, the current European crisis is not only an economic crisis but also a crisis of values. “Freedom without moral laws can be harmful,” Buzek declared, pointing to situations where the wealth of some has excluded others from general prosperity in society.
Women in the Reformation and today
The programme of the Meeting Days was deliberately varied and lively. In one discussion forum on the theme “Women of the Reformation”, participants in historical costumes portrayed women of the Reformation period, showing their extraordinary achievements. The LWF General Secretary, who attended the session, emphasised the importance of women in the Reformation period with the message: “In 2017 we do not want to deal only with their – the men’s – stories of the reformation, but also with their – the women’s – stories. Thank you for showing the women’s stories today.” A similar comment came from Agnieszka Godfrejów-Tarnogórska, the regional coordinator of the LWF Women in Church and Society network. She emphasised that in a church where the reformation continues, “the role of women is not only a matter of the past, but also of the present”.
Ecumenical issues
Junge took part in a panel discussion on the ecumenical perspective of the 2017 Reformation anniversary. He said that he does not share the attitude that the differences between Lutherans and Roman Catholics are nearly insurmountable: “The dialogue document ‘From Conflict to Communion’ contains more resolved themes than open questions,” Junge emphasised. Both sides continue to work on the unresolved questions concerning priesthood, the Eucharist and the understanding of the Church. “We care about unity. We must think about unity,” he added, summarising the LWF’s ecumenical commitment. During the 9th Meeting Days, the LWF regional vice-president, Hungarian Bishop Tamás Fabiny, Junge, and the LWF Europe Secretary Eva-Sibylle Vogel-Mfato met with the LWF Polish National Committee. They highly valued the committee’s work in interpreting and promoting LWF activities at the national level.
Hungary will host the 2016 Meeting Days
On 6 July the Meeting Days ended with a closing worship service in Wrocław, as well as with seven worship services as the participants headed home. The churches of the region have organised these meetings every other year, and the number of countries and guests has grown significantly in recent years. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary extended an invitation to the 10th Meeting Days in Budapest in 2016.
Photo: Adam Dziur “Wrocław – Most Grunwaldzki oraz Most Pokoju – widok z wieży Katedry Wrocławskiej” CC BY-SA 3.0
report prepared based on information provided by the LWF http://www.lutheranworld.org
Translated from English by LELBĀL pastor Ieva Puriņa
Proofreader Mag. Theol. Milda Klampe