Fund for Mission in Europe
The Fund for Mission in Europe was established in 1990. The political landscape in Eastern Europe and in the Balkans had changed fundamentally. Thus, the United Methodist Church stood suddenly facing this historical opening, which created many possibilities for new evangelism and service to people of different countries. However, it lacked sufficient numbers of trained church workers, a functioning infrastructure (including suitable church space) and money. In the course of the following years the Fund for Mission in Europe developed into a valuable instrument of solidarity between people in the West and Eastern Europe. Countless large and small donations have, since that time, resulted in much good.
Now the Fund for Mission in Europe aims to develop further. This instrument of solidarity should act as a working tool both to build new Methodist Churches and to reinvigorate existing ones, as well as to support new mission initiatives on the road to a Europe of the 21st century. Our vision is not that of mutual independence, but rather the recognition that, in our very doing and being, we are dependent upon one another. In the contemporary preaching of the Gospel and in the development of social programmes for the less fortunate, we need mutual exchange in order to learn from one another.
The Fund for Mission in Europe will, for that reason, make exchange possible - for instance, within the context of congregational partnerships or volunteers in mission teams. Furthermore, it will facilitate the exchange of mission ideas, as well as the exchange of mission workers. Finally, it provides a forum to discuss important topics regarding the Church’s existence today and in the future. For 2006, theological education in the former communist countries is such a subject.
Four priorities:
1. Working towards Sustainability
2. Theological Education
3. Being a Learning Church
4. Diaconal Work/Servant Ministries
Members of the Commission on the Fund for Mission in Europe:
Bishop Rosemarie Wenner, Frankfurt/Germany (Chairperson)
Bishop Hans Växby (Russia)
Bishop Oystein Olsen (Norway)
Bishop Sifredo Teixeira (Portugal)
Bishop Patrick Streiff (Switzerland)
Thomas Kemper (Germany)
Supt. Lothar Pöll (Austria)
Colin Ride (Great Britain)
Andreas Stämpfli (Switzerland)
Tove Odland (Norway)
Üllas Tankler (Estonia/USA)
+ Urs Schweizer (Secretary)
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