HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD n HAPPENINGS CARIBBEAN Baptists T UKRAINIAN T

Baptists Overcoming Tension by Tony Peck

he Russian annexation of Crimea, together with the conflict in Eastern Ukraine between Ukraine and Russian-

backed separatists, has been much in our prayers over these past months. The conflict continues to rage in Eastern Ukraine, and only occasionally comes to media attention. Baptist churches have been targeted by the separatists, some

Baptists leaders have been killed, and other Baptists families have had to flee from the region. The Donetsk Christian University has been in rebel hands for many months. Some of these refugees have gone to neighboring countries, such as Poland, where they are being cared for by local Baptist churches. Baptists and evangelicals seem to have been particularly targeted because of their supposed pro-Western stance, and also because the interim president of Ukraine (and now the speaker of the parliament), Oleksandr Turchinov, was known to be a Baptist.

Ukrainian Baptists have been engaging in relief operations,

helped by some of their mission partners. From their side of the border, Russian Baptists are also engaged in some humanitarian help for Eastern Ukraine. The situation in Crimea is quite difficult for Baptists,

following its annexation by Russia. Only about a third of the 55 Baptist churches wish to affiliate with the Russian Baptist Union; the remainder wish to continue their spiritual fellowship with Ukrainian Baptists, though it is likely that their legal registration will have to switch to Russia. It is not surprising that all this has created certain tensions

between Russian and Ukrainian Baptists who in many cases have very different perspectives on the current conflict. This has not been helped by some of the Christian journalism coming from evangelical sources in the region. However, leaders of the two unions have had several meetings together and are striving to emphasize their unity and fellowship in Christ as being above the conflict that threatens to divide their two nations. In seeking to exercise wise leadership in a difficult situation, they need our support and prayers.

20 BAPTIST WORLD MAGAZINE

Caribbean, that are without trained pastoral leadership. Among the factors responsible for this are the high cost of theological education and the absence of formal theological institutions in some territories. As a result, the CBF, through its Ministerial Training Committee, has developed a certificate program in Pastoral Studies around four areas: Bible, theology, pastoral studies and Baptist polity. This certificate program is intended to be an in-service program

validated by the CBF and accredited by an approved university or seminary. The committee is currently prospecting for a seminary or university that would be willing to accredit the program. Baptist churches in the region will be encouraged to give attention

to the needs of the disabled community. New church buildings should include special facilities for the disabled while older ones should be modified to include these facilities. Conventions, unions and associations will be encouraged to provide training for persons in special education in order to cater to the needs of this community, such as in sign language.

Plan for Future Despite Challenges by Everton Jackson

he Caribbean region struggled to contain the spread of the Chikungunya virus that ravaged a number of Caribbean

territories. The persistence of these viruses offers a challenge to the Christian community, to be more vigilant in partnering with other stakeholders, in providing education in matters of hygiene and the care of the environment. Issues of stewardship need to be high on the agenda of the church community as well as giving greater visibility to the importance of equity relative to the management and distribution of the world’s goods, in order to guarantee a better quality of life for all persons, consistent with the values of the kingdom of God. Inasmuch as the Caribbean is considered a vulnerable region for

natural disasters, efforts will be made to encourage the establishment of disaster response committees at the levels of the local church and convention, union or association. In order to facilitate ease of information flow and quick responses, the Caribbean will be divided into three regions – South, North and East – with each region having a regional director with an assistant. Affiliation for each region will be sought with the Caribbean Regional Disaster Association. The CBF disaster response mechanism will work in tandem with

BWAID in responding to disaster needs in the region. As it relates to the writing of project proposals, the CBF will provide training for executive members who in turn will be expected to share the information with the convention, union and association in their territories.

The Caribbean Baptist Fellowship (CBF) is concerned about the number of Baptist churches in the region, particularly in the Eastern