From June 4-6, 2024, the Advisory Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches in Russia held its 100th summit in St. Petersburg. Its motto was the famous quote “In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; and in all things charity.” The meeting gathered denomination leaders, public activists and government officials. The ELCIR was represented by Bishop Emeritus Arri Kugappi and Pastor Yevgeni Raskatov, ELCIR Chief Secretary.The participants summed up the past year’s work of the Council, discussed the home and foreign ministries of Russia’s Protestant bodies, and set future goals and tasks. The Churches agreed to continue working on their joint conceptual statement on social work and had a discussion about the 2024 National Prayer Breakfast.
The Advisory Council of the Heads of Protestant Churches in Russia has been working since 2002 as the main deliberative body of the nation’s Protestant Churches. Its chief tasks are coordinating joint efforts to maintain civic peace and harmony in society, developing a joint position as the Churches relate to the state and other religious organizations, and protecting the rights and freedoms of believers.
