Slovakia
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) supports Christian witness and service in Slovakia through our partner churches, encouraging them as they move toward grace and healing after a long history of religious controversy and enmity.
Our Slovak partners need our support as they move from 50 years of Communism toward membership in the European Union, a market economy and western European structures. Like our mission partners in other formerly- Communist countries, the Slovaks face rapid changes in their sense of mission, leadership, lay involvement, international connections and ecumenical cooperation. Slovakia has numerically significant minorities, including the Roma (Gypsies). We want to encourage our partners to function as a bridge between the Roma and other minorities and the majority in Slovakian society. We wish to support them as well in dealing with rapid transitions in education, health care, environmental issues, social equality, and relationships in government, society, and politics. During this time of massive change, we hope to encourage our partners to share their insights into faith—insights preserved through years of Communist rule.
Partner churches and organizations
Church of the Brethren in the Slovak Republic
Reformed Church in Slovakia
The PC(USA) also relates to the Conference of European Churches (CEC), a regional ecumenical organization. The movement that led to the creation of the CEC dates back to the period of the Cold War, when a group of church leaders brought into conversation churches in European countries separated by different political, economic and social systems. CEC has sought to build bridges not only between Eastern and Western Europe but also been between minority and majority churches and between Christians of different confessional traditions.
Resources
Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for Roma, 2011
Ten Days of Prayer and Thanksgiving for Roma, 2012
Prayer and Thanksgiving for Roma 2013
Learn more about Slovakia
Visit the BBC country profile.
