The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, was an ecumenical guest at Solemn Vespers on Saturday, 26 February 2022 at the Orthodox Church of St. Theodore on Palatine Hill on the occasion of the feast of St. Theodore. H.Em. Metropolitan Polykarpos, Archbishop of Italy, presided.
Four Christian World Communions are strongly condemning the advance of the Russian military into Ukraine and the assault that began on the night of 24 February 2022. They call for Russian troops to be brought back to Russia and an immediate end to the conflict. “Peace must prevail,” they insist.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), the Conference of European Churches (CEC), and the World Methodist Council (WMC) are calling for prayers of peace for the people of Ukraine and the region.
They have issued an invitation to an online prayer service on Ash Wednesday, 2 March at 17.00 CET. The service will bring together Christians from Ukraine and other parts of the world, seeking peace and an end to the ongoing conflict.
“Jesus calls us to be messengers of hope who work for peace. As Christian churches we therefore call for an immediate de-escalation of this conflict, so that the lives, human rights, and dignity of people in Ukraine are protected,” said LWF General Secretary Rev. Anne Burghardt.
“This is a time for churches in Europe and globally to form a strong alliance of solidarity with people who fear the impact of war in Ukraine. This is a time to gather in prayer for people who possess the power to make decisions that will save lives and make peace possible,” said CEC General Secretary Dr Jørgen Skov Sørensen.
“As the Scriptures encourage us to turn away from evil and do good, to seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11), we consider such an unprovoked attack as evil, and strive to do all we can to stand against it—while also preparing to assist those impacted by it,” said the WCRC Collegial General Secretariat (composed of Hanns Lessing, Philip Peacock, and Phil Tanis).
“Despite what is happening in Ukraine I still believe that the international community can make a difference as we collectively work for peace in the region,” said WMC General Secretary Bishop Ivan Abrahams.
In the call to prayer for the people of Ukraine and the region, the four Christian communions note the military assault threatens the lives of Ukrainians, as well as peace throughout Europe and beyond. “The crisis is urgent and requires the attention and solidarity of the global Christian community.”
The LWF brings together 148 Lutheran churches representing over 77 million Christians across the globe. The WCRC is comprised of more than 230 Congregational, Presbyterian, Reformed, United, Uniting, and Waldensian member churches representing 100 million Christians. The Conference of European Churches is a fellowship of 114 churches from Orthodox, Protestant and Anglican traditions from across Europe. The World Methodist Council encompasses 80 member churches with 80 million members on six continents.
The Rev. Matthew A. Laferty, director of the Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome, hosted several Methodist leaders for an evening of fellowship on 8 February 2022. The Methodist leaders were visiting Rome for the Global Christian Forum expanded leadership meeting.
Pictured left to right: the Gobal Christian Forum secretary Rev. Casely B. Essamuah (Methodist Church Ghana), Dr. Angela Wakhweya Essamuah, World Methodist Council Geneva Secretary Bishop Rosemarie Wenner (The United Methodist Church in Germany), Rev. Laferty, Rev. Mirella Mannochio (Methodist Churches in Italy), Roman Catholic theologian Prof. Dr. Myriam Wiljens, Vatican offical for Methodist relations Fr. Anthony Currer, and World Methodist Council youth and young adult president Rev. Samuel Murillo (Methodist Church in Mexico).
The World Methodist Council (WMC) views with deep concern reports of mounting tension on the borders of Ukraine and Russia, including a threatened build-up of armed forces from the United States of America to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as an offensive to Russia. Many political commentators consider the recent events “a new Cold War” and “a threat to global peace.“.
The Council calls on ‘the people called Methodist,’ and those of faith who respect human life, rights, and dignity to pursue a “just peace” for all in the war threatened region.
We recognize the region’s long and complex history but are concerned only suffering and destruction would result from armed conflict.
The Council is committed to promoting peace, reconciliation, and justice. We believe that intentional diplomacy, dialogue, and negotiations are the only paths to peace. We encourage all parties to de-escalate this dangerous situation.
The Council asks for prayer for the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. We especially remember Bishop Eduard Khegay of the Eurasia Central Conference of The United Methodist Church and all local and regional church leaders as they minister against a backdrop of an armed standoff.
The Council recognizes that Methodists and other Christians are on each side in this potential conflict and prays that they may be blessed as peace-makers.
The World Methodist Council (WMC) condemns the recent attack on the Nassar family by 15 masked men from Nahaleen, an Arab village. Last week, Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) and their staff were violently assaulted by settlers while accompanying Palestinian farmers planting “trees for peace” near Burin, east of Nablus in the West Bank.
On Friday, 28 January, the Nassar Family, recipients of the World Methodist Peace Award for their work with the globally recognized Tent of Nations project, hosted on their 100-acre farm were victims of an attack. The Nassar brothers Daud and Daher required medical attention at the local hospital and are recuperating at home.
The WMC condemns all acts of violence and stands in solidarity with the Nassar family and all Palestinians who experience systemic violence, discrimination, and land expropriation.
For the past 70 years, the WMC has issued declarations and resolutions to bring about peace in this troubled region. We reaffirm our commitment to work with all parties to secure a just peace in Palestine and Israel.
Issued by Bishop Ivan Abrahams, WMC General Secretary
Methodist Ecumenical Office Rome 