WHO ARE WE AS A CONGREGATION?
Mission Statement: We come together from many nations and denominations with the desire to experience worship and community in the body of Christ, to be strengthened by God’s Word, and to go out into our world proclaiming the love of Christ in all we do.
Interim Pastor Arden Haug is originally from Minnesota. He was ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The congregation has close ties to the ELCA and receives support from ELCA Global Missions. In addition to this relationship, the congregation functions as a ministry of the Lutheran Church in Slovakia (Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession). We are also affiliated with the Association of International Congregations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Bratislava International Church is an extremely diverse congregation. Since becoming the capitol city of Slovakia in 1993,Bratislava has become a very international place. Reflecting this international setting, members of our congregation include people from the US,Canada, the UK, several African countries, and a number of countries in Europe and Asia. Our members come to Bratislava for a number of reasons—as diplomats, business people, students, educators, and tourists. The congregation has also developed a very active ministry with refugees, who come to Slovakia fleeing poverty, war, and injustice to seek a better life. A number of Slovak nationals also enjoy worshiping with the congregation on a regular basis. As a primary English-speaking ministry in this city, we are privileged to be able to reach out to people from so many different countries and backgrounds, whether they have come to Bratislava to live for many years, or are merely visiting for a weekend.
Our membership comes not only from many different countries, but is also made up of persons from almost every conceivable Christian denomination and confession. Worship is designed, therefore, to reflect not only the congregation’s Lutheran origins, but also its international and multi-denominational membership. For this reason worship services often include music and other elements from many Christian traditions. We endeavor to keep our services lively and inspiring, with a healthy blend of the traditional and the contemporary. Holy Communion is offered every Sunday. Worship is always followed by a fellowship time that includes coffee and other refreshments. This serves as a great time to meet others and develop friendships with Christians from around the world.
In addition to the Sunday worship service the congregation offers a number of other opportunities for fellowship and enrichment. Sunday School is provided each week for children of all ages. Youth groups meet several times per month throughout the year to provide enjoyable activities and Christian fellowship and education for teens. A number of Bible studies and discussion groups meet on a weekly basis. Meals, outings, and additional fellowship activities take place from time to time. Our goal is to provide a true sense of Christian community to all English speakers who live in Bratislava or come here to visit.
HISTORY OF BRATISLAVA INTERNATIONAL CHURCH
Bratislava International Church owes its origins to the re-opening of the Evangelical Lyceum (Lutheran High School). That school, whose history goes back to 1606, was closed during the communist era and re-opened in September of 1991 as a bilingual Slovak-English institution. The Lutheran Church in Slovakia asked the Lutheran Churches in the United States to provide volunteer English teachers to help with this new start.
At first informal worship services were held at the school primarily for the teachers and interested students. In 1994 Pastors Twila Schock and William Swanson and Associate in Ministry Lynnae Sorensen were called to further develop the religion department and to establish a regular worshiping congregation. There was an early desire to expand the concept of the congregation to include not just American teachers, but the larger English-language expatriate community in Bratislava. The Slovak Lutheran congregation in Bratislava offered the use of the historic Malý Kostol (Little Church) as a regular worship space. This Baroque style building was constructed in 1777 and is a truly international setting. Every Sunday morning, in addition to the English language worship at 9:30, there is a German service at 8:15 and a Hungarian service at 11:00. At the same time a Slovak service is taking place at the Velký Kostol (“Big Church") next door. Slovak, German, and Hungarian reflect the tri-lingual history of the city going back hundreds of years.
Pastors Schock and Swanson served the newly developed English congregation until 1997, at which time they were called to serve the International Protestant Chaplaincy in Moscow. That same year Pastor Paul K. Hanson was called to the position of pastor of the congregation, and served Bratislava International Church until his retirement in 2004. During Pastor Hanson’s tenure Pastor Ann Sorum was called to serve the congregation as Associate Pastor. She served until July of 2006, when she returned to the United States.
Pastor David Schick served the congregation from October 2004 to July 2009. Pastor Schick also continued the tradition of pastors in this congregation’s past by working simultaneously as a professor of religion at the Evangelical Lýceum. One more change in pastoral leadership took place in September 2006, when Pastor Josh Auchenbach stepped into the position of Associate Pastor of the congregation.
At present, the congregation is being served by interim Pastor Arden Haug. He will be with the congregation until a new permanent pastor is called. Pastor Haug is also the ELCA's Regional Representative to Europe. Taryn Montgomery is serving as an intern pastor this year.
Last Updated on September 7, 2009