New media impulses in Europe’s Lutheran churches, and the reality of others – war (LWF vice-presidents discuss hopes and challenges in church and society) “Listen, serve, empower – being church in a changing Europe” was the motto for the LWF European regional conference, which took place from 27 to 29 October in Rome, Italy. The three vice-presidents of the LWF European region shared their reflections on some of the challenges that Christian and Lutheran witnesses face in their contexts, and on the new impulses that could help churches build relationships that empower them to serve in their communities.
The fear of war is real The vice-president for Central Eastern Europe, Hungarian bishop Dr. Tamás Fabiny, highlighted the tragic results of the conflict situation in Ukraine. LWF Council advisor Anastasia Pidubska spoke about the impact of armed conflict on the population, acknowledging that it has caused international emigration and traumatization even among health care and social service providers. “Neighbouring countries fear an escalation of the war. Indeed, in the Baltic states the fear of war among the population is real. People turn to the church and ask what to do, how to react in the event of war. And unfortunately an atmosphere of suspicion arises among the ethnic groups of these countries,” Fabiny noted. Other concerns of the region relate to the challenges created by negative demographic trends and emigration. “Hundreds of thousands of our people go to work and live in Western countries. Those who leave are mainly the young and educated layer of our society – doctors and computer experts,” said Fabiny, who is the bishop of the Northern Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hungary. There is also internal migration, as young people move to larger cities to find work. “As a result, villages, smaller towns, and with them our congregations in the countryside, are left empty,” he added. In Hungary, the new state requirement that ethics or a chosen religion must be taught as an elective subject in primary schools poses a particular challenge for the Lutheran Church, because its pastors and religion teachers across the country have to provide many hours of religion classes. “We have to find a way to live with this challenge. Although we would like to take advantage of this opportunity, we would not want to weaken the work of the congregations,” he said. Fabiny added that the participants from the Central Eastern European region had each named a specific issue for which the others should pray. “We hope that the prayer network will strengthen the spiritual power of the region’s Lutherans and that other churches on the continent will show greater sensitivity towards our particular situation. This is especially needed in the region right now because of the Ukraine crisis.”
A world of shattered traditions The LWF vice-president for Central Western Europe, bishop Dr. Frank O. July, said that he highly values the growing use of new media, and reflected on how it could be used to improve relationships not only among Christians, but also among people of different faiths. “One of the challenges that Christian and Lutheran witnesses face today is that we live in a world with broken traditions. This also means that we can no longer transmit the content of faith automatically,” said July, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Württemberg, Germany. “From our conversations I learned that young people are able to use new media and social networks much better than I can. In my view, it is necessary and important for the church to engage more deeply with the space of new media,” July noted. However, new media “will never replace direct contact, which becomes all the more important. We have to be close to people and focused on what we do, and this must be actively encouraged. That is why, in my view, it is very important to support our Italian sisters and brothers in connection with migration and the refugees arriving in Italy,” he added.
Solidarity with the poorest neighbour The LWF vice-president for the Nordic region, presiding bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien, said that among the “very serious challenges” that Christians and churches face today are the large number of refugees, especially in Southern Europe, and climate change. Both issues “increasingly threaten our future and call us to show solidarity with the poorest neighbour in the world”. Byfuglien, of the Church of Norway, said that the group sessions explored possibilities for churches “to become better” at using social networks and improving their contact with people in the local context. “We have to be a community that listens and hears even more, both at the local and the broader level. We have to be able to communicate better and be more in contact with society and with the various groups of people we are in touch with,” she emphasized. Byfuglien described as “very promising” the enthusiasm of those young people who are connected in the LWF Global Young Reformers Network. “This is good and necessary for the community today and in the future,” she added. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Italy hosted this year’s meeting, which was attended by 55 representatives from 30 LWF member churches.
The report was prepared based on information provided by the LWF http://www.lutheranworld.org
Photo: Gerhard Frey-Reininghaus.
Translated from English by LELBāL pastor Ieva Puriņa
Proofreader Mag. Theol. Milda Klampe