From May 12 to 14, 2025, Warsaw hosted an international strategic conference titled “Mission of Ukrainian Churches in the European Diaspora.” This event brought together 24 participants from Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Moldova, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Attendees included evangelical pastors, theologians, missionaries, educators, and church leaders, who gathered to reflect on the role of Ukrainian churches in the new context created by the displacement of millions due to the war.

The discussions focused on the development of the theological identity of diaspora churches, their interaction with local communities, ministry to displaced Ukrainians, and the importance of theological education. This event was organized by the European Christian Academy, the Eastern European Institute of Theology, Scholar Leaders, Langham, Mesa Global, and seminaries in Ukraine and Lithuania. This was reported by Slovo pro Slovo.

Roman Soloviy, the Rector of the Eastern European Institute of Theology, opened the conference by emphasizing, “The diaspora is not only a forced dispersion; it is also an opportunity to serve as a bridge between Ukraine and the world — a prophetic voice and witnesses of the Kingdom of God.” He outlined a new framework for a “theology of the diaspora” that encourages us to rethink the experiences of loss, resettlement, and identity formation in a new environment.

Over the course of three days, participants explored various topics, including “Church as Mission,” “Pastor in a Bicultural Context,” “Grammar of Trauma,” “Theology of Hope for a Divided People,” and “Church for All.” A dedicated strategic session focused on the role of theological education in shaping a new ecclesiology for churches in the diaspora. The conference concluded with a reflective discussion, during which participants emphasized the importance of viewing immigrants not merely as “refugees” but as carriers of missionary potential. The need for further inter-denominational meetings and the establishment of a platform for regular exchange among Ukrainian theologians in Europe was highlighted.

This event marked a significant first step in creating a cohesive missionary vision for Ukrainian churches outside of Ukraine amidst ongoing war, trauma, and hope. All presentations from the conference will be published in the journal "Theological Reflections" in the fall of 2025. (Quelle: www.risu.ua, 20. Mai 2025)