The 90th session of the Serbia-North Macedonia-Albania Annual Conference took place in Pogradec, Albania, March 27-30.
The annual conference sessions go back to the time when the country of Yugoslavia still existed — and before the current work in Albania began.
The conference theme of “Making Connections” was evident throughout the gathering. With delegates from Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania, along with guests from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, the conference language was English. But there also was an effort to translate everything into the respective languages, even if this sometimes took time. The songs that were included in the official songbook could be sung in all three languages: Serbian, Macedonian and Albanian. Important parts of the program, such as devotions and prayers, were distributed to people from all three regions.
Two devotions focused on Jesus’ relationships with the woman at Jacob’s well and Zacchaeus. Bishop Stefan Zürcher continued the theme in the closing worship service with a sermon on the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus is always in conversation with people and he speaks to them on an equal footing — a model for successful relationships, Zürcher said.
The devotionals also served as stimulus for discussions among the participants. In a first group discussion, the participants met within their respective districts to discuss the three reports from the superintendents, which summarized the status of local churches and diaconal ministries in each of their regions.
In the Albanian group, it became clear that The United Methodist Church in their country is a young church, where it is important to put faith into practice. In the North Macedonia district, the problem of younger members leaving the country was addressed. It’s a reality also shared by the Serbian district.
Last year’s joint women’s excursion, “In the Footsteps of Lydia,” was mentioned as an idea for cross-district activities and recommended for expansion. A joint meeting of pastors and their spouses also was considered. Additionally, a pulpit exchange was mentioned as a plan to bring the regions together. The youth camps in different areas also were lifted up as highlights.
It was clear that strengthening relationships between areas is an important goal. The motion to form an extended cabinet at the annual conference level was unanimously adopted in order to relieve the superintendents and to be able to exchange additional ideas for a common path.
Although there are still questions about how the regions work together, the positive aspects of the cross-border annual conference were emphasized.
Every annual conference meeting also includes a closed session of pastors and a celebration of communion. The printed, multilingual liturgy served well for the celebration.
On the morning of March 30, delegates celebrated with the local congregation of Pogradec United Methodist Church and those who traveled to be there.
“To love means to have time. God has time for you when you need him; he does not pass by,” Zürcher said in his sermon on the parable of the Good Samaritan. “He comes back and wants to stay in relationship. From the feeling of joy and gratitude grows the desire to follow the example of the Samaritan and to grow in love.”
During the service, Irena Stefanova was commissioned as local pastor in North Macedonia, and all superintendents and pastors were confirmed in their ministry for the respective district or charge conferences.
In Serbia, there are 14 local churches with about 700 members. In North Macedonia, there are 11 local churches with membership at about 2,000. And in Albania, there are five local churches with about 330 members.
— Regula Stotz, lay member of The United Methodist Church in Switzerland and delegate of the Switzerland-France-North Africa Annual Conference.