Latest News #265 – Romania
December 11, 2003

Church unity marks Romania’s Bible Week

Based on a report by Stein Mydske, United Bible Societies Fundraising Consultant

TIMISOARA, Romania — An Orthodox priest participating in a distribution of Scriptures in prisons, children's homes and homes for the elderly was asked how he felt about the fact that he was distributing Protestant Bibles. "The fact that it is the Bible is the most important thing," he replied.

This comment reflected the spirit of unity and co-operation between churches of all denominations as they took part in the Interconfessional Bible Society in Romania's Bible Week, held at the end of November in Timisoara, Romania's third-largest city. The Orthodox Metropolitan of the Banat Diocese strongly supported the partnership between the churches and the Bible Society, and recommended that the offerings collected during church services on the Sunday during Bible Week be given to the Society for Bible work.

The Scripture distribution, funded by Opportunity 21, involved a number of church leaders and was one of the main events of the week. The theme for Bible Week was 'The Word that saves the world'.

Another key event was a Bible Symposium, in which church leaders, theologians and the Minister of Religious Affairs, Laurentiu Tanase, participated. A presentation about the importance of fundraising was also given. A local television station interviewed some of the key speakers and broadcast footage of the symposium, while Christian radio programmes during the week featured the Bible Society and its work, as well as interviews with local church leaders.

As well as working side by side during the distribution and Bible Symposium, churches also came together at a special Bible Week concert, in which choirs from the Baptist, Seventh-day Adventist, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches all performed. The concert attracted a 200-strong audience.

In order to develop a long-term relationship with the churches, in the hope that Bible Week will become an annual event in Timisoara, the Society invited local churches to send potential Bible Society volunteers to a workshop. About 14 people attended, including pastors, students and a retired person, and received training from Bible Society Fundraiser Viorel Patrana and UBS Fundraising Consultant Stein Mydske.