The Ukraine-Russia Conflict Considered Theologically

Feb 10, 2022 | Presbytery News

As the threat of Russian invasion of Ukraine intensifies, how can we think theologically about it and what do churches in Russia and Ukraine say about it? We will explore these questions in two Zoom sessions:  On Wednesday, Feb 16 at 10:00, former PCUSA mission coworker Dr. Eric Hinderliter will lead a discussion guided by the Confession of 1967 and the gospel mandate for reconciliation. On Thursday, Feb 24, at 10:00, PCUSA mission coworker Ellen Smith will relay perspectives of Russian and Ukrainian churches and the challenges they face. Register here for one or both Zoom sessions.

 

LEADERSHIP

Eric L. Hinderliter was a PCUSA mission co-worker commissioned by the General Assembly in 2001. He served as a teacher at LCC International University, Klaipeda, Lithuania from 2001 to 2019, along with his wife Rebecca, also a mission co-worker. He is an elder in the PCUSA. Eric taught economics and theology courses: He tutored in a men’s prison in Lithuania for 11 years. Prior to LCC, he was the executive director of Central Pennsylvania Legal Services and worked in community development for the cities of Harrisburg and Lancaster.  He graduated from Allegheny College; earned an M.A., and Ph.D. in German History from Brown University, Providence, RI, and an MS in faith-based Economic Development, Eastern College (now University), St. David’s, PA. He also studied theology at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He retired in 2017 and now lives in Cary North Carolina with his wife of 50 years Rebecca.

Ellen Smith is PCUSA Regional Liaison for Central and Eastern Europe (including Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland). Since 1999, Ellen has helped several PCUSA congregations form partnerships with Baptist, Lutheran, and Orthodox churches in Russia and established relationships with church leaders across the region.