Leaders of the Protestant Churches of Ukraine urged Ukrainians to take an active part in the presidential elections. This is stated in their appeal. We bring to your notice the full text of the document:
Leaders of the Protestant Churches of Ukraine urged Ukrainians to take an active part in the presidential elections. This is stated in their appeal.
We bring to your notice the full text of the document:
Dear brothers and sisters!
Dear Ukrainian community!
The presidential election is an important event in the life of each nation. But the current presidential elections in Ukraine are particularly responsible and life-changing. They are held in difficult conditions of external military-political aggression, which is accompanied by a rigorous confrontation between the values inherent in our people and the values that are artificially and externally implanted.
Despite the incredible difficulties and challenges facing Ukrainian society, we have a firm belief that the Lord will not leave his children at the time of the trials and will help us build a country in which the gospel principles prevail, human dignity is respected, and trusting relationships between citizens are nurtured.
In these circumstances, contemplating the future with faith in His mercy, we, members of the Council of Evangelical Protestant Churches in Ukraine:
1. Call on all citizens, our brothers and sisters, to visit polling stations and cast their vote for the future head of the Ukrainian state. Hereby we not only fulfil our constitutional and civic duty, but also the instruction left by our Lord.
2. Call for a vote by heart. Let us remember that Christian virtues should be manifested both in words and in actions. The deeds and words of the future President should not go against the Word of God - the Bible. Let us be responsible! By doing so, we will have confidence that God's blessing will continue being there for us and our children.
3. Let us be aware that political competitions often lead to social tension and polarization of social sentiment. We cannot allow gospel Christians to be involved in a political confrontation. Particularly avoiding “meaningless and unholy disputes” in our churches, families, at work, in public places. During the election, Christians should take care to serve as a model of moderation and behavior in the spirit of power, love and common sense (2 Timothy 1: 7).
4. We call on every conscious Christian to bear the prayerful responsibility for holding an honest and open election of the President of Ukraine. On Friday, March 29, 2019, we will find a special time for an intensive prayer so that the Lord grants our hearts to a wise decision in support of the contender who, on the one hand, will profess the Evangelical values and, on the other hand, will remain unwavering in preserving and developing the Ukrainian statehood.
Let us be active in defending the truths that bear life, goodness and hope. Always thank our Lord for abundant blessings and holy vows.
May God bless us and give us peace!
Mykhailo Panochko, Chairman of the Council, Senior Bishop of the Ukrainian Church of the Faithful Christians of the Evangelical Church
Valeriy Antoniuk, Head of the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christian Baptists
Serhiy Shaptala, Head of the Brotherhood of Independent Churches and Missions of the Evangelical Christian-Baptists of Ukraine
Stanislav Nosov, President of the Ukrainian Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Victor Tantsura, Chairman of the Council of Religious Administration of the Association of Missionary Churches of Ukraine
Pylyp Savochka, Senior Bishop of the Spiritual Center of the Christians of the Evangelical Faith “Salvation”
Vyacheslav Horpinchuk, bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church
Anatoliy Havrylyuk, Senior Bishop of the Center for Independent Charismatic Christian Churches of Ukraine (Full Gospel)
Vasyl Raychynets, Senior Bishop of the Ukrainian Free Church of the Evangelical Faith
Anatoliy Kalyuzhnyj, Chairman of the Council of Independent Evangelical Churches of Ukraine
Leonid Padun, Senior Bishop of the Ukrainian Christian Evangelical Church
Vyacheslav Murza, Chairman of the Board of the Evangelical Reformed Churches of Ukraine.