|
Member Churches
Baptist Union in the Czech Republic Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren/Presbyterian/ Evangelic Church of the Augsburg Confession in CR Orthodox Church in Czech Lands Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession /Silesian Lutheran Church/ Unity of Brethren /Moravian Church-Unitas Fratrum/ Churches with Associated MembershipSalvation Army ObserversChurch of the Seventh-day Adventists Czech Bible Society Czech Evangelical Alliance Ecumenical Academy Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic |
UNITY OF THE BRETHREN BAPTISTS History The beginnings of the activity of Baptists on the territory of the present Czech Republic date back to the 1850s. At that time missionary work was begun especially among German-speaking population. The first independent Czech Baptist congregation was established in 1885 in the village of Hleďsebe near Veltrusy (Central Bohemia). Since that time its work was extended: in 1919 the association of Baptist congregations with the name “The Chelčický Unity of Brethren“ was established in Czechoslovakia. It included 25 congregations. This name was later replaced by “The Chelčický Unity of Brethren Baptists“ and in the early 1950s it was simplified to “The Unity of Brethren Baptists“ (UBB). Until 1993 this Unity included all Baptist congregations on the territory of Czechoslovakia. Due to the splitting of Czechoslovakia into two republics on January 1st, 1993, a year later, on January 1st, 1994 the UBB was divided into two organisationally independent Unities, namely the Unity of Brethren Baptists in the Czech Republic and the Unity of Brethren Baptists in the Slovak Republic. They still try to maintain close contacts, organizing numerous social events, informing each other, still using the same hymn book with both Czech and Slovak hymns, and issuing their common magazine “Rozsievač“ (The Sower) etc. Mission Baptists are aware of being part of Jesus Christ´s Church. They confess their faith in one God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The supreme authority is Jesus Christ, who is present in the church through the Holy Spirit. The primary sourse and the norm of God´s apparition in Christ are the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments. The basic independent unit of this church is a local congregation, which in the sense of the New Testament is a church. Each person who under the influence of God´s word and the acting of the Holy Spirit found their faith in Jesus Christ as their Saviour and thus became members of the Catholic Church of Jesus Christ may become members of the congregation. As response to God´s mercy and in the obedience of faith they are baptised by immersion. They personally confess that they become participants in Christ´s death, raise to new life in Christ, whom they are subordinated as their Lord, and express their hope in Resurrection. The Holy Spirit assures them, that they became God´s children, give them necessary spiritual gifts, fills them and guides them. The appurtenance to the Catholic Church of Christ gets its expression through the affinity to one specific congregation, not opposite. The Christ´s Church far surpasses the frontiers of the congregation. Therefore Baptists cultivate ecumenical contacts. They defend the liberty of conscience of every human being. Each person is responsible for himself/herself to God. The freedom of conscience and the life
from God´s mercy must not, however, be a pretext for rampant life. Therefore in
congregations discipline is required in accordance to the Scriptures – starting
from the admonition in strict confidence and ending with the excommunication
from the congregation. However, even the excommunicated member who can prove
his/her repentence by changed behaviour, may be readmitted in the congregation.
In the awareness of the supremacy of Christ´s reign in the Church, Baptists
advocate the separation of the church from the state in all spheres. They
consider their priority mission in bearing the gospel of Jesus Christ to all
people.
Organisation The basic unit of the church is a local congregation. The life of individual congregations is, however, not isolated. The UBB is a community of baptist congregations on the territory of the Czech Republic, which are of their own free will associated in order to cooperate in agreed spheres. The supreme body of the UBB is the Convention of Delegates, which as a rule holds sessions once a year. Between the congresses there are meetings of the Council of the representatives of congregations. The executive body is a five-mermber executive committee, which is elected by the Convention for the period of four years. The Congress also elects a revision Committee. The Executive Committee office is established for dealing with administrative matters of the UBB. The UBB is a member of the European Baptist Federation and the World Association of Baptists. These gremiums contribute to mutual awarness and cooperation, however, they are not superior bodies. The instruction of church workers is ensured in different forms. Every year conferences are held of various themes. They are accessible to all members of congregations and others who are interested in participation. The extra-mural theological seminary is designed for the instruction of lay preachers, teachers of Sunday schools and other persons involved in the work of congregations. The college for social and theological studies in Olomouc (Moravia) offers a three-year specialised study, which is focused on social and theological activities. Those who want to apply for the study are required to prove their faith by their lives, have personal relationship to Jesus Christ, corresponding motivation for the study and legal capacity for being admitted in a college. This college is open for the wide Oikumene. The members of the UBB who are interested in the study of theology may also study in the Evangelic Theological Seminary in Prague or at the Evangelical Faculty of Theology of the Charles University in Prague. They may also enhance their education at Baptist theological seminaries abroad. Statistics 2.335 members, 26 congregations, 32 extentions as part of the congregations Address: Unity of the Brethren Baptists (Office of the Executive Committee) phone/fax: 02-41 43 42 56 |