PCUSA Mission

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.