Persevering in Witness

Delegates from across Europe gathered in Budapest from June 11 to 12 for the WCRC European Area Council (EAC), engaging in spiritual reflection, theological discussion, and preparation for the global communion’s 27th General Council. The theme for the upcoming General Council, “Persevere in Your Witness,” is based on the scripture Hebrews 12.1. At this year’s Area Council, delegates heard input from representatives of various regional member churches and also global perspectives as part of the “voices in the cloud of witnesses.”

In her annual report, Martina Wasserloos-Strunk, President of the WCRC-European Region, offered an overview of the various encounters with member churches across the region “through whom,” she says, “we have experienced what it means to live in a communion that encourages, supports and sustains one another.” The region president emphasised the importance of remaining connected throughout the region, “to stay in touch… to know about each other, to network with each other and to connect people, voices and faces with the term ‘European region of the global communion.’” Wasserloos-Strunk highlighted the essential connection between churches and journeying in solidarity with those facing conflict, such as the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia. As the world has turned its eyes to the critical humanitarian crisis in the Middle East or the endless spectacles in the United States, Wasserloos-Strunk says, “I got the impression that the situation of our sisters and brothers in Ukraine is slowly fading in the background.” Nevertheless, she recalled experiences of communion and solidarity, saying that “they remind us that the cloud of witnesses carries us because we are aware of each other and pray for each other when one of us can no longer do so.” Not only is regional interconnection important, the president said, but it is also essential for there to be improved cooperation and networking across the global communion. It is important that the global communion celebrate the strength it derives from the diversity of its regions.

Wasserloos-Strunk also presented on several developments leading up to the preparation for the General Council in October. This included the recent women’s conference, “The Unheard Voice: Women’s Persevering Witness in War,” held in Lebanon by WCRC-Europe in cooperation with the Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH) and the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). The president also introduced reactions from the European region to the General Council Workbook and provided an overview of the steps being taken to account for the European reactions and considerations with the goal of “[opening] up space for encounter and dialogue, for insight and action.” Wasserloos-Strunk, who completed her term as regional president, also expressed her gratitude to the delegates, the communion, and the member churches for their support, the lessons learned, and the experience she had during her time as president.

The General Secretary of WCRC, Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, contributed input on the evolution of the WCRC across its 150-year history. The communion has a long and rich history of advocating for justice, as seen in its efforts in the 1880s to speak out against colonialism, in the 1930s to call attention to the dangers of Nazism, and in the 1960s to take action against racial discrimination, among other instances. The difficulty today, Rev. Dr. Nyomi pointed out, is discerning a common voice despite our differences and diversity, whether it is between and among the Global South and North, liberals and conservatives, or along theological trends. He emphasised that if we are burdened with uncertainties, “and we think that we are fighting a losing battle, then the Letter to the Hebrews describes how we must persevere: by looking to Jesus.”

Under the theme “Voices in the Cloud of Witnesses,” regional and international leaders addressed the WCRC Europe Area Council in Budapest, offering reflections rooted in Scripture, personal experience, and a call to faithful endurance.

Bishop Szabolcs János Bogdán of the Reformed Church in Romania (Királyhágómellék Church District, Oradea) spoke movingly about the continuity between the suffering church of the past and the current European context. Recalling the persecution of Reformed Christians under Romania’s communist regime, bishop Bogdán emphasised that the spiritual richness of those times, born from risk and conviction, challenges today’s churches to self-examination. “What do we risk when we proclaim Christ?” he asked. “Would someone looking at the lives of today’s Christians feel compelled to follow Jesus?” Bogdán called on churches to reject complacency and pray fervently for the Spirit’s awakening, reminding listeners that lukewarm faith poses a serious threat to authentic witness.

Bishop Sándor Zán Fábián of the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia and Area President Gary Harriott of the WCRC-Caribbean, USA and Canada region also addressed the council, drawing connections between global struggles and the call to resilient discipleship. Bishop Zán-Fábián reported on several updates within Ukraine and the community in Transcarpathia, particularly regarding the health of their church communities, pastors, and congregants. The bishop reflected on the impact of war on communities in Transcarpathia and the church’s role in sustaining hope amid devastation. Harriott urged churches not to lose sight of solidarity, justice, and the shared call to be witnesses across cultural and geopolitical divides. Together, these voices formed a living “cloud of witnesses” pointing toward perseverance, mutual accountability, and the courage to proclaim Christ amid adversity.

Rev. Najla Kassab, President of WCRC, also offered her insight and introductions to the topic “Persevere in Your Witness.” Rev. Kassab encouraged the delegates that ours is a “communion under construction on the journey to renewal,” and that “our witness is strengthened, and pain lessened when we journey together.” The president also urged members to strengthen relations between the regions of the WCRC, highlighting that while this has made progress, there is work yet to be done even among member churches within regions. Rev. Kassab emphasized the importance of churches’ prophetic voice’, calling on the communion to remain steadfast and persevere in uplifting this voice in support of justice.

The central theological reflection, presented by Balázs Ódor of the RCH, offered a powerful framework for understanding Christian witness not primarily as activism or cultural presence, but as an extension of true worship. Drawing from Hebrews and Reformed tradition, Ódor emphasised that witness flows from the Church’s recognition of Jesus Christ as the “faithful witness” and mediator of reconciliation. Christian worship, both liturgical and lived, is where the community listens to God’s Word and responds through proclamation, action, and humility. Ódor challenged participants to resist reducing the Gospel to ideology or moralism, reminding delegates that Christian witness is always secondary to God's act in Christ: “It is not us who prove God right,” he noted, “but God who proves us right by grace.” Witness, therefore, is participation in God’s ongoing mission of reconciliation, grounded in hope and lived through the Church’s calling to be transformed and transforming.

Following the theological input, elections for the new executive committee commenced. Rev. Jenny Dobers of the Uniting Church in Sweden was elected to a four-year term as Area President, Rev. Dr. Martin Hirzel of the Protestant Church in Switzerland was elected to a four-year term as Vice President, and Dr. János Antal (Királyhágómellék Church District, Oradea) was re-elected to continue serving as General Secretary. Rev. Dr. Kevin Snyman of the United Reformed Church (UK) was elected to the two-year secondary term position of Vice President.

Delegates from member churches were also provided the opportunity to share reactions to the General Council workbook from their churches. The churches which contributed included the Uniting Church in Sweden, the Protestant Church in Switzerland, the Church of Lippe, and the United Protestant Church of France. Among the reactions to the workbook were inputs on how to better balance the language regarding current conflicts in the Middle East, encouraging the inclusion of European perspectives and altering the language toward a more cooperative rather than oppositional approach when discussing the Global North and the Global South, as well as discussions on the subject of true communion. The inputs generated reflections on how preparation for the General Council could accommodate the various voices from across the global communion to cultivate an open dialogue in October, which accurately and equally reflects the perspectives of the regions.

The delegates voted to support a future gathering of the women’s conference, which highlights women’s unheard voices in wartime contexts and reconciliation, as well as to support the Reformed Church in Transcarpathia. Moving forward, and building upon the reactions from the representatives, delegates suggested that it would be beneficial to gather meaningful insights from more church members across the region in response to the workbook ahead of the General Council in Thailand later this year. At the conclusion of the EAC, the delegates celebrated worship together with communion.