Covenant to Olomouc An Exploratory Journey OLOMOUC “ Oh – Low – Moats ”

Covenant to Olomouc

An Exploratory Journey

OLOMOUC

“ Oh – Low – Moats ”

Covenant-Olomouc Partnership – A Short History

- 1981 - First Pres, Annapolis Md

Annapolis – Letohrad Partnership Established

-




- 2007 - PCUSA /ECCB desire to expand Partnerships

-





- spring 2008 - Call for Congregations interested in exploring a partnership






“As it emerges from the communist era, the ECCB church is exploring what it means to be faithful in a highly secular society in a rapid pace

of change. The Czech church is seeking partners in its journey.”






“As it emerges from the communist era, the ECCB church is exploring what it means to be faithful in a highly secular society in a rapid pace

of change. The Czech church is seeking partners in its journey.”

- Spring 2008 - Covenant application and congregational profile submitted






Covenant application and profile submitted

October 14-24, 2008 – Czech Partnership Conference

8 US and 8 Czech congregations “matched”

Covenant – Olomouc






Covenant application and profile submitted

“October 14-24, 2008 – Czech Partnership Conference

8 US and 8 Czech congregations “matched”

-December 2008 – Covenant Session approved partnership with ECCB church in Olomouc

-Janurary 2009 - Covenant session received report and presentation

Partnerships are an expression of the love of God, the unity of the Partnerships are an expression of the love of God, the unity of the Body of Christ and the hope of the transforming power of the Holy Body of Christ and the hope of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.Spirit.

A partnership across denominational, cultural and national lines A partnership across denominational, cultural and national lines provides a witness to the unity of the church of Jesus Christ and an provides a witness to the unity of the church of Jesus Christ and an expression of hope within a fractured world.expression of hope within a fractured world.

Partners Partners -explore the wonderful diversity of the church, and -explore the wonderful diversity of the church, and -assume a status of equality before God -assume a status of equality before God

(thereby reject patriarchal and patronizing structures prevalent (thereby reject patriarchal and patronizing structures prevalent within the history of the church)within the history of the church)

Theological Principles: Called as Partners in Christ’s Service

PCUSA Principles for Faithful Partnerships(2003 General Assembly)

1. Shared Grace and Thanksgiving

2. Mutuality and Interdependence

3. Recognition and Respect

4. Open dialogue and Transparency

5. Sharing of Resources

Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren(ECCB)

In what is now the Czech Republic, the ECCB church has existed continually since 1781; older roots in the Ultraquist Hussite Chruch (1431-1620) and Unity of Brethren aka Moravian Church (1457-1620)

ECCB - member of the World Council of chruches

ECCB and PCUSA are “first cousins”.

John Hus (1372-1415), religious leader, reformer, philospher, at Charles University, influenced by John Wycliffe. Excommunicated from Roman Catholic church, condemned and burned at the stake in 1415. Hus was a key contributor to the Protestant movement; influence on Martin Luther, John Calvin

John Hus Day – July 6

ECCB and the Czech Republic

ECCB

114,445 members

263 congregations

14 Presbyteries

251 pastors (56 women)

ECCB and the Czech Republic

ECCB

114,445 members

263 congregations

14 Presbyteries

251 pastors (56 women)

Czech Republic

Roman Catholic 26.85 %

ECCB 1.1 %

No church affiliation 59 %

Undetermined 8.8 %

Days 1-4 Conference in Prague Hus House, with other

PCUSA churches, reps from some ECCB churches, Synodal Council, Diakonia, worship in historic church, new church, tours

Days 4-7 Visit to Partner church congregation Days 8-10 Conference group reconvenes in Janske Lazne

and Prague

The Congregation to Congregation Conference – ECCB Pension, Prague

Magda

- Population ~100,000- 2-3 hrs. from Prague- Home of Palacky University http:www.upol.cz/en

established 1573

20,000 students

Olomouc

O

PO

Jakub

Pavel Ruml

Olomouc

Welcome reception at church, overnight and breakfast in host homes, all other meals in homes of different members, short visits in other homes, tour of city, visit to Evangelical conservatory, visit to studio of painter, Dvorak concert in historic cathedral, worship, reception with congregation, countryside tour, Bouzov castle, met with church volunteer staff, visit to Mental Health day care, talk with pastor enroute

Jana Rumlova

Saturday Tour of Olomouc with Jan, Christina, and David

Jan

Christina

David

Olomouc

Downtown Olomouc, near ECCB church

Jana Vraj

Ladislav Maliva

Greetings From Covenant

Greetings and Gifts from Covenant

Time With the ChildrenTime With the Children

Marta Palaty Otto Patlaty

Eva

Jan

Jan Tomas

Bartusek family

Noemi Batlova

Daniel

Visit to Mental Health Center

Visit to Mental Health Day Care Center

(associated with Diakonia)

Ivana

Saying Goodbye to our Friends in Olomouc – Ivana, Jana, Ana, and Jan

Ivana

Jana

Noemi

Jan

From Olomouc to Janske Lazne, worship, reunite with the conference group,

American Culture night ! ! ! Music, fun, recap, planning

back to Prague

Final Dinner with the conference group

What’s Next ?

- Visit / Host? - Share Worship? - Pentecost? - Advent devotionals?

- Web connections/email, Facebook? - Music? - Children?

- Language lessons? - Holidays (Jan Hus Day) ?

- Montreat-Youth? - Study/Discuss Topics of Interest (Immigration?)

- Go South?

And . . . .

-

-

-

-

-

Documents

Covenant to Olomouc An Exploratory Journey OLOMOUC “ Oh – Low – Moats ”