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October 8, 2008

Brave Old World

Presbyterians travel to ‘Bohemia’ to further Czech church partnership

by Jim Nedelka
Special to Presbyterian News Service

NEW YORK — Columbus Day Weekend, a group of travelers from the New World will journey to the Old World — their destination:  Prague, the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Bohemia now known as the Czech Republic.

In that kingdom, a free people thrived in a hard-working yet comfortable lifestyle highlighted by crowning achievements in history, the arts and letters, culinary skills, music, fine arts and literature. One of its kings, Charles IV, led the secular world and the world of religion as the seat of the Holy Roman Empire. Centuries later, Jan Hus would spearhead the Christian Reform Movement.

Then this proud, peaceful nation fell under the control of invaders. Centuries of limited opportunities under the regimes of a foreign empirical power ensued.

Then, 90 years ago this month, the impending end of World War I enabled this nation’s make-over as a free entity: Czechoslovakia. Yet, less than 20 years later, the Third Reich annexed the Sudetenland, short-circuiting Czechoslovakia’s freedom.

Freedom was further repressed under the imposed “Godless sterility” of life as an Eastern Bloc satellite of the Soviets.

The “Velvet Revolution” of November 1989 hastened the demolition of the Iron Curtain, re-birthing a free Czechoslovakia. Yet, this country, too, has moved into the pages of history.

Realizing that “Czechoslovakia” — whether spelled with a hyphen or not — was merely a political amalgamation of peoples with distinct heritages, the country did something unique: it decided to cease its existence. Fifteen years ago this month (October 1993), the former nation peaceably split into the two independent nations of Slovakia — comprised mainly of the Slovak people — and the Czech Republic, the 21st Century successor to the ancient Kingdom of Bohemia.

Today, the Czech Republic is officially the fastest “emerging nation” to shed that label. On the world stage, this new “developed nation,” with its multi-millennial heritage rightfully wishes to take a “full seat at the table.” Yet, while they have made great advances on the secular side, most Czechs will admit that their spirituality doesn’t easily translate into their “being religious.”

This situation is understandable for a population where most grandparents and parents grew up in the previous “Godless” State and where the generation born since the Velvet Revolution — the first born into a society which did not ban religion — is still in High School.

With this historical context as prologue, our modern travelers
venture forth, seeking new adventures á la Columbus. Yet, unlike Columbus, these New World travelers — members of the PC(USA) — seek new pathways and partnerships in culture and religion with member congregations of the Evangelical Church of the Czech Brethren at Partnership Conference ’08.

Leading the PC(USA) delegation is the Czech Partnership Team of First Presbyterian Church, Annapolis, MD Betty McGinnis, Mark Moran, Steve Hays and the Rev. Bill Hathaway. Joining them are delegations from: Covenant Presbyterian Church, Athens, GA; First Presbyterian Church, Morehead City, NC; Jan Hus Presbyterian Church, New York City; Sewickley Presbyterian Church, Sewickley, PA;  Trinity Presbyterian Church, Independence, MO and West Hills Presbyterian Church, Omaha, NE; as well as a delegation from the Presbytery of Missouri River Valley [conference details available at the Web site].

A familiar face for many in the American delegation will belong to the Rev. Pavel Ruml, pastor of Letohrad Congregation in the region just north of Prague. His relationship with First Annapolis began some seven years ago when he spent a month in Maryland as a part of the PC(USA)’s Mission to the USA project.

This led to several visitor exchanges between the two congregations, including a “build” team from Annapolis which helped Letohrad with their new church building. The bonds of friendship grew to the point where both congregations decided to develop a formal partnership agreement. Both sides outlined what could give to — and receive from — the other.

At the outset of this partnership, the Marylanders believed that they had much to learn from the Czech church, cared for by wonderful, educated pastors steeped in the rich history of the church. Of particular interest was the opportunity to explore the reasons behind how Letohrad survived in a secular society.

First Annapolis sees PC(USA) congregation-to-congregation partnerships with the ECCB in the light of several factors:

• They are an extension and deepening of the historic ties developed between our two churches through the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and the World Council of Churches. It should not be forgotten that during this period when the PC(USA)’s Mission Networks are in the midst of reorganizing [the Czech Mission Network is a component], these church partnerships are an especially helpful bridge to strengthening the base for the Networks’ future good works through a continuing platform of friendship.
• With many Czechs having family connections with other Europeans peoples, these partnerships help open the door to wider opportunities for working together with more countries.

The PC(USA) and the ECCB represent two Reformation era churches. Though located in different settings, both denominations face issues of multicultural diversity.

In America, the true incorporation of Latino, African and Asian traditions without being merely expressions of tokenism has been a subject of prayer and discussion for many congregations.

The “bread and butter issues” facing the Czech Republic include confronting the historic issues of the Roma (the more familiar term to Americans is Gypsy), the more current issue of Moslem immigrants and the reality that the Czech Church exists within a highly secular society.

On behalf of the Presbyterian News Service, Jim Nedelka will be on hand at the conference venues in Prague and Janské Lázně, and with one of the partner congregations in the village of Hvozdnice.