“With a voice of singing, declare ye this and let it be heard!” Thus begins an anthem, which has meant a great deal to me ever since I was part of a festival chorus that performed this work. That event occurred many years ago, but I have repeatedly experienced the transforming power of the voice of singing. For instance, I have seen popular music become the impetus for movements of peace, unity, justice, and compassion, and I have felt religious music quicken people’s sense of God’s comforting presence, Christ’s challenging call, and Life’s sacred goodness. I have heard, seen, and felt the renewing power of the voice of singing.
However, until recently, I was not aware that institutional bodies and administrative leaders are as amenable to being shaped by the voice of singing as individuals and grass-roots organizations may be. In fact, I have not always been mindful that administrative agencies are commonly made up of individual seekers who feel deeply and reflect carefully. Thus, I am grateful that recurring opportunities to interact with the national leaders of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren (ECCB) have refuted lingering, subconscious stereotypes about high-level administrators and national agencies. Indeed, I am especially thankful that I have been able to see the transforming power of the voice of singing which is at work within the administrative branches of the ECCB.
I want to expand on that comment by recalling that in November 2003, the ECCB installed an entirely new leadership team, which lacks direct continuity with the preceding Synodal Council that heroically guided the Church throughout the years of transition which followed the collapse of the communist regime. The new Council has inherited many challenges and faces responsibilities that might be daunting, if its members could not sing together. However, that group is made up of a guitarist, a singer, three pianists, and a composer who are approaching their tasks with a voice of singing that is uniting them in a spirit of respectful cooperation.
This harmonious course is very valuable since the present council has begun its work with a completely clean slate! Insofar as no long-standing patterns must be preserved, the entire Church is anticipating — and is prepared for — change. This state of affairs has given rise to a certain sense of freedom, which Moderator Ruml alludes to when he says: “I do not feel the need to protect my position.” Instead, Rev. Ruml is seeking to develop open relationships and to foster a spirit of solidarity among church workers that may facilitate a creative approach to “that which has been given.” Thus, the voice of singing, which unites the council in a spirit of solidarity, may bring more and more people within the range of its harmony.
Forging new directions is a complex process that might spawn tense deliberations if such harmony did not enable the members of the council to fully accept, and willingly share, responsibility for both the positive and negative results of their decisions. However, the present council is letting itself be led by a new song, which is characterized by a degree of enthusiasm, creativity, and service that would have been unimaginable fifteen years ago. Thus, its story surely confirms the possibility that the “sad songs,” which so often resound in our world, can actually be transformed by new tonalities.
I want to add that I am grateful that in August, I was able to experience the voice of singing that binds the staff of the Worldwide Ministries Division in Louisville to all of PC(USA)’s mission co-workers. Those committed folks (who support us so faithfully when we are far from home) hosted this year’s Mission Sharing Conference with the sorts of warmth, humor, and honesty that are the hallmark of faithful seekers who ‘feel deeply and think carefully.’ It is my prayer that the grace, which characterized the Sharing Conference, will radiate throughout the PC(USA), uniting more and more people in a spirit of solidarity within the range of a God-granted harmony.
As a prelude to more intentional efforts to link congregations which have a relationship with the ECCB, its Seminary, and the Diaconia, I want to share some “verbal snapshots” of interested congregations that John and I were privileged to visit in August and September. If our experiences in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia are representative, it seems reasonable to conclude that there are Czech connections ‘all over the land:’ in ‘mid-America’ and beyond!
Pine Run PC is located on a winding rural road in western Pennsylvania. The morning we spent with that congregation was notable for the way that the church musicians supported the themes of my sermon and John’s slide show. The choir’s anthem amplified my considerations of what it means to live “For the Sake of Joy,” and the pianist spontaneously improvised an offertory using the tune of a Czech hymn that John had sung at the conclusion of the sermon.
Rehoboth PC is also located in a rural area in southwest Pennsylvania. John’s slides elicited a number of questions, which, in turn, led to many interesting conversations after the worship hour and during a church picnic that was held at a nearby park. I was particularly moved by the comments of several elderly people who thoughtfully reflected on the need for our world to find its way to peace.
Little Britain PC is located near Pennsylvania’s border with Maryland. Although this congregation is currently without a pastor, a number of folks gathered at the church to share a midweek potluck dinner with John and me. This relaxed setting issued in a fascinating assortment of questions about the Czech church and our work. We are grateful for the interest and encouragement that was expressed by this supportive group.
Fox Chapel PC is a large church located in suburban Pittsburgh which has an on-going relationship with the ECCB’s Diaconia. At the first of two gatherings organized by this congregation, members of Fox Chapel described previous contacts with the Diaconia and anticipated a mission trip to the Czech Republic that was slated to occur in late August. The people who attended the second gathering were especially inquisitive about a number of issues related to the ECCB and our endeavors! Reciprocal learning and valuable sharing characterized both evenings.
Mount Pisgah PC is a lively congregation that is also located in a suburban Pittsburgh neighborhood. This church has a long history of fostering interracial connections on the local level, even as it contributes to international missions. Participation in the Eucharist and the receptiveness of a delightful group of children to a Czech pohádka (story) made our experiences at Mount Pisgah quite memorable.
Indianola PC is located near the campus of Ohio State University, and is the site of my first encounter with the intricacies of the Czech language. Thus, it was very meaningful to be able share with that congregation and to thank its members for the role that Indianola’s Czech connections played in furthering my interest in, and involvement with, the ECCB.
John Stewart United Methodist Church and First PC in Upper Sandusky Ohio joined together to welcome John and me to this county seat town in north central Ohio. Our evening with these congregations was distinguished by a high degree of interest, which generated a large number of questions and a powerful affirmation of our unity in Christ. It was exciting to have an opportunity to foster interdenominational ties, even as we sought to strengthen international connections.
First PC in Waverly Ohio is closely related to the PC(USA)’s Bristol Village Retirement Community. Thus, the people with whom we worshipped and shared during our time in Waverly were exceptionally responsive. We appreciated having an opportunity to renew ties with people who have participated in study tours to the Czech Republic and/or who attended the workshop on Comenius that I led at that church in 2001.
First PC in Parkersburg West Virginia was also an exciting place to be! It was an honor to be part of the start of this fall’s program of Wednesday night gatherings at that church. The hospitality was grand, the singing was joyful, the fellowship with warm, and we left Parkersburg with several tangible reminders of ways that we can foster living ties between members of First PC and the ECCB.
First PC in Logan Ohio is a county-seat church with a proud heritage of community involvement. Thus, the group which gathered at the church on a Sunday evening in late September came prepared to ask a broad range of thoughtful questions about the ECCB. As a result, absorbing conversations characterized our entire evening at First PC. There certainly does appear to be a lot of interest in the ECCB ‘all over the land!’