The Czechoslovak Hussite Church

Credo

BASIC INFORMATION

“Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth…”

Is 42, 10

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

Is 43;19

The Czechoslovak Hussite Church (CHC)

– is a Christian church

– follows teaching based on Scripture and on Christian tradition

– professes the tradition of the Early Church, that of Cyril and Methodius and of the Reformation

– grew out of the Modernist movement and was founded on 8 January 1920

– is a liturgical church

– administers the seven sacraments

– is a presbyterian church with episcopal elements, its administration is composed of both the laity (elders) and the ordained (preachers, deacons, priests and bishops)

– clergy can be men as well as women (after 1947)

– believes in freedom of conscience

– proclaims the Gospel in a contemporary form

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

“He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

Eph 4, 10 – 12

“But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”

1 Cor 14, 40

Parish community

led by the select vestry and the clergy (more than 300 communities in the Czech Republic and in the Slovakia)

Diocese

led by diocese vestry and the bishop (Diocese in the Czech Republic: Prague, Plzen, Hradec Králové, Brno, Olomouc; in Slovakia: Bratislava)

Central Council

bishops together with elected laity in equal numbers, led by the Patriarch

Church Corporation

Central Council members, elected clergy and laity from every diocese – limited authority of the Assembly among its proccedings.

Assembly – the highest legislative body

clergy and elected laity from every parish community

EDUCATION, CHILDREN AND YOUTH

CHC takes care of the spiritual growth of its members

by providing Bible study, pastoral care for children, confirmees and youth, religious education, preparation for the sacraments, courses, seminars, summer camps and other local, diocesan or general church activities.

CHC – a founder of schools and educational institutes:

Archa – the church kindergarten and elementary school, a Specialty school, Harmonie –  the music school, Hus Institute for Theological Studies (HITS)

CHC cooperates with Hussite Theological Faculty of the Charles University in Prague (HTF UK):

education of the clergy and other employees of CHC and other churches, religious, social, educational, cultural and other organisations; HTF publish quarterly journal Theological Revue and many theological publications – edition “Pontes Pragenses”

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

Tim 2, 16

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Col 3, 16 – 17

OPEN TO THE WORLD

Church Press

– publishing house Blahoslav

– periodical title „Český zápas“ (Czech struggle)

– yearly almanac „Blahoslav“

– magazine for children and youth „Cesta“ (Way)

Social work

– charitable and diaconical activities in parish communities

– social work and counseling centres at the diocesan level

– senior houses, centres for disabled, children´s homes in cooperation weth Deakonie and Misie CHC and its centres

– humanitarian help

– army, hospital and prison chaplains.

Culture and education

– cultural activities (exhibitions, lectures, concerts, etc.), cultural facilities

– public educational facilities (e.g. Hussite Centre)

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light  to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Mt 5; 13 – 16

Ecumenical cooperation

CHC is a member of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Conference of European Churches (CEC), Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE), Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Czech Republic (ECC), Ecumenical Academy of Prague (EA) and other ecumenical boards; CHC meets with other churches in the Czech Republic and abroad in ecumenical dialogue.

Church within society

CHC tries to be engaged in all spheres of the society, so as to fullfil its vocation:

“The Czechoslovak Hussite Church is composed of Christians who strive to fulfil the contemporary moral striving and scientific knowledge with the Spirit of Christ as preserved in the Scripture and the tradition of the Early Church, and in the reform movements of the Bohemian Reformation and the subsequent reformations efforts.”

The Czechoslovak Hussite Church is open to all seekers.

Administrátor publikováno: 13.07.2007 06:02 zobrazeno: 107288x