PCUSA Mission

PCUSAmission.org is an outgrowth of a desire to have a centralized website specifically for news and stories of people working in Mission Networks in and through the Presbyterian Church (USA).

We hope to serve as a resource which will be used in addition to the offical information found at the denomination’s website: www.pcusa.org which includes many excellent resources including the Mission Connections pages.

However, we believe there is space for additional connections, especially those of our various Mission Networks. There was a definite felt-need in many of these Mission Networks to have a presence on the web, for sharing of information, etc. Some already have websites (and we would have happy to cross-link with those sites), but many of them did not, and there were various barriers to setting up those sites (financial, technical, etc).

Rather than each Working Group or Mission Network setting up their own site and duplicating cost & effort, we hope that PCUSAmission.org will be a centralized location for these various groups and others who might be involved in Mission Networks.

“How can I get involved?”

We are looking for people in Working Groups or Mission Networks who will be responsible for adding their groups news and information to the site. The process is very easy, not much more difficult than writing email.

If you would like to get involved (or think you might like to get involved), contact Les Sauer (Coordinator of Ecumenical & Mission Partnerships of the Worldwide Ministries Division) via email or phone (1-800-728-7228 ext 5110). Les will be able to answer questions and further direct you.

“What else is available for our group?”

In addition to space on the website, it is also possible for us to setup mailing lists similar to YahooGroups (but without the ads or complexity which is sometimes involved). If you already have a list setup you may certainly keep what you have. Remember we are talking about adding, not taking away, from what you already have. If you find that a YahooGroup works for you, by all means keep using it. But if you find it unreliable or if people have trouble with it (or if you like the idea of being able to get in touch with a human who can help if you do have problems), we can offer that for you.

“Can we upload pictures or other files?”

Yes! Pictures, Powerpoint presentations, etc can all be added to the site and are in fact encouraged. It takes just a little know-how (and we can show you how, it is very easy once you have seen it done) to make it available.

“I have more questions, where do I ask?”

Les Sauer is a good starting person to talk with, his contact information is above on this page.

“Why is the site sometimes listed as PCUSAmission.org and othertimes as pcusamission.org?”

This is just a stylistic difference. It does not matter which you use, they both lead to the same site. You could even type PcUsAmIsSiOn.OrG and get to the same site.

Posted by at 10:12 PM | Permalink

(prepared on behalf of the Czech & American Mission Networks by Joyce Michael, mission co-worker with PC(USA))

Occasionally, I have an opportunity to watch a whimsical Czech documentary which begins with a gentle tune about journeying to find the source of one or other of the various streams that wind their way through this country. [And,] this morning, I can almost hear the melody and lyrics of that ballad as I start to write this Bridges, which may give us occasion to consider what it means to seek for, and to live close to, the source of our heritage and of our being.

Ostensibly, this story begins on a Sunday morning in June, when the pastor told us of an untimely death which would have far-reaching significance for persons in our Prague 6 congregation, for the Protestant Theological Faculty, for an ECCB congregation in the community of Kladno, and for many other folks in a variety of places. Dr. Daniel Alexander Neval had died of a heart-attack on June 3 at the age of thirty-five. Prior to that morning, I had not known that Daniel’s fiancé was the daughter of the member of the Prague 6 congregation who had accompanied me to the meeting of the Ecumenical Forum of Christian women just days before and who has extended particular kindness to me on many other occasions.

However, it was clear that Daniel’s future mother-in-law was heart-broken at his premature death, and it was evident that many other people were also deeply touched. A similar sense of loss was palpable the next evening, as John and I joined a number of dear friends at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Wall to attend a memorial service that had been prepared by Daniel’s fiancé and the Faculty’s International Department.

During that service, the outlines of Daniel’s contributions to the Czech Republic began to emerge. As Dean Pavel Filipi spoke, I recalled the energetic manner in which Daniel had participated in the life of the Protestant Theological Faculty. Not only had he pursued doctoral studies in conjunction with that institution, he had also been instrumental in founding and leading the association of international alumni that assembles in Prague each autumn under the name, “Friends of the Faculty.” As the Reverend Pavel Smetana spoke, I learned that Daniel had been quite involved in the reconciling pursuits of the Czech Ecumenical Council of Churches. [And,] as Professor Dagmar Čapková spoke, I was moved to consider the whole-hearted manner in which Daniel had committed himself to translating Comenius’ writings into German and to studying that important thinker’s life and works until he arrived at the ground-breaking insights which distinguish his Ph.D. dissertation. Other speakers reminded us of Daniel’s compassionate ways of relating to ordinary people and of caring for his Kladno congregation. Yet, my fragmentary recollections of the service at St. Martin-in-the-Wall are only part of the story.

I had long known that Daniel had grown up and studied in Switzerland. However, I only recently learned that his grandfather was a Protestant pastor in the Czech lands before his mother and father emigrated to a nation where they could offer their family a life characterized by possibility rather than poverty and freedom rather than oppression. Nevertheless, Daniel felt drawn to return to the heritage of faith that his grandfather had preserved. Thus, he came to the Czech Republic, immersed himself in its language and culture, and carried on Comenius’ legacy through his scholarship and service to the church. He dared to set forth on the difficult, but fulfilling, journey that was required to return to the source of his faith and to recover the roots of his ancestry.

As I consider Daniel’s story, I cannot help but recall that it was Comenius’ life-long desire to return to the land from which he was exiled as a result of Counter-reformation measures. In contrast, Daniel Alexander Neval was able to return ‘home’ and to live close to the source of his spiritual heritage. Thus, his short life was rich and full, and may be an apt invitation for us to take Comenius’ words to heart: ‘To enter into friendship with a dear one is an act which death cannot disrupt, because the spiritual friendship which unites our hearts in God is more than that which rests in the body.’* May it be so!

*This paraphrased ‘translation’ of Comenius’ words is intuitive rather than literal.

Posted by at 8:19 AM | Permalink

(prepared on behalf of the Czech & American Mission Networks by Joyce Michael, mission co-worker with PC(USA))

In the spring, I received a message regarding the March BRIDGES, which gave rise to an exciting chain of events. Louise Davidson, the author of that response, is involved in a pilot project designed to establish long-term relationships between local units of Presbyterian Women and women’s groups in partner churches around the world. Louise wanted to know if I was aware of a group of women in an ECCB congregation that might be interested in participating in this program.

When I mentioned this possibility to the American Working Group, Naděje Mandysová invited me to describe this opportunity to the Czech Ecumenical Forum of Christian Women, which she had established when she was the director of the Czech Ecumenical Council of Churches. Thus, on June 1, I had the honor of participating in the spring meeting of the Forum, which expressed strong interest in establishing a partnership with a similar body in the USA. Since the Ecumenical Forum is not related to a single ECCB congregation, the institution of such a relationship lies beyond the scope of the present pilot project. However, we hope that in time, Presbyterian Women will be able to facilitate a relationship with an ecumenical body in the USA. You see, the Forum has made such a relationship a “priority” because its members believe that their ecumenical character gives them a unique quality that is worth sharing with women in other places! Perhaps, you will catch a glimpse of this quality as I describe the sense of excitement that grew within me during my first encounter with this group.

I was delighted to learn that although many of the Forum's participants are members of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, a number of Catholic women and smaller contingents from Hussite, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, and Silesian Lutheran Churches are also involved in this organization. The collegiality of women from the ECCB and Catholic confessions is particularly significant in this land where the painful events which occurred during the Hussite era and the ensuing Counter-reformation continue to exert a subtle influence on the larger society's perceptions of Christianity. Likewise, another important feature of the Forum is its multi-generationality.
Although I was told that the daytime scheduling of its meetings means that younger, working women are prohibited from attending, it appeared to me that a variety of ages (and socio-economic classes) were represented.

However, above all, I was impressed by the attentive enthusiasm with which the thirty+ women in attendance responded to a thought-provoking Bible study on Philippians 3:1-14, which was identified as being an apt "impuls" (i.e., motivation or impetus) for the Forum’s commitment to forming a partnership with a women’s group from the USA. Similar depth was evident in the Forum’s discussion of the insightful reflections that Mahulena Čejková, the ECCB's lay moderator, offered on how the
church views the world and how the world views the church. As the day went on, it was clear that every woman present had come prepared to make an active contribution, and that each speaker was nurtured with respect and care, even when opinions differed. The discussions that took place were the antithesis of superficial chat, and the depth of sharing convinced me that the Ecumenical Forum is a unique fellowship where honesty and support go hand in hand.

This sense was confirmed during the lunch hour when I was able to "converse" with women who dared to seek me out, although their English is as limited as my spoken Czech is. During this informal period, various women told me of their appreciation for this group where individual members listen without claiming that anyone has the final answer and accept one another with unconditional receptivity. I felt as if I had been transported in time and space to lively and warm gatherings of Christian women that I have experienced in American churches as well. I had a strong sense of having found a new community of thoughtful colleagues, and I was invigorated by the creativity, energy, and grace that characterized the meeting on June 1. Thus, I am honored to introduce the Ecumenical Forum to you, even as I hope that this little account will give you an ‘impuls’ to celebrate and nurture similar groups within your own congregation.

Posted by at 8:18 AM | Permalink

(prepared on behalf of the Czech & American Mission Networks by Joyce Michael, mission co-worker with PC(USA))

In the autumn of 2003, I was privileged to accompany Gerhard Frey-Reininghaus to the opening of an Alzheimer’s unit at a nursing home in the community of Dvoře Kralové nad Labem. The ECCB congregation which founded that diaconal center was also celebrating a landmark anniversary that day. Thus, it was an especially joyful occasion, which was well complemented by the hospitable care that was extended to Gerhard and me as we dined with church leaders who welcomed us into their home and introduced us to their historic community. Of course, as I try to recall that day so long after the fact, a variety of half-memories are puzzling me.

However, one recollection remains as clear this evening as it was in 2003. In my life-time, I have visited many nursing homes as a pastor and as a friend. However, the care center at Dvoře Kralové was unlike any other that I have experienced. Not because of its architecture, although that was distinctively creative. Nor because of its furnishings, although those were cheerful and practical at the same time. But because of the exceptionally loving, gentle, and human way in which the caregivers and the residents interacted with one another. Smiles were genuine and gestures were warm, as aides guided the residents through the clusters of quests who had come to see their home. Trust was evident, and serenity was palpable as residents sat at tables in the common area, looking quite tranquil in spite of the unusual festivities that were taking place. The signs of bewilderment and despair which are often evident in nursing homes and Alzheimer’s units were scarcely visible. Perhaps there is a different approach to aging here, I thought, although I could not begin to pinpoint what that divergence might be.

However, this spring, I began to identify the foundation of the graceful spirit which was evident at opening of the Alzheimer’s unit in Dvoře Kralové in 2003 and at the dedication of the hospice in Valašské Meziříčí in 2004. The occasion for this intuition was the grand opening of a photography exhibit on aging which the ECCB’s Diaconia prepared this spring. Having never been to such an event, I hardly knew what to expect. However, soon after John and I entered the room in the Franciscan monastery where the ceremonies were held, I felt myself being immersed in the theme of the exhibit as a variety of media were employed to give expression to its underlying premise.

Of course, the staff of the Diaconia used words to remind us that aging does not mean that we become any less human than we have ever been. However, this message was reinforced by haunting musical selections performed by a young woman whose lyrics invited us into the experience of aging. Photographers were introduced, and at least one person who appeared in some of the photographs was greeted. Video clips were shown, and the “author” of the exhibit was honored. Refreshments were enjoyed, and then, John and I began to look at the pictures themselves.

The title of the exhibit, “I Am Still Me,” came to life in tangible ways as camera lens recorded normal scenes of everyday life. The title was more than a thematic device; it was an invitation for all of us, young and old alike, to recognize and honor the human being who resides behind wrinkled brows, weary bodies, deliberate movements, and pained expressions. The theme filled me with poignant hope as I looked at the likeness of an elderly lady pouring milk for her cat, and smiled at an elderly couple dancing in their kitchen, and entered into the tender beauty of great-grandparents gently cradling the youngest generation of their families. Life has beauty in, and at, any age.

“I am still me!” The photos of that exhibit reflected the same value of the human being that I had observed in Dvoře Kralové and Valašské Meziříčí, and that recognition and affirmation of the essential worth of every life may make all the difference in the world for elderly people who are in a position to receive our care and for those of us who are open to receiving and embracing their love.

Posted by at 8:14 AM | Permalink

(prepared on behalf of the Czech & American Mission Networks by Joyce Michael, mission co-worker with PC(USA))

In May, John and I had occasion visit the building which houses the Vinohrady congregation of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren on two occasions which, on the face of it, may seem to be fundamentally different, but which, on a deeper level, may be vitally related.

The Vinohrady building – whose walls are adorned with striking paintings by Miroslav Ráda, whose artwork gives compelling expression to the contemporary significance of biblical stories – is the location of the ECCB’s equivalent of the General Assembly. Thus, John and I made our way there on a cool Friday evening to attend a special session that was focused on “building up congregations” or, in American parlance, on “church revitalization.”

Moderator Ruml and Lay Moderator Čejková had already told me a bit about the direction that this conversation might take. Thus, I was anticipating that a lively discussion of the practical forms that a new, more equalitarian relationship between pastors and lay leaders might take. However, the dialogue, which unfolded after the few moments of polite silence that followed introductory remarks, was more impassioned and varied than I had expected. Indeed, a comprehensive report that had been prepared by a special task force elicited many comments about a wide-range of topics, many of which are also of concern to churches in western Europe and America.

Particular attention was given to the different needs of city congregations, which are thriving, and village congregations, which are in decline. heartfelt affirmations of the worth that all congregations have for their participants led me to conclude that churches must be nurtured in very individual ways that take account of their unique qualities, their specific needs, their particular potentials. It seems to me that when it comes to building up churches, patterns may be proposed, but it may never be assumed that ‘one size fits all.’ Thus, it may be that the discussion of church revitalization at this year’s Synod (i.e., GA) did not give rise to a blueprint for maximizing the potential of ECCB congregations and for dealing with the thorny question of how the church can move toward independence from state support. Yet, I was heartened by the respectful and direct ways in which a number of difficult questions were explored on the evening of May 20.

A few days later, John and I returned to the Vinohrady Church for a mid-week concert and lecture that had been organized by the International Dvořák society. The musical portion of the program featured a renowned pianist who had presented a fascinating program on Dvořák’s piano music at the church which we attend in Prague 6 just days before he was the featured soloist at a major concert at the Rudolfinum. At the Vinohrady concert, Mr. Kvapil was joined by a baritone soloist who sang Dvořák’s Biblical Songs, American spirituals, and other classic American tunes.

This rousing performance was complemented by a question-generated description of “little known” features of life in the United States, which was presented by a Czech woman who had spent a number of years in the American academic and professional community. Her informative, good-humored remarks addressed hard questions about American customs, practices, and perspectives in ways that went beyond stereotypic generalizations to issue in a fair, but honest, portrayal of life in the USA.

After the concert, we were greeted by a number of friends from various congregations in Prague, and I had a strong sense that the church had effectively fulfilled the role of preserving culture that evening. In the metropolis of Prague, that role is fulfilled by many secular institutions as well, while in rural settings, the church may serve as a unique mediator of cultural opportunities. However, it has been my experience that even in the big city, cultural events organized by churches are characterized by distinctive qualities of warmth, intimacy and community. Thus, it seems to me that a powerful tool for church revitalization is already in place in Protestant congregations that serve as transmitters of culture. The church may be particularly alive, inviting, and visionary whenever it provides occasions for people to come together in harmony to receive gifts of beauty, creativity, and contemplation that are ours by the grace of God.

Posted by at 8:07 AM | Permalink

(prepared on behalf of the Czech & American Mission Networks by Joyce Michael, mission co-worker with PC(USA)

From time to time, I have heard people use the phrase “oh, what a tangled web we weave” to introduce a classical truism about duplicity. However, when actual spider-webs capture rays of sunlight, it is clear that the most natural and useful sorts webs are composed of intricate patterns that have been constructed with care and creativity. Thus, I am glad to report that the image of a “tangled web” was supplanted by a tantalizing image of a multifarious, but supple, web when the “American Working Group” met in Prague on April 25.

Webs had already begun to spin before that meeting took place. You see, this special gathering of the “American Working Group” was set up in response to an e-mail that arrived just prior to its regular March meeting. In that message, Roger Shoemaker, who has assumed a central role in the steering committee of the newly established Czech Mission Network, indicated that he and his wife, Sue, would like to meet with the “American Working Group” during a visit to Prague in April.

At that time, we had no idea that another Presbyterian couple with significant Czech connections would be in Prague during the same period. However, in mid-April, Ondřej Stělik – a gifted Czech pastor who moved to the USA to serve a congregation in Binghamton, New York three years ago – put John in touch with some important leaders from his congregation who were preparing to come to Prague to formalize a long-standing relationship between the University of Rochester and the Czech Technical University. Thus, we were delighted to be able to welcome Roger and Gloria Westgate to a very special session of the “Working Group” that Ondřej had chaired at the time of its formation over ten years ago. These auspicious coincidences suggest that webs were already spinning, independently of our efforts, long before April 25.

Yet, simultaneously, several people in various places were directly involved in web-weaving as they nurtured potential contacts with care. Thus, the practicalities involved in discovering and fostering existing ties were a focal point of the discussion that occurred when Jan Dus (the Chairperson of the American Working Group), John, Roger, Sue, and I enjoyed a working lunch together on April 25. As we considered the intricacies of trans-Atlantic communication, it was exciting to anticipate the connections that will be enabled by the Czech Mission Network’s new website. Yet, it was also encouraging to learn that this technological instrument is not viewed as being an end in itself, but instead, is designed to facilitate the formation of living relationships between actual human beings who have an interest in the faithful people who compose the ECCB.

Throughout the lunch hour and the meeting that followed, an amazing number of connections came to light. And, as the members of the “American Working Group” reported on relationships which presently exist between Presbyterians in the U.S.A. and the Protestant Theological Faculty, the Diaconia, and congregations of the ECCB, tangible ideas about ways to develop and foster those ties began to suggest themselves. Thus, the Shoemakers left the meeting with several pages of notes that may guide them as they seek to link the ‘Czech-American webs’ that are already spinning independently, but vitally, in many places.

I left the meeting with a genuine sense of enthusiasm that I wanted to pass along to you. However, the intricate designs and paradoxical dynamics of webs cannot be easily converted into words. Nevertheless, I want to conclude these reflections with a recollection that Sue Shoemaker shared about an encounter which she and Roger had when visiting a village in Moravia several years ago. Near the end of an evening gathering which was attended by over twenty people, a quiet young man expressed gratitude that he had been able to meet some Americans who are not like television serials and movies. ‘That is what it is all about,’ Sue thoughtfully said, ‘replacing images of Dallas and hamburgers with relationships among real people.’ From my perspective, the Czech Mission Network is exactly that: a means of bringing real people with real commitment into a beautiful web of relationships. If you would like to become part of this pattern, please send a note to me at the address that is listed in the cover e-mail, and I will make sure that Roger and the Network steering committee know of your interest. Thank you for choosing to be involved in helping us create a magnificent web together!

Posted by at 7:53 AM | Permalink

An interesting article from Prague Post online (in English) reporting The Czech church: Not dead yet, 19 percent of Czechs believe that God exists (printer-friendy version)

UPDATE (2005-10-17):

Dear Friends,

I am glad you are so interested in what is happening here in the Czech Republic. The Prague Post is a good source of information. However, the article in question may not be very accurate. The people I talked with in the ECCB's church office did not know of the poll on which the article is based.

In addition to wondering how the information was gathered and what questions were asked, they point out that the figures don't seem to be accurate. (For example, other data points to church membership of 33% of the population. The article stated that only 19% of Czechs believe in God.) The declines in the mainline churches, while substantial, appear to be overstated in the article. Additionally, different denominations use different criteria for compiling their membership statistics.

Sorry. I wish I could endorse this article, but the reservations of staff of our partner church here make that impossible.

John Michael
PC(USA) Mission Co-worker,
Czech Republic

Posted by at 7:40 AM | Permalink