Sharing Blessings, Strengthening Community

With many encounters, conversations and inspiring impulses, the United Evangelical Mission (UEM) was represented at the regional synod of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland (EKiR) in Bonn over these past days. With its own stand, VEM brought the worldwide communion of its member churches right into the heart of the synod proceedings – a visible sign that the Church lives through connection and mutual belonging.

The regional synod is the highest governing body of the EKiR. Here, 184 voting synod members decide on church legislation, theological positions and the direction of the Church in challenging times. UEM deliberately supported this key conviction: the Church is more than numbers and structures – it is a living, diverse community across continents.

“Share the Blessings” – a stand inviting participation

 

At the stand of the Regional Service of UEM*, the motto “Share the blessings” was at the centre. Synod members were invited to take away words of blessing from the member churches of the UEM communion – short texts that offer encouragement and make global connectedness tangible.

Sabine Hübner, Teamleader Regional Service of UEM, describes the idea as follows:

“We wanted to create a place where it becomes tangible: the Church lives from relationship and blessing – and we share this strength within our worldwide community.”

The response at the stand was consistently positive. Many visitors were moved by the idea of not only receiving blessing, but also passing it on. Synod members did not simply take the texts with them – they also actively joined in: at the stand, they were able to write down their own words of blessing. These personal messages were collected and will then be shared within the VEM communion – as an expression of hope that is carried forward.

Encounters, a greeting, and a global perspective

 

Discussions and encounters during the synod underlined the vital role of personal relationships and international partnerships in church life. UEM General Secretary Rev Dr Andar Parlindungan emphasised that walking this path together is a central idea of synod work:

“Synod means being on the way together in faith – carrying crises together and celebrating life together.”

A particularly special moment was the greeting delivered by Anna Tenga Mzinga, UEM financial adviser, at the beginning of the synod. She reminded everyone how important UEM is for the worldwide Church – not only organisationally and financially, but also as a spiritual and ecclesiological community that connects Christians across continents.

 

 

*The Regional Service of UEM supports congregations and church districts in discovering ecumenical diversity and strengthening global fellowship The seven-member team from Tanzania and Germany is active in all regions of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland. On site, they develop and test innovative forms of ecumenism based on the concept of “Global Learning in Ecumenical Perspective” (GLEP). In each of the six regions, there is a regional group that accompanies and supports the work of UEM staff.