The synod assembly of the Evangelical Waldensian Church of the Rio de la Plata met a few days ago at the Parque 17 de Febrero in the Department of Colonia, Uruguay. The American Waldensian Society will be forwarding reports from the synod as soon as they are available. The following letter of greeting was sent to the synod assembly by the president and executive director of the American Waldensian Society.
Grace and peace to you from God and our Lord Jesus Christ!
We are very mindful of the upcoming synod meeting of the Evangelical Waldensian Church of the Rio de la Plata. After experiencing your commitment to the ministry of the laity during your most recent synod meeting in Jacinto Arauz, many of us in the American Waldensian Society felt a renewal of hope and a deepened personal commitment to our shared Christian witness. Our prayers and support will be with you as you together continue the journey of faith into the future.
The American Waldensian Society along with many others in the North American churches stand together with you in maintaining the prophetic witness of Christ during these globally troubling days. We will do so by speaking truth to power and by caring for those made vulnerable in this world. Now, more than ever, the world needs the witness of the Christian church. We stand together in our ongoing commitment to realizing the will of God for humanity.
May God bless us all and give us peace as seek to witness as faithfully as we can to the love and justice of Jesus Christ!
AWS President Rev. Dr. Kevin Frederick
AWS Director Rev. Dr. Carol Bechtel
The synod met Thursday, January 30 through Sunday, February 2. It’s theme, “With our eyes on Jesus, we walk in perseverance”, was based on two passages from the New Testament, Luke 9:62 and Hebrews 12:12. The agenda for the meeting focused on reflections from the various Ministry Commissions as well as on the finance and stewardship report.
The photo at the top of this report is from the synod’s opening worship service. The photo at the bottom of this report is from the closing worship service.
