REC CROATIA & SERBIA NEWS 2/2024 – REC 100 MISSIONS CONFERENCE
From June 2 to 8, 2024, the second mission conference of the Reformed Episcopal Churches in Europe was held in Croatia and Serbia (the first was held in Germany in 2023). The conference was attended by clergy and lay people who are active in church planting mission. Church planters from America, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Croatia and Serbia, attended the conference.
The aim of this conference was to exchange mutual experiences in the mission, to consider the possibilities of founding new churches, as well as to actively participate in the mission work of the Reformed Episcopal Church in Croatia and Serbia. For this reason, the conference was held not only in one place, but in several locations, so that the participants could get familiar with the missionary work of the conference host.
On Sunday, June 2, a Eucharistic service was held in Tordinci and an evening prayer was held in Osijek. Rev. Michael Vinson, a parish priest of St. Benedict Church in Dallas (TX, USA) held the homily.
Homily from the Good Shepherd Church in Osijek:
On Tuesday, June 4, the parish of Tordinci organized a lunch for all conference participants, after which the conference continued.
On Wednesday, June 5, the conference began with a morning prayer in the old Reformed church in the village of Kopačevo. It was led by Bishop Jasmin Milić and clergy from Croatia. After the prayer, the work meeting continued in Osijek.
It was especially festive on Thursday, June 6. After the morning prayer led by Bishop Gerhard Meyer with clergy from Germany, and the work meeting of the conference, a service was held during which 2 new members were admitted to the Church of the Good Shepherd. After that, Saša Maligec was ordained as a deacon. An inspiring sermon was delivered by Very Rev. Jason Patterson, parish priest of the Reformed Episcopal Church of St. Mark, Dean of the California Deanery and professor at the Reformed Episcopal Seminary in Philadelphia.
Check the video-link:
On Friday, June 7, delegates from the USA and the UK, together with Bishop Jasmin Milić, traveled to the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. In the Belgrade Youth Center a forum was held under the title: The Influence of Eastern Orthodoxy on the Anglican Liturgy and Sacramentology. The forum was moderated by our deacon in Belgrade, Sergej Beuk. Of our keynote speakers at the forum, Rev. Michael Vinson and Very Rev. Jason Pettersen, one could learn a lot about the Book of Common Prayer and the condensing of different liturgical traditions into one liturgical book. Serbian orthodox theologian Jovan Blagojević spoke about the Eastern orthodox understanding of the Eucharist.
This forum was announced in different media in Serbia and thus promoted our church presence in Belgrade, as well as the international character of our church. The Reformed Episcopal Seminary, as well as the Cranmer Theological House, were also introduced and promoted.
Check the audio-link:
On Saturday, June 8, a morning prayer was held in Belgrade, led by Bishop Jasmin Milić. An inspired sermon was delivered by Rev. Michael Vinson. The local Roman Catholic Church is renting us their church building for our worship services. The church is located in the city center and is dedicated to Christ the King.
After the service, Bishop Jasmin Milić, dean of the “Michael Starin” Theological Seminary, presented Anđela Stevanović (Belgrade) a master’s degree in theology.
The next conference should be held in 2025 in the UK.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP THE MISSION WORK IN CROATIA AND SERBIA, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO BE OUR PARTNERS IN ESTABLISHING CHURCHES, CONTACT US AT bishop.jmilic@gmail.com
Our clergy and lay ministers
Rt. Rev. Jasmin Milić, PhD, received his master’s degree (MTh) and doctorate (PhD) at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek. He is the author of 13 books, and ministers as the rector of parishes in Osijek and Tordinci and a Church planter in Belgrade (Serbia). Likewise, he taught at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, where he also worked for a time as the Dean for External Studies, and at the Protestant Theological Faculty in Novi Sad (Serbia), where he worked as the Academic Dean. For over 20 years, he taught religious education in two state (public) schools, and for ten years hosted the radio show “Sources of Faith”, which was broadcast on over 20 radio stations throughout Croatia.
Rev. Canon Almir Pehlić, ThD, completed his BTh at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek and received his master’s degree (MDiv) and doctorate (ThD) at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek. He is the rector of the churches in Karlovac and Zagreb and a church planter in Split. Also, he is the academic dean and a lecturer at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary. In 2022, he published his second book of poetry.
Rev. Damir Sitar, MDiv, completed his studies at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek (MTh) and at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek (MDiv). Also holds B.A. in Pedagogy degree from University of Osijek. He is the priest of the Romani parish in Kapelna, and serves as the president of our humanitarian organization PASTIR (Protestant Samaritan Work). Likewise, he also works as an Educator at the Center for Youth Education.
Rev. Nenad Adžić, MDiv, completed the study of Economics and BTh at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek and MDiv at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek. He is the Assistant pastor in Tordinci, and is employed at the tax service and serves the church part-time. Also, he is the editor of the very influential Christian website Novi Život (New Life).
Rev. Bob Hitching, ThD, completed his master’s degree (MDiv) and doctorate (ThD) at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek. He comes from Great Britain and is a missionary priest of the Roma parish in Kapelna. For over 30 years, he has been actively engaged in missionary work with the Roma, and is the founder of the organization Roma Bible Union.
Deacon Sergej Beuk, ThD, completed the study of Pedagogy (BA) at the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo and Belgrade, and Cultural Studies (MA) at the Faculty of Culture and Media in Belgrade. He studied theology (MTh) at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek. Currently serves as a Church Planter in Belgrade. He is employed at the Belgrade Youth Center as a Program director, where he organised over 2.500 programs and projects in the fields of theology, philosophy and culture. He published scientific papers in the country and abroad, along with three professional monographs. Likewise, he is the president of the Anglican Theological Institute in Belgrade.
Deacon Saša Maligec, PhD, serves in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Osijek as a Lay Reader and as a Cantor. He completed the study of theology (BTh) at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary in Osijek and received a doctorate in economics (PhD) at the University of Osijek. He is employed at the Croatian Electric Industry.
Lay Reader Domagoj Rade, serves in the church in Karlovac. He completed the program of Computer Science at the Rochester Institute of Technology (B.Sc.), and is currently studying at the “Michael Starin” Protestant Theological Seminary.
Lay Reader Igor Peričić, BTh and MA in theology, completed his studies at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek. He serves as a Church Planter in Split, and also works as a Tourist guide.