Maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Steering Committee News
Annual Report to WCRC Executive Committee Meeting
May 2023
May 2023
Martina Wasserloos
President of WCRC-European Region
A happy reunion of the gathered communion in Europe
After two years of Corona-distancing, the European Area Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches met in Thessaloniki on 4-6 May 2023. More than thirty delegates and guests discussed current issues affecting the organisation and its nearly forty member churches, including the ongoing constitutional amendment, responses to the humanitarian and political situation caused by the war in Ukraine, and the document entitled About true worship in the Church in the distress of the present – Seven Theses, prepared by the theological working group of WCRC Europe.
Confessing Christ and living out communion in times of Crisis – the war in Ukraine
In the last year, the European Area and its Steering Committee have been paying particular attention to the war in Ukraine and the Reformed community's advocacy and support for Transcarpathia.
Faros Final Report for World Communion of Reformed Churches
Introduction There are around 3.700 unaccompanied refugee children and youth in Greece, of which it is estimated that a quarter are reported to be in very insecure living conditions. These youth often struggle for basic needs and most lack the support networks necessary to overcome the trauma stemming from violence in their countries of origin and the inadequate living conditions in Greece. Psychosocial support and education and are sorely needed by unaccompanied refugee children and youth. These are the children and youth that Faros seeks to help through our holistic approach, where we provide basic care, psychosocial support, and opportunities to engage in educational activities.
Advocacy statement on situation of migrants and
refugees in Europe
Solidarity Visit to Cairo and the Synod of the Nile, March 4–9 2020
Letter of Information
I have just sent out a letter of solidarity on behalf of the European Area to the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). Also, an instant aid of 5,000 EUR was sent from our reserves for the reparation of damaged homes in the Beirut Port area, which work is being coordinated by the Compassion Protestant Society of the NESSL.
Letter of solidarity
Report about the situation on Chios/Greece
Some days ago, it was the day: it was reported that a woman is tested positive.
Today it was confirmed that an employee of the European Asylum Support Office - EASO is positive on the virus. After the person was on vacation. The answer of the authorities is: to lock the camp and to close the services inside until at least 25 August. Close the camp?
Effectively this means, letting the virus spread inside. Among extremely vulnerable persons, that have no option to socially distance or to even wash their hands on a regular basis. They sleep in tents on the bare ground. And now they are terrified of getting seriously ill and suffer or die. And they are terrified for a good reason. ItNew is the foreseeable catastrophe. And shows more than a simple failure. It shows the sheer indifference for the lives of human beings.
Report from Dimitris Boukis
about the visit in MORIA REFUGEE CAMP, 17 February 2020, Lesvos, GREECE.
On Monday, February 17, 2020 Martina Waterloos, Kerstin Kosh and Dimitris Boukis visited the «refugee camp» in Moria on the Greek Island of Lesvos. Lesvos is the third biggest island in Greece with a coastline of 370km. It is home to approximately 100,000 residents and is only a few miles away from the SW coast of Turkey, making it the main “refugee gate” to Europe in the SE Mediterranean sea.
Bericht über die Reise nach Lesbos und Chios
von Martina Wasserloos-Strunk
… Mein Reisebericht vom Besuch in zwei der großen griechischen Flüchtlingslager ist möglicherweise nicht ganz objektiv. Nein – er ist ganz sicher nicht objektiv. Er ist sauwütend. Ich bin erschüttert und wütend darüber, dass so etwas in meinem Europa möglich ist. Mehr noch als manche andere Reise hat mir diese vor Augen geführt, wie privilegiert wir sind und wie viel Energie von uns darauf verwendet wird, diese Privilegien abzusichern.
WCRC Solidarity Fund in time of crisis
WCRC-Europe supports project for young refugees in Greece
WCRC EUROPE is happy to support this important project. During our last visit to Faros they just got the good news of receiving scholarships for two youngsters for further education. This underlines the success of the good work of the Horizon Center.
Input from Martina Wasserloos-Strunk to ExCom meeting, Switzerland 2019
For God did not give us a spirit of fear
As the Steering Committee of WCRC Europe, we call you to pray for those who are suffering from the situation especially the sick persons and their families. Let us also pray for those whose health puts them at higher risk and for those who are facing major changes in their lives.