The EUD Ministerial Team has celebrated an event that brought together pastors from across our Inter-European Division, with the theme “Anticipating His coming.”

The last time such a pastoral meeting was convened was in 2013, so there was a lot of excitement to promote a meeting that would reconnect pastors from different countries.

From June 6–11, 160 pastors from Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Luxemburg, France, and Switzerland-France gathered at the Adventist University of France in Collonges-sous-Salève. From June 12–16, 260 pastors from Germany, Switzerland-Germany, Austria, Czechia, and Slovakia met at Friedensau Adventist University in Möckern, Germany.

The third Bible Conference will take place from September 11–14 at Stupini Adventist University in Romania, hosting pastors from Romania and Bulgaria.

Family Atmosphere and Connection

The event, both in Collonges and Friedensau, stood out for the fraternity experienced among pastors from different contexts and cultures because despite living on the same continent, the realities faced in each country and city are particular.

The objective of these conferences was "encouraging pastors, giving them tools to support, enable, and help in their ministries" said Pastor Ventsislav Panayotov, director of the Ministerial Association, Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, and Leadership Development for the EUD and organizer of the event, together with Regina Fleischmann, administrative assistant, IT agent, and webmaster for the EUD.

In addition to the moments of pastoral fellowship, there were morning devotionals and moments of prayer, 20 workshops, and 16 plenary sessions, including one dedicated to considering the biblical perspective on LGTBQ+ that concluded with a panel of questions and open comments at each of the conferences.

For Pastor Josué Reta, secretary of the Spanish Union, "the most valuable thing is the meeting among colleagues, the moments of relaxed conversation about the challenges we encounter every day, and encouraging each other in prayer. We know we are not alone."

For Pastor Marvin Brand, church planter and Communication director of the Swiss Union, this event has allowed him to "connect with pastors from different fields and exchange experiences and reflections on [their] pastoral work. He added, “What I liked most were the presentations on mission focus. We need more practical applications from the theological research and discussion of case studies."

Biblical Presentations and Workshops

The morning devotionals were led by Pastor Anthony Kent, associate ministerial secretary for the General Conference, who invited attendees to reflect on their calling through different Bible encounters, the value God gives them as workers in His field, and the need to focus their efforts on proclaiming Jesus to a needy world.

The plenary sessions focused mostly on the doctrine of the sanctuary, approached from numerous perspectives by Daniel Olariu (Friedensau), Denis Fortin (Andrews University), Elias Brasil de Souza (Biblical Research Institute), Ranko Stefanovic (Andrews), Roy Gane (Andrews), and Laurentiu Mot (Adventus University).

Anthony Wagner-Smith (Trans-European Division) spoke about church planting in contemporary settings.

Laszlo Gallusz (Newbold College) focused on analyzing the problem of the delay of parousia (“second coming”) from an Adventist perspective.

Samuel Gil (Spanish Union) addressed the opportunities and challenges of digital mission, a new outreach field in which to be a compass, with intentionality and relevance.

Laszlo Szabo (Friedensau) spoke on how to present the three angels’ messages from the perspective and needs of a secular audience.

Tara VinCross (senior pastor, California, USA) talked about the deep calling and the dimensions of the pastor's spiritual health.

Torben Bergland (associate director of Health Ministries for the GC) presented three sessions on the physical, mental, and social health of the pastor, providing markers and concepts to identify and overcome different situations.

You can watch all the plenary sessions here.

The workshops were held simultaneously in the different spaces of each Adventist campus so each pastor had the opportunity to attend four workshops of his or her own choice, with topics such as "Adventist Mission Theology in Face of Reality," "Revelation and Mission: Dreams and Visions in the Islamic World," and "The Signs of the Second Coming or the Signs of the End," among others.

Finally, in addition to other times of prayer and worship, a plenary session presented by Dr. Gane was devoted to considering the biblical perspective on LGTBQ+ and concluded with a panel of questions and open mic at each of the conferences. The atmosphere was respectful and participatory, seeking biblical answers but also considering other emotional, psychological, and social aspects of this reality, which the Adventist Church must consider and address in its approaches. You can watch it here.

Pastor Mario Brito, EUD president, as well as Barna Magyarosi, secretary, and Florian Ristea, Personal Ministries Department director, were present in Collonges.

Norbert Zens, EUD treasurer, was present in Friedensau, as was Pastor Rainer Wanitschek, director of Family, Children’s, and Adventist Possibility ministries—both accompanying the pastors in these meetings.

For more information, please go here.

The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-European Division website.