The Austria Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church took place May 14-17 in Salzburg, under the motto “Love Boldly” from the denomination’s new vision statement. The annual conference members and various guests celebrated a festive worship service as they opened the 97th session of their church parliament.
The engagement with the motto was clearly visible in the reports and discussions during the conference sessions and in the fellowship of this small but committed conference. Emphasis was placed on what is also stated in the vision statement regarding the Holy Spirit.
The vision states: “The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.”
“The motto really resonated with me on a personal level,” said a conference member during the closing service.
Encouraging numbers
The number of worship service attendees, which had reached a low point during the COVID years, has increased noticeably again, noted statistician Ben Nausner. The financial contributions of members and friends also have increased. At the same time, costs have risen significantly due to inflation and other factors, which also affects the church. So, the task remains to encourage people to contribute financially, as well.
Diverse work with children and youth
The director of the Children and Youth Ministry, Pastor Dorothee Büürma, reported on the networking day focused on “Pastoral Care for Children and Youth.” Some of the topics and questions continued to occupy the participants even after the day had ended. Examples mentioned included the question of worship formats that accommodate diverse needs, or the question of how to communicate the Gospel in ministries with children and youth. Reflections on the need to create structures that enable children and youth to actively participate and help shape congregational life responsibly were also discussed.
In addition, it was announced that the violence prevention policy had recently been revised. It was also noted that the next YouMe (youth gathering of the Central and Southern Europe Regional Conference) will take place in Austria from July 15-18, 2027.
Farewell to pastor
With great gratitude and heartfelt blessings, the conference bid farewell to the Rev. John Calhoun who has served for six years as pastor of the English-speaking congregation of The United Methodist Church in Vienna. After 26 years of service as a missionary with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries — including assignments in Russia, the Middle East, Africa, Ukraine and most recently in Austria — Calhoun will return to the U.S. with his wife in July. His successor is expected to be announced in a few weeks.
Joint worship service to mark the occasion
The members of the annual conference concluded their meeting with a joint worship service with the congregation of Salzburg United Methodist Church. Calhoun led the service for the final time, together with Maria Sonnleithner.
In his sermon on Micah 6, Bishop Stefan Zürcher also referred to the conference’s theme.
“God’s walking alongside His people and the church throughout history is an expression of God’s bold love. His presence and companionship empower believers, in turn, to walk with God with a willingness to take risks and to love boldly.”
— Bishop Stefan Zürcher, Central and Southern Europe Episcopal Area, Zurich