RUECB Considering Membership in the Conference of European Churches

M o s c o w / A m s t e r d a m -- The Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists’ (RUECB) Department of External Church Relations plans to recommend to its Union Council that the church rejoin the Geneva-based “Conference of European Churches” (CEC). This is one result of the CEC’s 13th assembly, convening in Lyon/France from 15 to 21 July. This was the first time the RUECB has participated in a major CEC conference after a break of approximately a decade. The RUECB has attended European Ecumenical Assemblies in the recent past, the last of which took place in Sibiu/Romania in September 2007. Yet these are not CEC events in the strict sense, for they also involve Catholic sponsorship.

The RUECB’s delegate at Lyon was Rev. Vitaly Vlasenko, its Director of External Church Relations. Following the conference he stated: “The CEC is a good platform for us to dialogue with other churches. We need to hear about the winds of change and current trends. We need to know how other churches are thinking and hear their feedback on the Russian situation. Russia indeed remains a part of Europe and we must express our interest and concern for developments within the European community of churches.”

Vlasenko regretted the absence of the “Russian Orthodox Church – Moscow Patriarchate” in Lyon and expressed the hope that it will yet return to this 1959-founded, all-European forum of churches. In-depth conversations did take place between him and the representatives of other Orthodox churches. Conversations with West European Baptists and with Dr. Edmund Ratz, the Petersburg-based Archbishop of Russia’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church (ELCROS) were also very helpful.

Open discussions tend to be tedious – 306 church delegates were present at Lyon. Yet Vlasenko noted that much can be learned from CEC as how best to organise transparent and democratic church structures.

In Amsterdam following the Lyon event, Vitaly Vlasenko stated: “I believe we shall move forward and propose to our Council next spring that we again become a member of CEC.” On paper, the “Euro-Asian Federation of Unions of Evangelical Christians-Baptists” remains a member of CEC. Yet the Federation remains inactive within the CEC and it is assumed that the RUECB would – if voters agree – simply inherit this membership. Vlasenko also believes the Russian Orthodox need to be asked about their opinion regarding CEC-membership on the part of the RUECB.

Vlasenko attributes the ongoing reluctance of Russian Baptists to join inter-confessional bodies to the fear of a possible loss of identity. Outside influences might steer the Union in directions which its leadership would not desire. “We must be very patient and take time for discussion,” he stated. “We are for dialogue, acceptance and peacemaking, but we are still a bit afraid of losing our borders and our distinctions.” After the decades of forced, involuntary unity during communist rule, it will take some effort to bring Russian Baptists back into communion with other church bodies in Russia and beyond. In any case, as a full member or otherwise, RUECB-involvement in CEC will remain moderate for the foreseeable future.

Department for External Church Relations, RUECB

Photo: Lyon University