United Methodist growth continues in former Soviet Union

Moscow – United Methodist congregations continue to spread across the vast expanses of what was once the Soviet Union .

In an issue of his Method-EAST newsletter towards the end of last year, United Methodist Bishop Hans Vaxby gave details of the most recent church growth. Bishop Vaxby, based in Moscow , leads the United Methodist Church in Eurasia . 

His tour of the Eurasian annual conferences began in Ekaterinburg, the third largest city in Russia , and home to First United Methodist Church , which he called “one of the mother churches in modern United Methodism in Eurasia ”.

Five new church groups were registered during the East Russian and Central Asia Annual Conference meeting at First Church . They included new church plants in the Urals, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan , a local church that reopened in Vladivostok and an independent congregation that applied to become part of the denomination.

Bishop Vaxby likened the atmosphere to that of pioneer America . “Due to the vast distances (five time zones), many of the pastors and lay delegates have not seen each other since 2006,” he explained. “Organisational finesses like written reports are not always available. But testimonies about Jesus and the urgency of the mission are there. The church is on the move.”

The South Russia Provisional Annual Conference meets annually at Camp Voronezh , also known as Camp Crystal , a church-owned retreat centre 32 km outside Voronezh . The centre already has been put to good use, according to the bishop, but needs some improvements in order to attract outside groups and become financially self-sufficient.

Last June, the Central Russia Annual Conference met at the denomination’s theological seminary in Moscow . The chapel there serves as the sanctuary for three United Methodist congregations on weekends – Kimgansan Church on Saturdays; Moscow , or Central Church , another of the mother churches in Russia , on Sunday mornings; and Raduga Ministry on Sunday afternoons.

The new legal status of the Central Russia Annual Conference was celebrated during the meeting. Previously, it had been part of the Russia Annual Conference, which has been divided into four other separate conferences. Bishop Vaxby noted that the Annual Conference in the Ukraine was already registered and the legal process continued for the three other annual conferences in Russia .

Participants in the Ukraine and Moldova Provisional Annual Conference discussed the results of leadership training led by the Rev Adam Hamilton and members of the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City , Moldova , in March last year.

One of the conference’s newest congregations is the Great Commission United Methodist Church in Kishinev , Moldova . Pastor Leonard Chorny said the congregation intends to plant other United Methodist churches throughout Moldova , a country that borders Ukraine to the south.

Last July, the Northwest Russia Provisional Annual Conference met at a resort centre on the Finnish Gulf , in the St Petersburg District. A highlight was the ordination of an elder and the commissioning of six new pastors.

Delegates from all five conferences attended the denomination’s Eurasia Conference in July, which opened with an evangelism festival. – United Methodist News Service.

FLASHBACK: Children carrying altar items at the Dedication Service for the First United Methodist Church in Ekaterinburg, Russia, in 2001. – UMNS file picture courtesy of James Gillespie.