Ecumenical Bulletin 50 - Summer 2020 Editorial
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Ecumenical Bulletin 50 – Summer 2020
Editorial
Climatic changes, drought among other things, are definitely a threat we are all facing. In the Czech
Republic at the moment, however, this does not seem to be the case. It is June, but summer seems to
have forgotten to come. The heat that would often start to get quite intense at this time of year is
nowhere to be found, not in our country. It just keeps raining, on and on. At least up until now. That is
great news for the nature!
The world is still very much focused on the “Chinese virus”, let us hope it is slowly starting to lose its
power; we are very grateful that our country managed to cope with the epidemic quite well and wish
the same to the people from the countries around us. Let us keep the whole affected world in our
prayers.
It is almost hard to believe how the pandemic really brought out the best in our society, people have
clung together, started sewing face masks at home and giving them away to anyone who needed them,
healthcare workers have been working round the clock, and the same applies to many social workers,
nurses in elderly people’s homes and many others.
In this context, I think it is also important to mention priests: the ministers of the ECCB, but also of
other churches. Although Sunday services could not take place, ministers actually had more work than
the usual: to make sure the word of God reaches out to everyone even when churches are closed,
Sunday services were broadcast online. And let’s not forget, this year’s Easter took place in the middle
of the pandemic!
Some of the texts in this edition of the Bulletin also deal with the COVID-19 outbreak. I would also like
to draw your attention to an article in which one of the ECCB’s ministers describes his ongoing stay
with the Church of Scotland, in Lockerbie. The situation isn’t easy for him, either – he, too, has been
preparing online Sunday services, dealing with all the technical aspects, preparing the lyrics…
Dear friends, my wish for all of us is that the this pandemic frenzy is over as soon as possible, so we
can spend the summer freely and meaningfully.
Peace be with us all.
On behalf of the Editorial Board,
Jana Plíšková
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EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF CZECH BRETHREN (ECCB)
P. O. Box 466, Jungmannova 9,
CZ 111 21 Praha 1, Czech Republic
Tel: (+ 420) 224 999 215(216); Fax: (+ 420) 224 999 219
E-mail: ekumena@e-cirkev.cz
Web page: www.e-cirkev.cz
The foundations of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren stem from the Hussite church
(1431–1620) and the Unity of the Brethren (1457–1620). The Evangelical Church of Czech
Brethren (ECCB) was established in 1918, when the Lutheran and Calvinist wings of the local
protestant creed were united in one. Their existence, however, had not been legal until
Joseph II issued his Patent of Toleration in 1781, following a long and tough anti-reformation
campaign that began in 1620. Even after issuing the Patent of Toleration, Protestants still
had to face many restrictions, which would only be lifted following the Protestant Patent of
1861.
At the time of its establishment, the ECCB had 250,000 members, the number increased to
325,000 in 1938. Today, the church is divided into 14 seniorates and has a total of
approximately 250 congregations and 100,000 members. The church is headed by a six-
member Synodal Council, elected for a six-year period, represented by the Synodal Senior
and Synodal Curator.
__________________________________________________
Students of the Evangelical Academy Náchod help babysit the children of
employees of the Náchod hospital
In connection with the spread of the novel coronavirus, teaching
was banned in schools as a result of the emergency measures in
mid-March. On the very next day, the discussions about
cooperation in babysitting were initiated between the district
hospital and the Secondary Vocational School of Social and Health -
the Evangelical Academy.
We met with great and selfless kindliness. Every working day,
around ten children between the ages of four and twelve come to
school, now joined by the children of pharmacy staff. In the first
week, the children at the school were taken care of voluntarily by the staff themselves and the next
week also by student volunteers.
Children mostly use the literary drama classroom, where they can read and play various games. They
use other classrooms, for example, to work on homework assigned to them by their primary school.
Children love exercise, making extensive use of the gym and a small garden.
Local companies also supported the school with small gifts, which were a pleasant surprise not only
for the children themselves, but also for the school management. In addition, the seamstresses sewed
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a lot of masks for the children as well as teachers. It is beautiful to see children’s glowing eyes and read
thank-you letters from mothers whose children are begging to stay a little longer.
Thank you for your help and support!
Renata Dušková, ombudsman of the Náchod hospital
Evangelical Academy in Brno during the coronavirus crisis
Our schools are closed, but pupils, students and teachers are not idle! Since the beginning, distance
learning goes on and we all try to manage the situation as best we can.
Several professional teachers help nurses in Brno hospitals, many students and teachers help in various
ways on a voluntary basis.
And what is probably most strenuous – the adult students of both of our schools were called to work
by the government. This means that if necessary, they will go to hospitals or facilities providing social
services – to strengthen the staff, to help clients and patients. It is no longer just theory; several
students have already been called up and others are probably going to be in the coming days. It is an
extremely difficult situation for them.
Thus, we try to be close to them, to support them, to encourage them. We stay at our computers; they
go into the field. However, our students are determined to work it out. And I am very proud of them.
Marta Židková, school chaplain
Round Table 2020. Foreign Partners To Support Projects Worth Over 8 Million
CZK
From Wednesday, the 11th of March, to Thursday, the 12th of March
2020, a round table with our foreign partners took place at the
ECCB’s Central Church Office in Prague. We are glad the meeting
took place in spite of all the difficulties caused by the coronavirus-
related restrictions.
The meeting was attended by fewer partners than had originally
been planned. Representatives of the Swiss HEKS arrived, partners
from German churches in the Baden, Hessen-Nassau and Rhineland
regions, as well as partners from Gustav-Adolf-Werk. These churches and organisations, together with
churches from Bavaria, the Palatinate, Saxony and the German organisation „Kirchen helfen Kirchen“
and „Martin Luther Bund“ will support the projects of the „general church“ – the education of laymen
and ministers, youth activities, the position of a minister for minorities, the printing of a new Protestant
hymnbook, our presence at the meeting of Christians in Graz, several construction projects of our
churches, and projects of the ECCB’s Diaconia totalling an amount of over 8 million CZK. On behalf of
the ECCB, the meeting was attended by representatives of the Synodal Council, the Central Church
Office, the Ecumenical Department and the ECCB’s Diaconia. We are very grateful for this financial
support, as well as for the discussion, in which we had an opportunity to exchange our experience and
the current developments at our churches. We also greatly appreciate the friendly atmosphere of our
partnership.
Jana Špinarová
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Twenty years with Korean Christians in Kobylisy. Mutual enrichment with
different traditions
An integral part of the church in Prague-Kobylisy today is the community of
Korean Christians. The first Korean families began to appear at services in the
late 1990s, and in 1999, at the initiative of pastors Jiří Štorek and Jongsil Lee,
the first services were celebrated together.
A little later, in January 2000, an independent Korean parish was formed under
one roof with the Czech parish. Therefore, there were two celebrations in the
Kobylisy church U Jákobova žebříku in the last quarter. The first celebration, in
October last year, commemorated the joint journey of the Czechs and Koreans,
and at the same time it was an opportunity to reflect on the future of this
international community, which has since been joined by Christians from
Japan, Congo and other countries. The second, January celebration, was more
about Korean Christians themselves. The story of their church demonstrates how it is possible to
develop one's own spiritual tradition, while being open to the traditions of others, and to be enriched
by them as well. During the January celebration, the synod senior Daniel Ženatý preached.
Ondřej Kolář
Money Collected by Churches Is Helping in Greece. The ECCB Has Sent a Near
Million CZK
The funds raised in an extraordinary collection were sent to three
organisations at the Chios and Lesbos islands, part of the money
was sent to Aleppo, Syria.
The total sum collected was over 930,000 CZK and will be used to
buy food, medication and to provide necessary medical treatment.
The money is primarily intended for two Greek organisations –
Perichoresis and Chios People Kitchen, and also for the Czech
branch of Médecins Sans Frontières. All of these organisations
work on the Greek islands, inside the overcrowded refugee camps, and they use the donations to buy
and distribute non-perishable food, medication, and to provide the necessary medical aid.
A church-wide collection
The Synodal Council decided to donate 200,000 CZK to the Czech branch of Médecins Sans Frontières
already in late 2019, which was also an impulse to call for an extraordinary collection throughout the
whole ECCB. Thanks to the generosity and awareness of the ECCB’s church members, another approx.
650,000 CZK was raised in this collection, which is quite a success.
The contacts of the coordinator for work with refugees, Alena Fenrychová, who has been in touch with
organisations and churches helping directly in the places of the humanitarian crisis, also helped the
efficient distribution of the funds.
Twice a week, the Chios People´s Kitchen organisation distributes long-lasting food to the most needy
at the Chios island. “The distribution is complicated, because the coronavirus restrictions are valid here
as well. We provide help to 60–70 families per week, we also give fruit to children who are here without
their parents. Every day, we receive new requests for support and so far, we are able to help, also
thanks to your support, which we are very grateful for,” says Kostas Tainidis, head of the organisation
that has been preparing food for refugees since 2015.
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The Perichoresis organisation, established by the Greek Protestant church, purchases medication and
provides necessary medical treatment for refugees at the Chios island. Its work is important especially
in the camps, where the actual number of refugees is more than three times over the capacity limit
and there is an absolute lack of basic sanitary equipment. People who are running from a war conflict,
including little children, are crammed here in cold, dirty, inhuman conditions.
More support during Easter
The Synodal Council also sent a contribution of 3,000 EUR to the Community of Protestant Churches
in Europe (GEKE), which decided to provide aid in the same region and asked its member churches
participate. The proceeds of the collection organised by the GEKE are now on their way to Lesbos,
where they will be used to purchase medical material for the local Vostanio hospital. Part of the funds
was also sent directly to the war zone – to Aleppo, Syria – to buy disinfectants and protective
equipment for the Bethel hospital, which is run by the Union of Armenian Protestant Churches in Syria.
The Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren has repeatedly been urging the Czech political
representation, the respective ministries as well as the Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš, to engage in
preventing the escalation of the situation, and to send aid. The horrible situation of the refugees who
are stuck at the Greek islands is not only a humanitarian crisis, but also a potential safety threat.
Therefore, turning a blind eye to this problem is not a wise political approach in the long run.
Jiří Hofman
The Church of Scotland and its Current Challenges
Dear Sisters and Dear Brothers,
In Autumn 2019, as part of our inter-church cooperation, the ECCB
sent me to the town of Lockerbie in Scotland, where I am currently
working as minister of the Church of Scotland. I would like to stay
here with my family until August 2021 – that is, if the COVID-19
outbreak lets us.
The Church of Scotland was one of the most significant powers in
local society for many centuries. The position of the church used to
be similar to that of the Catholic church in our country, shaping the
basic attitudes of the vast majority of Scotland’s population. It was not until the late 20th century and,
more visibly, the beginning of the 21st, that the church began to be politely pushed out of public life –
starting with politics, through schooling and education, public institutions, all the way to funerals and
weddings: nowadays, all these areas can do without the “smart talks” of a minister or the space of the
church. Most of the people in Scotland today, including those who went to Sunday school, do not see
the church as a living community, but as an honourable institution that deals with the past, celebrates
various ancient anniversaries and deaths… that is, an institution that has nothing to offer to their
personal lives and current problems. Sound familiar?
In essence, the Church of Scotland is dealing with the same type of problems as the ECCB, only the
scale is much larger. A lack of ministers, a lack of funds and, which comes hand in hand, a rapidly
decreasing number of churchgoers. Almost every little village has a church, but very few of them have
a strong enough community to be able to properly use and maintain the church buildings, which are
getting old and often starting to fall into disrepair.
It must be said, however, that the Church of Scotland has faced these challenges very bravely. Last
year, the General assembly decided on a radical restructuring of the church (joining several
congregations and even Presbyteries in one, restructuring of the central church office, etc.). Last year,
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the General Assembly decided that the 46 local and two foreign Presbyteries are going to transformed
into only 13 altogether (!).
The Faith Impact Forum, which was created from the former Church and Society and World Mission
councils, deals not only with overseas mission, but also prepares programmes with the aim of reviving
and rejuvenating the church’s congregations.
To also support the restructuring of the church „from the bottom“, the Church of Scotland provides
several supportive and educational activities. Among them was an inspirational programme called
Future Focus, which was basically a discussion of the participants, only slightly moderated by a couple
of inquisitive questions posed by the facilitator. The whole point of the programme is that the
individual congregations have a chance to formulate what it is they want to offer to their neighbours.
Another challenge that the church has decided to tackle is Christianity in the mass media jungle and in
the flood of electronic information. It is quite encouraging to see that even during these difficult times,
there are congregations that are on the rise; congregations that are able to meet the needs, the
possibilities and the culture that today’s people are seeking. For example, by adjusting the worship
spaces, incorporating the use of modern technologies during Sunday services, or by using music that
is closer to the hearts of the majority of today’s population. An example of a very popular congregation
is one in Glasgow, which reconstructed an abandoned church and changed it into a café with a space
for worship. People come here to have coffee and doughnuts, and they are glad to listen to a sermon,
a discussion or some music while they’re there. Often, they take part in the worship, or they decide to
support one of the many social activities of the Church.
Right now, I am enjoying the warmth of the Victorian-era manse, the Sabine hurricane has finally left
and so have its sequels which broke a tree in our garden yesterday during the night. I want to share
with you my impressions from the past six months here.
Lockerbie is a world-famous town, perhaps one of the most famous small towns in the world. Sadly
this is because on the 21st of December 12, 1988 (because of Lybian terrorists, Czech semtex and a
significant delay), a PANAM plane with 250 passengers on board exploded directly above the town.
Many of the passengers were students that were returning home for Christmas. The largest fragment
of the plane fell approximately 300 m from the manse, destroyed several houses and killed another
eleven people. The memories of this event are still very much alive in Lockerbie and sooner or later,
this becomes the conversation topic of almost every pastoral visit I pay to the local people.
„My congregation“, Dryfesdale, Hutton and Corrie, is not world-famous. It is only known to the
inhabitants of Lockerbie and its close surroundings, and even those have a rather vague idea of its
existence. Services are held every Sunday; every second and fourth Sunday in the month, they are also
held in Boreland, which is a little village about 12 km from Lockerbie, originally an independent
congregation that affiliated with the larger one in Lockerbie around 30 years ago – due to a lack of
members and funds. The main Sunday services are usually attended by approx. 70 people, the ones in
Boreland are usually attended by about 20 of the most faithful members, unless there is heavy snowfall
in the hills or the roads get flooded by water.
The church in Dryfesdale (in the valley of the river Dryfe) is located in the middle of the town and at
the same time in the middle of an old cemetery. Funerals are the most common type of church service
here. I had more funerals in the course of the past month here than at home in Orlová, Czech Rep.,
during the last five years.
Apart from Sunday services and funerals, many other events take place at our church or across the
street at the Church Hall. The spaces are used by various groups belonging to the congregation – for
example the „Guild“ woman’s association, or just a group of friends who meet to play board games
and quizzes, but more importantly, to dance to Scottish folk music, played by two accordion players
and a violinist. The average age of the musicians is 85, that of the dancers might be even higher, but
that couldn’t possibly spoil the fun. It’s also worth mentioning that before Christmas, the church spaces
are always filled with school children, from kindergarten to secondary school students, for a couple of
days.
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It also shouldn’t be forgotten that the Church of Scotland has traditionally been the provider of a large
variety of social projects – from those supporting missionary organisations to programmes helping the
homeless, single mothers, terminally ill cancer patients... In general, the Scottish mentality is definitely
not greedy; on the contrary, people are very generous and they have ingenious ideas on coming up
with ways to support those who need help, and have a good time while doing it.
Staying here with the protestants of Scotland is a wonderful adventure and a great source of
inspiration which I am very grateful for. I hope the readers of this article are able to breathe in some
of the encouragement that we’ve been experiencing here!
Peace be with us all!
Štěpán Janča
The ECCB in the corona crisis
At the end of May 2020, social life in the Czech Republic is slowly
awakening - after three months in a state of emergency that has
paralyzed large parts of life here. Even if the pandemic of Covid-19
is far from over, it can begin to be assessed. What has the corona
virus changed? Will there be any long-term changes that this virus
will require of us? Many questions can only be answered
temporarily or not at all. In this article, I would like to limit myself to
a few observations in connection with the Evangelical Church of the
Czech Brethren (ECCB). How did the ECCB deal with the crisis?
The first cases of Covid-19 were discovered in the Czech Republic on March 1, 2020. On May 31, 2020,
the statistics in the Czech Republic read as follows: 9,233 people were infected by the coronavirus,
6,546 people have since been cured and 319 people have died from the coronavirus. 2,368 people are
currently struggling with the disease and 123 people are being treated in the hospital. Of course, these
numbers change every day, but one can say that the statistical balance sheet can be viewed favourably
in the Czech Republic, even if there are significantly lower statistics, such as from neighbouring
Slovakia. Certainly, many factors contributed to this relatively favourable result: the relatively quick
action of the Czech government, the excellent work of the staff in the healthcare and social institutions
and a mostly disciplined population, which essentially adhered to the strict measures and restrictions
of life. The scenarios with shockingly high numbers of deceased people from Italy, Spain, the USA and
Great Britain, which were regularly presented in the Czech media, certainly contributed to the high
acceptance of the restrictions. No, there shouldn't be anything like that in the Czech Republic! And
there were no such scenarios here.
„During the Corona crisis, we became aware of what really matters in life and in our church,“ said
Daniel Ženatý, the Moderator of the ECCB, in a conversation about the experiences in this crisis. With
regard to the reaction of the ECCB to the corona crisis, I would like to mention three dimensions of
what is important to us as a church:
1. That we proclaim God's Word for all people and cultivate community in our churches.
2. That we accompany people who need and want it.
3. That we also help people who need help in a very practical way.
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1. That we proclaim God's Word for all people and cultivate community in our churches
As part of the state of emergency, which was announced on March 12, 2020, services in churches were
prohibited. So the churches had to come up with new ways of preaching, without gathering ‘under the
pulpit’. In addition to the possibility of sending a printed sermon to parishioners' households, this was
above all the opportunity provided by the Internet. One can rightly say that the corona virus has forced
the churches to use the possibilities of the Internet. Worship services were broadcast online in many
different formats: from the YouTube worship service that went out to members of the church to online
worship services via Skype, Zoom, or any other platform in which the members of the church actively
participated and shared with each other what they could, even if they were not allowed to gather in
church for worship. Some pastors have told me that there were many more people attending a service
than was normal in the church itself. A pastor said:
„There are usually thirty to forty people at worship, while sometimes three hundred people have heard
my sermon online in the past few weeks. That is why we will continue to record the sermon and
broadcast it on Sunday morning, albeit in a simplified form. And then the sermon is in the archive of
the church's homepage, so that you can still hear the sermons at any time.“
This pastor also sees these digital opportunities as a great missionary opportunity if the parishioners
spread the invitation to listen to the sermon. Martin Balcar at the Central Church Office of the ECCB
has a similar view:
„The homepage of the EKBB (www.e-cirkev.cz) has become much livelier. Every day we have a new
word of hope from a pastor of the ECCB. And over the week there are about 500 people listening to
these words of hope, short sermons of five to ten minutes in length. We have noticed that many people
who are not members of our church also listen to these messages.“
The prayers, which are written every day by a layperson for the ECCB homepage, also find a good
response. And there is a lot more to read, listen to, and watch, on the homepage. "The intensive use
of the Internet for preaching has brought the church to the 21st century," says Pavel Hošek, Professor
at the Evangelical Theology Faculty of Charles University. It would be very desirable that this digital
dimension of ecclesiastical activity be maintained and strengthened, even if services, Bible studies and
other events can now take place in the churches again. But it is a good idea that some online sessions
continue to be digital in order to save a lot of time and effort on the road or in the train. Of course, it
is also important that we be aware that many older people in particular do not have access to the
Internet and do not want to have it. And it is also important that digital communication can never
replace personal human contact. The personal encounter from person to person is fundamental for
human coexistence, even in the digital age.
2. That we accompany people who need and want it
For some people, the strict contact restrictions were a huge problem that deepened their loneliness.
Congregations reacted to this by setting up a telephone service: pastors and members of the parish
regularly called other members of the congregation and at least visited and accompanied them by
telephone, listened and probably gave some good advice. Visiting is nothing new in the Christian
community. Jesus certainly encourages us to do this, but perhaps some of these telephone visits may
also be preserved in the future as an opportunity to have time for one another when that time is
limited.
3. That we also help people who need help in a very practical way
Practical help for elderly and sick people was certainly a speciality of the Christian churches and
Diakonia in Corona times. Many citizens' initiatives have called for help. And many have helped. The
first big relief effort was the sewing of mouth and nose protection, the so-called roušky (literally: veils).
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It was a real wave of aid that quickly overcame the huge shortage of mouth and nose protection that
became mandatory from one day to the next, always and everywhere, apart from your own home.
Congregations also participated and sewed this mouth and nose protection for church members and
for others. Now you can buy it in various forms everywhere, but it was completely different at the
beginning. Many offered to shop for the elderly and the sick, to walk the dog, or to provide the help
they need. Many congregations in our church have organized this too - and not just for their own
congregation. The ECCB Diakonia also offered their help and is still doing so, be it through a central
helpline, which you can contact with any problems, and from where specific help is then conveyed or
organized. This offer has also been accepted by many people in the wider community, not just from
our church. When it comes to assessment, there is always the hope that this great willingness to
provide human solidarity in society as a whole will continue after the crisis.
The unpredictability of the corona virus has surprised everyone. After a few difficult and painful
months with the Covit-19 virus and disease, epidemiologists, doctors and scientists from a wide range
of disciplines can say a lot more about the virus and its behaviour. But much is still very unclear. It is
important to study carefully the complexity of the effects of this virus. The damage the virus has done
is huge. The economic and social consequences of the measures against the virus will be felt for a long
time and will result in victims of their own. The path to a “new normal” is not easy. The virus will
certainly keep us busy for a long time. The churches are well advised to participate critically and in
solidarity in shaping this path, in accompanying people affected, in discussing what is necessary and
desirable for individuals and society. We should also get involved in the discussion about the lessons
from this crisis and take the opportunity to look for a new lifestyle that is more careful, and more
careful with the earth's resources. At European and worldwide level, we should also rethink the
opportunities and dangers of the globalized world, thinking that needs to happen especially among
the churches.
Gerhard Frey-Reininghaus
Words and Actions Under One Roof. Founding of the Jan Amos Komenský
Centre
The ECCB’s congregation in Přeštice dates back to the period after
WWI. The first Sunday service took place in autumn 1921, sixty
people attended. The number of the church’s members kept
increasing and soon reached several hundred. The one who
contributed most to the development of the congregation was its
long-term minister and shepherd, Josef Francouz. However, from
the very beginning, the congregation lacked an appropriate space
that would serve both the Protestant congregation and the
community of the town of Přeštice and its surroundings. The minister was continuously praying for a
way to solve this problem. For a certain period of time, the congregation acquired the building of the
synagogue and the adjacent house, but these were torn down in 1974. Under difficult conditions, they
were then able to acquire a little house that served as the church, the manse and the parish house at
the same time, but this was clearly just an emergency solution.
The congregation, which suffered a significant decrease in members under the totalitarian regime, has
seen dynamic growth in the past few decades. More and more people have been attending Sunday
services, including people that wish to serve their neighbours. In 2004, a maternity centre was
established and a few years later, a children’s club followed, which, under the name of //Royal
Rangers//, currently organises five camps a year and dozens of shorter trips and stays. The church
organises public lectures, advent singing, it also contributed to the creation of the St Adalbert nature
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trail, among other things. It has also started cooperating with the municipality and local associations.
The only type of service that was missing from this wide range was care for the elderly.
The summer of 2016 brought an opportunity to resolve several things at the same time. The generous
support of the EU (the IROP grant system), as well as financial gifts from donors from Protestant
churches in the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland, made it possible to start building a day care
centre with a chapel.
How the idea was born
In summer 2016, the idea of building a day care centre for elderly people and people with disabilities
came up at an after-church coffee in the garden, when talking to the minister of the Unity of Brethren.
Josef Mištera and Michaela Cimická prepared the project for the day care centre which they called
Kristián. The church’s elders agreed with the idea.
In this situation, František Straka from the Central Church Office came up with the idea of constructing
a stand-alone building for the day care centre, which would also provide space for a chapel, which the
congregation had so long been longing for. The ECCB’s management then expressed its support for the
project: there was no longer anything standing in the way.
The congregation’s spiritual perception of the situation
The congregation kept praying for the project. The prayers concerned all the steps: the preparation of
the project, its approval, the competitive tendering as well as the actual construction of the building.
The process was long and full of situations that often seemed to have no solution. And yet, as if by
miracle, a solution always came up at the last moment. All those praying saw God’s work in these
successes and this is the way we still look at the whole project.
How we managed to gain the necessary funds
A total of approximately 7 million CZK was needed, a sum which was completely out of reach for a
church with a budget of tens of thousands CZK. In spite of this, the construction started, and so did the
fundraising, all with the support of the Synodal Council. Generous financial aid was provided by donors
from Protestant churches in Germany and Switzerland. Also our local churches of the ECCB contributed
with substantial sums through the Jeronýmova jednota fund. Additional contributions also came from
the ECCB’s churches in the West Bohemian seniorate. We are very grateful to all the generous donors!
How it all happened
Very quickly. At the beginning, we had a very limited amount of time for filling out a grant application
to draw money from the EU’s funds, which only worked out thanks to the great cooperation with the
EUFC company. Within an unbelievably short amount of time, the project documentation was
prepared by Zbyněk Wolf from Domažlice, in close cooperation with architect Ladislav Schejbal. These
were three very busy months. We then received the information that the grant had been approved,
started a tendering procedure to choose the construction company, and actual construction work
followed shortly after. At the moment, the final details of financial settlements are still underway.
The purpose of the new building
We named the building the Jan Amos Komenský centre; it will serve as a day care centre for the elderly
and for people with disabilities. But this is not its only purpose. The building includes a chapel, which
should not fill up with people only during Sunday services. We would also like organise lectures,
exhibitions, concerts and other events here. It should also serve other church activities – programmes
for families, children… Our vision is that this building becomes a place where people have an
opportunity to meet the Living God – be it through the Word, or actions of love. We would like this
place to be the house of God, Bét-El, the gate to the Kingdom of God (Gn 28:17-19).
10What the construction of the building brought to us
Words and actions – what should characterise the church – have been united here. Our society often
seems to have forgotten that the church does not consist of buildings, but also of specific service for
this world. Hospitals, schools, homes for the needy, activities for children and youth – historically, none
of this would have existed without the church. Hence, this building should be a sign, both to the world
and to ourselves as individuals. It connects the preaching of the Word (the chapel) and a specific
manifestation of what this Word teaches us to do: to serve others (the day care centre).
It has shown us how many people around us need help. It has proven how beneficial it is to serve
people whose lives are nearing their ends, how families taking care of these people can be supported,
and how the fundaments of their faith, which have often been forgotten for ages, can be renewed.
We want the Jan Amos Komenský centre to serve the people of Přeštice, as well as the wider
neighbourhood, and we want it to bring the joyful news of the Gospel and to serve the people around
us with love.
Jan Satke
11DIACONIA OF THE ECCB
Belgická 22, CZ 120 00 Praha 2, Czech Republic
Tel: (+ 420) 242 487 811 (812); Fax: (+420) 242 487 834
E-mail: info@diakonie.cz
Web page: www.diakonie.cz
The Diaconia of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (ECCB) is a Christian non-profit
organisation that offers help and support for living a dignified and full life despite age,
illness, disability, isolation, difficult social situations or other forms of crisis situations that
occur in life. The services of the ECCB’s Diaconia are based on the message of the Gospel
about the Love of our Lord and the example that Jesus Christ has given us in serving others.
In its centres and special educational facilities, the ECCB’s Diaconia offers social and
educational services, healthcare, and ministry. It is the second largest non-governmental
organisation providing social services in the Czech Republic.
____________________________________________________
How Diaconiais facing the current coronavirus epidemic and how it is helping
Marie Jurošková has a bag ready at home, packed as if she was going for a
summer camp. Personal belongings, a mobile phone, a pillow, a blanket,
her favourite board game. She is ready to go at any time of the day or
night. However, not to a summer camp, but to clients of a Diaconia home
with a special condition in Valašské Meziříčí. Together with Mrs. Maria,
nine other people are prepared in the same way. Nurses, caregivers,
cleaners.
Home in Valašské Meziříčí
Diaconia takes care of 42 seniors, whose average age is 87 years. Everyone
has some degree of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. They need
professional help 24 hours a day. In similar homes, Diaconia cares for
thousands of seniors as well as people with dementia. There are 55,000 people in these services
throughout the country, and more than 100,000 use the care service.
In Valašské Meziříčí, the operation is currently running in the usual way. Only the visitors have
disappeared and there are slightly fewer joint activities such as cooking, baking or singing. And they
also happen in smaller groups. „Of course we all have masks,“ emphasizes Mrs. Marie, who runs the
home. Scarce medical supplies are provided by acquaintances and friends of Diaconia, who started
home production with admirable vigour. Thanks to this, not only the home, but the whole local
Diaconia has enough masks.
The heroes of today are cleaners
The demands on hygiene, even in normal times very strict, are now many times higher in the home.
Mrs. Marie especially highlights the forgotten heroines of today – the cleaning ladies. They have
12probably had the most work. Have you ever thought that many times a day the coffee machine or the
fingerprint reader used by the staff to enter must be carefully disinfected? As seen from the outside,
however, everything seems to happen almost as usual.
But everyone knows that can change in a matter of seconds. Just a suspicion that anyone from the
home has been infected with the coronavirus, and the entire facility is quarantined. In the extreme
case, no one will be allowed in or out. And who will help the forty-two seniors?
That is why there are people who have packed bags at home. Ten brave people, led by Mrs. Marie,
ready to join the seniors at any time, on call for a continuous crisis 2-week shift. They have everything
thought out. Where they will sleep, how they will eat, how they will communicate with the outside
world. And their backs are covered by another ten people, ready to replace them. A 2-week quarantine
can be prolonged.
Contingency plans are ready
Mrs. Marie is being realistic. If a crisis occurred, everything would happen quickly and there would not
be much time to think. Everyone in Diaconia knows this, and they have crisis plans both in their heads
and on paper.
Nevertheless, the members of the team trust each other and are in a good mood. According to the
leader Marie Jurošková, the recipe for it is openness. That is why she has introduced – in compliance
with all the hygiene measures – a joint coffee break for the staff. This is an opportunity for everyone
to talk about their fears in a more relaxed atmosphere, but also to laugh together. „We already have
a bit of a summer camp atmosphere,“ says Marie. „After all, the best friendships are formed during
camps.“
Krabčice Island
In Diaconia Krabčice, they decided to close the local elderly home. Preventively, in an effort to
maximise the protection of clients and staff. They started on April 3, with the quarantine lasting at
least a month. For 44 employees, this means a month of separation from families and their own
households. They see their loved ones only through video conferencing or over the fence. „If I want to
see my wife and children, they come in a car and stay inside. I look out the window and we talk. This
is how we have coffee together,“ says the director of the home, Aleš Gabrysz, who, of course, also
stays put.
The staff has facilities in the building, where they also sleep. Of course, they are not just caretakers, or
even exclusively regular employees of the Krabčice home. The team of three local cooks, for example,
was extended by two cooks from the North Moravian Pension pod Lípou. Together, they perfectly
manage all-day dining for almost 140 people.
Of the seven employees in charge of cleaning and laundry in the home during normal operation, four
remained in voluntary quarantine. The range of cleaning work they have to do every day is huge. Sweep
and wipe (sometimes twice) an area about the size of a hockey field: 1800 square meters. In addition,
disinfect all switches and handles in four buildings twice a day. Also wash 100 kilos of laundry of clients
and employees per day. Quite a performance.
Letters for joy
The Diaconal Centre for Development and Humanitarian Cooperation also helps. No matter how the
homes for the elderly face the risk of infection, they remain closed to the public, i.e. mainly for relatives
and acquaintances of clients. Seniors in residential services thus find themselves in social isolation,
they cannot see their families, friends, or „their“ volunteers. Sometimes, even for fear of spreading
coronavirus, they even have to stay in their rooms most of the day, and they can't even visit each other.
That is why the Centre for Development and Humanitarian Cooperation approached its volunteers to
take part in the „Letters for Joy“ initiative.
Readers of this article can easily express support for seniors. Write a short letter ideally by hand on a
maximum of one A4 page, take a photo of the letter on your phone or scan it and send it to the Centre
via the web form jsmesvami.diakonie.cz/dopis-pro-radost (thus saving your trip to the post office). The
13staff of the centre will then deliver the letter to one of the diaconal homes. The first batch of letters
travelled to Písek, Krabčice, Rýmařov, Vsetín, Dvůr Králové nad Labem and Myslibořice.
How to help quickly and efficiently
However, it is also necessary to think about single-parent families, people with disabilities or people
caring for their loved ones. These are, for example, clients of civic counselling centres and other
Diaconia facilities. For example, Mrs. Eva: She worked part-time in a parking lot and the income from
the part-time job was very important for her, because she has a third-degree disability pension and
also health problems that make her have to take expensive medication. Eva hopes that the company
she worked for will take care of her at a time of coronavirus restrictions, but it is not certain. In any
case, she is now in a situation where she has lost her regular monthly earnings of 3,000 crowns.
Mrs. Eva is one of the first people to be supported in her financial distress with the collection
announced in March to help people affected by the current coronavirus crisis.
Help is needed quickly so that people do not stay in the lurch until they receive social benefits from
the state or otherwise adapt to the new situation.
Funds are constantly being added to the collection, and it was also supported by the ECCB
Synodal Council with the amount of 300,000 CZK from the social and charitable assistance fund. Thank
you very much for remembering those in need.
Adam Šůra
Helping Both at Home and Abroad
We met for the interview at a time when the media were full of the
turbulent events at the Turkish-Greek border, where crowds of
migrants were attempting to cross. Apparently, Turkey was actually
forcing these people to leave. This is a hot issue for Erik Siegl and
Kristina Ambrožová, as Kristina is head of Diaconia’s Humanitarian
and Development Cooperation Centre, while Erik is in charge of the
foreign section of this centre.
Kristina Ambrožová
Director of the ECCB Diaconia’s Humanitarian and Development
Cooperation Centre. She previously worked as foreign secretary at
the non-governmental organisation YMCA.
Erik Siegl
Erik has worked as a diplomat in Germany and Turkey. He is the author of „A Revolting Democracy“, a
book on current Turkey. He is head of the international section at the centre.
The Humanitarian and Development Cooperation Centre was founded in 2011 and it is Diaconia’s only
centre providing humanitarian and development aid abroad. It has been helping refugees from Syria
since 2012 in the following ways:
- In the Zátarí refugee camp in Jordan, it helped build a kindergarten and a youth/adult community
centre called Peace Oasis (sports, music activities, work training), which includes a shaded sporting
area and a children’s playground.
- The community centre in Zarqá, which launched its activities last year, is similar.
14- In Lebanon, Diaconia is helping the poorest families living in a slum on the outskirts of Beirut, and
also in the Biká valley during the winter. This is mostly in-kind aid: meal tickets, formula for babies,
diapers. Newcomers have access to a social fund which allows them to draw funds for basic furnishing
such as mattresses, blankets or heating.
What is actually happening at the Greek-Turkish border?
Erik Siegl (ES): There are approximately four million refugees and migrants living in Turkey. Most of
these people have fled from the conflict in Syria; Turkey gave them short-term asylum. This means, for
instance, that they have free access to services such as education and healthcare. However, migrants
from other countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan or Pakistan don’t have any similar privileges and Turkey
does not intend to change this any way. Therefore, these people strive to get further into Europe,
where they have more hope of gaining asylum.
However, the picture we get from the media is that the Turkish security forces are actually driving
these people out of the country by force.
ES: At the moment, it seems Turkey is using the migrants to put pressure on the EU. Turkey has an
agreement with the EU stating that it will prevent any illegal crossings from its territory and Europe, in
exchange, will provide financial aid in supporting Syrian refugees, and even relocate a limited number
of them. However, the Turkish claim that Europe is not fulfilling its end of the deal. Tukey is a
hospitable, friendly country, but the economic situation has significantly worsened in the course of the
past two years, which has led to an escalation of hostile attitudes towards migrants and Syrian
refugees. It seems the Turkish government is currently trying to persuade its people that it has the
power to take radical steps and that it knows how to put the EU’s back against the wall.
Diaconia is striving to help refugees in countries further to the East - Lebanon and Jordan. How is
that going?
Kristina Ambrožová (KA): Thanks to the support offered by the Czech government, we are helping
people who arrived in these countries during the war in Syria and the have been living here a long time,
for example eight, nine years. This is the case with the refugee camp in Zátarí, Jordan, and now also in
the town of Zarká, where we have set up a community centre. We are also working in Lebanon, in a
poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of Beirut, where poor Lebanese are living alongside Syrian
refugees. We also have projects in the Biká valley, which is right beyond the Syrian border.
You are not actually helping on site, rather, you are in charge of organising the aid. What exactly
does your job involve?
ES: We have our partner organisations on site – these are often NGOs, community centres or parishes.
The Lutheran World Federation is another one of our partners. The teams working on location are
largely made up of locals or even refugees, which means they have a better idea of the situation and
better insights. Here in Prague, we file a subsidy application, usually to the Czech Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, and we take care of all the related administration. At least twice a year, we pay a „monitoring
visit“ to the countries where the Czech government is sending its aid, which helps us gain a better
understanding and more competence over time. Of course, we also try to explain the meaningfulness
of our help abroad to our fellow citizens in the Czech Republic.
Does your explaining work? The usual objection is: why should we be helping abroad when we have
enough trouble of our own?
KA: Diaconia has decided to do this many, many years ago. Our centre was established with the idea
that it is time to have a look beyond the borders. If you travel to Lebanon, for example, you find out
15that even the poorest of our people still live in significantly better conditions than the vast majority of
the Syrian refugees there. That’s why helping abroad is definitely meaningful and necessary.
Why did you decide to work for Diaconia? What was your motivation?
ES: I wasn’t really familiar with Diaconia before, but the job description of the head of the foreign
section captured my attention. I also liked the straightforward, factual manner in which Diaconia
presents its foreign aid. This first impression proved to be true after a year of working for them: the
work approach is truthful and realistic, which really suits me.
KA: I was facing a difficult choice: whether I should start working in the private sector, or try to achieve
a higher position within the non-profit sector. Diaconia was offering the position of director of one of
its centres. I decided to take the job, also because I grew up in the ECCB, so this is something that is
close to my heart. One year later, I can say I made the right decision. The job really is a meaningful one.
What motivates you when working for Diaconia? Where do you get your energy from?
ES: It’s the little successes. For example the kindergarten in the Zátarí refugee camp, which we founded
together with the Lutheran Federation and have been able to maintain thanks to the ECCB’s lent
collection. This year, we would like to construct a similar kindergarten in Lebanon, in a slum on the
outskirts of Beirut. I have also met many inspiring people, such as a minister in Lebanon who, apart
from being the head of his parish, is also a crisis manager and has great organisational skills. In general,
it is also very motivating to see people who are able to live and have a positive attitude toward life
even in extremely difficult conditions.
KA: I would certainly mention my colleagues at our centre. We support each other. And I also feel a lot
of support from the whole Diaconia.
What has really stuck in your mind? Is there any experience you have that you’ll never forget?
KA: Previously, I had no experience whatsoever with the countries that our aid is being sent to.
However, right at the beginning of my work for Diaconia, I went on two work trips, to Ethiopia and
Lebanon. Especially the journey to Ethiopia was an experience I will never forget: no public
transportation, no internet; everybody travels by car, on a motorbike or a bicycle, and transport is
often collapsing. Even in a good-looking hotel located in the capital, they turn off electricity during the
day. You can imagine what the conditions are like outside of the capital. That was a big lesson for me.
Adam Šůra
16PROTESTANT THEOLOGICAL FACULTY OF CHARLES
UNIVERSITY (PTF CU)
P. O. Box 529, Černá 9,
CZ 115 55 Praha 1, Czech Republic
Tel: (+ 420) 221 988 211; Fax: (+ 420) 221 988 215
E-mail: intl@etf.cuni.cz
Web page: http://web.etf.cuni.cz/ETFENG-1.html
The Protestant Theology Faculty of Charles University (PTF) is the successor of the Jan Hus
Faculty (1919–1950) and the Comenius Faculty (1950–1990). In the year 1990 it was
incorporated into Charles University. The administration of the Faculty is directed by a
Dean and a board of Vice-Deans, elected for a four-year term of office. The Faculty offers
study programmes at Bachelor's and Master's level in Protestant Theology, Diaconia
(Pastoral and Social Work), and Ecumenical Studies, and at doctoral level in various
theological fields. The faculty is ecumenically open to all. Pastors of the ECCB receive their
theological education here.
_____________________________________________________
Ladislav Hejdánek (10. 5. 1927 – 28. 4. 2020)
Soon after the death of Petr Pokorný in January 2020, the
Protestant Theological Faculty in Prague now finds itself
mourning the death of another former professor, the
philosopher Ladislav Hejdánek, who was active in dissident
circles under the Communist regime.
Hejdánek was born in Prague on 10 May 1927. He started to
study mathematical logic at Charles University, but soon
changed subjects and studied philosophy under the leading Czech philosophers Jan Blahoslav Kozák
and Jan Patočka, completing his studies in 1952. At this time he was actively involved in the Academic
YMCA, an influential association for Protestant students. In February 1948 he was one of 200 students
who marched to Prague Castle in an attempt to persuade President Beneš not to accept the resignation
of the non-Communist ministers.
Under the Communist regime he was unable to work in his field, except for a brief period during the
Prague Spring, when he worked at the Philosophical Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of
Sciences. In 1971 he was dismissed from the Institute and imprisoned for distributing leaflets
considered to be opposed to the regime. During the 1970s and 1980s, like many other dissidents, he
had various jobs as porter, storeman, and stoker.
In the 1960s he was actively involved in New Orientation, a reform movement in the Evangelical Church
of Czech Brethren. He was a signatory of Charter 77, and was its spokesperson twice in the years 1977-
171980. In the 1980s he organised underground philosophy seminars in private apartments, which were
attended by leading foreign philosophers such as Paul Ricoeur, Jacques Derrida, and Richard Rorty.
When the Communist regime fell in 1989, he was invited by Václav Havel to become a minister in the
interim government. He declined, preferring to devote himself to philosophy. He was appointed
Associate Professor at the Protestant Theological Faculty in 1990, and Professor at the Arts Faculty of
Charles University in 1992. He continued to teach at both institutions until his retirement in 2004.
In 1953 Hejdánek married Heda Kofroňková and they had four daughters. He was a lover of nature and
a cultivator of cactuses. He received a number of state and other awards and decorations.
As a philosopher, Hejdánek was influenced by the Czech philosophers Emanuel Rádl and Jan Patočka,
but he was a very original thinker, critical of these influences and also of religion and the university
environment. He proclaimed: „I am a disciple of Socrates, because I am convinced that the true place
of philosophy is on the streets and in people’s everyday lives, not in enclosed university laboratories
where incommunicable intellectual experiments take place.“
Peter Stephens
The Coronavirus and the Prague Theology Faculty
Like everyone and everything else, the Prague
Theology Faculty was heavily affected by the
coronavirus epidemic. The Faculty building in Cerna
Street remained practically empty from mid-March to
mid-May 2020. However, students, teachers, and
other staff continued working from home. Students
also found time to help those affected by the coronavirus restrictions.
Following a decree issued by the Czech government on 15 March 2020 with stringent restrictions on
freedom of movement, the Rector of Charles University issued instructions on 16 March that face-to-
face teaching would be suspended and that teaching and administrative staff should work from home
as much as possible.
However, teaching continued online, with teachers having to quickly discover and adapt to new
teaching methods, ranging from recommending reading and setting essays via e-mail, through the use
of tools like Moodle, to virtual seminars using Skype or Zoom. They were helped by Charles University
Centre for Supporting E-Learning, which produced a manual on how to use available tools for online
teaching. The library was also closed, but many electronic sources of information were available online.
Face-to-face teaching resumed on 11 May, but with various restrictions including a limit on the number
of students. For this reason, in many cases online teaching continued. Teaching, whether online or
face-to-face, will be extended by a month till the end of June, ensuring it will be possible for all courses
to be completed by the end of the semester. The admission procedure for new students has been
postponed to early September.
Apart from continuing their studies, many students volunteered to help clients of the Diaconia of the
ECCB, especially doing shopping and bringing food and face masks to the elderly, the housebound, and
those in quarantine. Others helped out with telephone helplines providing information and counselling
to the lonely and frightened.
Students and teachers were also involved in producing a leaflet entitled „How to Live Together and
with the Virus“, including practical information, encouragement in the face of the crisis, and references
to further sources of information.
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