History of Czech and Slovak Republics - United Methodist Church

History of Czech & Slovak Republics United Methodist Church

HISTORY OF METHODISM IN CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA

The history of the UMC in the Czech and Slovak Republics is documented in a publication called "Methodism in Czechoslovakia" by Dr. Rev. Vilem D. Schneeberger. This booklet was updated and translated into English in 1991, from an earlier edition Dr. Schneeberger wrote in 1982. Another book was just published by the Annual Conference in 2000, called "Eighty Years of Grace", which describes some of the history, plus pictures and descriptions of each UMC. These are excellent documents that serve a very important role since the first generation of the founders of the UMC in Czechoslovakia are gradually departing, and with them disappear the witnesses to the origins of Methodism in their country. Each Partner church will be given copies.

To summarize briefly, in 1920 the Board of Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (US) sent a missionary, Rev. Joseph Dobes to Prague. There he set up a tent ministry, as he had in Texas, and began to hold worship services to capacity crowds. The slogan for his first sermon was "Czech nation, return to Christ". The tent ministry traveled to other cities and congregations began in several locations and grew rapidly in membership. An interesting aspect of this story is that the work really started in 1907 in Texas. That is when the Methodist Episcopal Church, South began work among Czech farm workers. Among the young preachers hired to serve in this ministry were several with origins from the Czechoslovakia region, including Joseph Dobes. Over the years, he continually reminded the Board of Missions of the need for evangelism in his homeland. He even offered to start it himself. The end of WWI provided this opportunity. One of the first buildings purchased was the current facility at Jecna 19 in Prague, which is home to a congregation and the Conference headquarters. More Pastors soon were sent, including C.T. Collyer, J.L. Neil, J.P. Bartak and Vaclav Vancura. Congregations formed in other cities of the country during the 1920's, and Annual Conferences began with their first meeting on August 3-7, 1922 in the Jecna Street facility. At the second annual conference, in 1923, the statistical record showed 22 congregations, 14 preaching stations, 964 members and 2975 preparatory members. Fifty churches had been planted in this nation by 1927. Unfortunately, a series of crises occurred after that, including the great depression of the 1930's, German occupation and destruction during WWII and then forty years of Communist rule starting in 1948. Only after the fall of Communism in 1989 has the UMC begun to reverse this trend.

UMC OF CZECH AND SLOVAK REPUBLICS TODAY

The UMC within the Czech and Slovak Republics today consists of 22 churches and about 18 other small preaching stations (small groups of people included in a Pastors circuit), and 2 outdoor camps. The General Superintendent is Rev. Josef Cervenak, located at the Conference headquarters in Prague. There are several other District Elders who oversee the other Pastors (similar to District Superintendents in the USA), but who also serve one or more UMCs themselves. There are about 1900 UMC members, more than 60% of whom have come since the end of communism in 1989. The government returned some of the buildings taken after 1949, but not all. To make up partially for this, they give them an annual lump sum of money, but it is not nearly sufficient to cover what was taken. The government also pays all Pastor's salaries (this is true for all religious denominations) but it is only about 60% of an average workers pay. The workload is very heavy for the Supt., Elders, Pastors and other leaders, and resources are extremely limited. In addition to being underpaid, Pastors work long hours serving several churches, frequently are still studying for ordination, drive 15 to 20 year old cars that require frequent repairs, and there are not enough of them. Despite this, they have a love of Jesus in their hearts, and are evangelizing and sharing the grace of Jesus Christ they have with others. The UMC is blessed to have such faithful, dedicated, hardworking leadership who have persevered for Christianity during the Communist period and since. Students attend Theological Seminary either at St. Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic or in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, but not enough are currently enrolled. To supplement this there is a program to educate and train lay persons on-the-job to become Pastors, in sort of a correspondence seminary type of program, with monthly testing in Prague.