On their solidarity visit to Ukraine, the LWF delegation also met with faith leaders from Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities in Ukraine. A common concern was the instrumentalization of Christianity to justify the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Group photo with Ukrainian faith leaders in front of the Lutheran St Catherine's church in Kyiv. Photo: LWF/ Anatolyi Nazarenko
LWF leaders meet Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations
(LWI) - On their visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) President Bishop Henrik Stubkjær and LWF General Secretary Rev. Dr Anne Burghardt, met with representatives of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO). Ten representatives of the council joined the LWF delegation in the St Catherine’s church in Kyiv for a discussion about the role of faith communities in society during times of war.
“It is important that we as churches stand together. We have something to give to society,” said LWF president Bishop Henrik Stubkjær. “We bring the message that we are together and stand in solidarity with you.”
Friends in need
Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, thanked the LWF representatives for visiting a country at war, and for their support since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “You show us that friends in need are friends indeed,” he said.
He also thanked LWF member churches in Europe for their hospitality when receiving refugees from Ukraine.
“This war is a great tragedy. It’s not just a trial for individuals, but for the entire society,” he said. “When the war started, people re-evaluated everything. Relationships with society, their families, even with God.”
We thank the LWF for providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainians that does not depend on faith or denomination.
Archpriest Vitaly Danchak, Orthodox Church of Ukraine
“In times of darkness, churches are shining bright with hope,” Pastor Anatoliy Raychynets, representative of the chairperson of the Ukrainian Bible Society said. Faith communities in Ukraine have used “their resources, their buildings and their connections” to help people in need, added Archpriest Vitaly Danchak, Orthodox Church of Ukraine. He expressed gratitude for the LWF’s humanitarian work in Ukraine, in the frontline city of Kharkiv: “We thank the LWF for providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainians that does not depend on faith or denomination.”
“An ecumenical challenge”
While many churches have actively provided aid to people affected by the war, Ukrainian churches find themselves under increased pressure to justify their presence in society. Conscription has been introduced nationwide and clergy are in danger of being drafted into the military. This affects many of them significantly, including the protestant churches who have very few pastors.
Meeting with representatives of the All Ukrainian Council of Churches. Photo: LWF/ Anatolyi Nazarenko
The faith leaders voiced great concern about the propaganda and ideology of a “Holy War”, which has been endorsed by the Russian Orthodox Church. “We observe with great concern how a church stands behind a genocidal ideology? How do we counter the instrumentalization of religion,” asked Archbishop Shevchuk.
Pastor Anatoliy Raychynets, added that “powerful resources” are being used “to spread his narrative,” warning not to let the notion of a “Holy War” take root in churches and relations between churches. Apart from abusing the gospel to justify aggression, the blessing of the invasion by one church also damages the reputation of all faith communities in the highly secularized Ukrainian society, said AUCC representatives.
Lutheran solidarity
“It is dangerous how the gospel and the name of Christianity have been abused to justify this war,” said the General Secretary. “From the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the global Lutheran communion has clearly condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine, called for prayers for just peace, and has supported the people suffering from the war,” said LWF General Secretary Burghardt. The Thirteenth LWF Assembly in Poland affirmed this, calling on Russia to end its war against Ukraine.
