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FORT MITCHELL, Ky. – Partnership has been the key to growth for the United Methodist Church's Russia Initiative since the program began 10 years ago, according to the Rev. Randy Nugent, who heads the denomination's missions agency.
Nugent, general secretary of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, said the partnership formula, establishing a relationship between U.S. congregations and people in Russia, has resulted in multiple gains. He described those in remarks to 340 people gathered for the ninth Russia Initiative Consultation, Feb. 22-24.
The Russia United Methodist Church began with five congregations in 1992. At last year's annual conference gathering, Bishop Ruediger Minor, who leads the denomination's Eurasia Area, appointed pastors to 88 congregations.
In addition to the growing number of churches, Nugent cited other achievements:
- The establishment of the Russia United Methodist Provisional Annual Conference.
- The development of strong, positive local leadership.
- The formation of diverse congregational ministries.
- The establishment of the Russia United Methodist Theological Seminary with links to effective support systems.
- The development of an ecumenical relationship, though limited, with the Russian Orthodox Church.
Through the Russia Initiative, churches, districts and conferences establish supportive-congregation covenants to handle salary and program expenses for designated local United Methodist churches in Russia and Ukraine. The U.S. churches and Russian congregations are connected through the Russia Initiative office in Dallas. The Rev. R. Bruce Weaver, director, said the average amount needed annually is $6,000. This provides a pastor with a monthly salary of $150 to $250, and allowances for housing, health care, pension and ministry site.
U.S. partnership churches also commit to sending to the Russian congregation two teams during each of the first two years of the relationship. These teams engage in diverse ministries, such as Bible study, leadership training and working with members of the Russian congregation at orphanages, prisons, hospitals and addiction rehabilitation centers.
The Russia Initiative has pioneered work for mission elsewhere, Nugent said. "The partnership church model -- not only for financial support, but for church development, leadership development, mutual relationships, evangelization, Bible study -- is a model now readily being put into place and applied to other mission situations."
The Russian United Methodists are themselves doing mission outreach for those in their own communities in the six districts stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. They are responding to need in other parts of the world.
For example, Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, a 54-member church in St. Petersburg, recently sent a gift of $50 to help the church in El Salvador with post-earthquake recovery, said the Rev. Teri Erbele, Board of Global Ministries' financial representative for Russia. "This may seem like a small amount, but it represents two months' income for most Russians."
In sending the gift, the Rev. Oksana Petrova, pastor of Holy Trinity wrote: "When we learned about the terrible disaster in El Salvador, we decided to send our little donation. ... There are no political connections between Russia and El Salvador, but we can build bridges between common people through our church."
Bishop Marion Edwards, who leads the denomination's Raleigh (N.C.) Area, told the audience that he dreams of the day when Russia will have 2,000 United Methodist churches.
"Those in the West yearned for the day when the wall to the East would come down," he said. "The window is now open. It is now time to make this [evangelism in Russia] happen."
However, he noted that "we can’t grow churches unless we can train pastors." In asking support for the Russia United Methodist Theological Seminary in Moscow, Edwards and rector Andrei Kim reported that 18 students are studying at the school, and 42 students are enrolled in the distance learning program.
The seminary's U.S. advisory committee is conducting a $2 million capital campaign to renovate a facility that will house the school and serve as the United Methodist Center in Moscow, and also to create an endowment for the seminary. Edwards, honorary campaign chairman, has challenged the North Carolina annual conferences to raise $250,000 during the next three years.
Such a challenge to go the second mile must be made throughout the entire church, he said. "We may never have another moment in the history of United Methodism like this one."
In the closing session, Minor said the Russia Initiative requires getting involved. "We are doing our service, but we are not deciding the outcome," he said. "We are to be faithful in the ministry and leave the results to the Lord."
More information about the Russia Initiative is available by
contacting Weaver at 6116
N. Central Expressway, Suite 200, Dallas, Texas 75206; phone: (214) 273-0330; e-mail:
rbw101@aol.com
Calvin, a free-lance writer, resides in Denver.
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URL: http://gbgm-umc.org/news/2001/feb/Partnerships.stm