Synod Meeting of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren

The Synod of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren met from 30th May to 2nd June 2013 in the premises of the Emaus Monastery, Prague. In addition to the Synod members, several national and international ecumenical guests also took part. The Archbishop of Prague, the Metropolitan and Czech Primate as well as Chairman of the Czech Bishops' Conference, and Cardinal Dominik Duka, OP, came to greet the Synod. The main topic of the Synod was the discussion regarding the economic autonomy of parishes and the self-financing of the Church.

Pavel Stolař, member of the Synodal Council of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, introduced the theme of the Synod. "Regarding the fact that the state will gradually reduce the payment of ministers' salaries, to which it had committed in 1949 during the confiscation of Church property, there must be a balanced combination of funding of salaries, Church work (social services and education) but also, without a doubt, investments, which at least to a small part can cover some of the funding of activities of the ECCB with their yields. All of this is necessary.”

The President of the Synod, Jiří Gruber, concluded the theme of church financing at the closing worship service. "The Church itself must, from its roots, out of its parishes, church councils and deaneries, search for a solution which we cannot avoid. This will mean a structural change, an increased willingness for sacrifice and, if necessary, further steps."

The Synod also had another tough task, the decision about the sale of the building which houses the Evangelical Theological Faculty. After a lengthy discussion, during which arguments from both sides were heard, the Synod decided that the Synodal Council may sell the building to Charles University.

The next meeting of the Synod of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren will take place 29th May to 1st June 2014 in Vsetín.