Krasnojarsk, Russia
3 November 2003
Dear Friends!
Now it is official; after many weeks and then even months of uncertainty, but also confidence, it is now decided. We will go at the end of this year to St. Petersburg. The church leadership has asked me to take over as successor to Stefan Reder as a rector of the theological seminary of our Church. Concerning all other leadership offices in our church, which were so far offered to me, I thought for a long time, but then declined, since I could only poorly have brought these offices in line with my tasks as father and a husband. In addition we had already adjusted ourselves rather clearly to a return to Germany in the summer 2004. And now this inquiry came completely unexpectedly, and I must admit, that this time I did not take very long to consider it. Afterwards nearly all doors really opened immediately in this direction; we accepted and also in negotiations with the EKD (Evangelical Church of Germany) satisfying solutions were found. So now a half year earlier in Krasnojarsk we pack our suitcases, and this time not only the suitcases. And it is also called saying goodbye.
Thereby I become conscious of how many relations have grown here. I want to insert in part here my report, which I gave one week ago at the Synod in Omsk:
... At the year end it is now eight and a half years that I have served in Krasnojarsk. This is my ninth Synod which I experience in Omsk. When I began, Nikolaus Schneider introduced me to Krasnojarsk. I had just finished my second theological exam in Hermannsburg, had been ordained, had become a father for the second time, and had learned a little basic knowledge in Russian in Bochum. Thus we began 1995 in Krasnojarsk. The only colleague from Germany at that time was Manfred Brockmann in Vladivostok. In the last few weeks I have now visited again most of the congregations in our Propstei Krasnojarsk and said farewell to them. I will still visit the congregations in the south after the Synod. It become clear to me, how much in these years grew, as much also died, at the same time also how much time it needs before confidence grows, so that a Church can develop.
At that time there were only few congregations, which knew each other mutually and came to meet in supraregional brother meetings or then the first Synods. In the middle of Siberia a very detailed travel service was necessary, in order first to find and then visit the many congregations often lying far removed from each other. In these years I traveled roughly 400,000 kilometers, particularly by car, and in addition by train and by airplane on the way, and celebrated exactly 758 services in the most diverse congregations. I am very grateful to the congregations for friendly acceptance, which was not at all natural, since most had only vague memories from the childhood of what a pastor is, and then a younger more inexperienced pastor comes from Germany, that came first not knowing all that much about the traditions and customs in the fellow congregations. You accepted me as a brother in your midst, and among you I learned what it is to be a minister. Study and books cannot give that. I would like to thank you cordially for our path together. It shaped me, and among you I became acquainted with our Lord again and more deeply. I could gain valuable experiences for my service and my personal life, and I think then are you not completely innocent of the fact that the Church leadership asked me to move to the theological seminary.
I observed in these years some developments, which I want to summarize again. At the beginning of my service the brother tradition was prevailing in our congregations in Siberia. There were still very many strong leading brothers, who summoned together and preached several times each week in congregations, baptized, served communion, and buried. Beside them also at that time likewise strong sisters did the same services, if also not with the same matter of course, since the conviction was still large that men would have to actually do that. Today in most of our congregations we have mostly sisters and a few brothers, who only read Carl Blum's written sermons, and still hardly know how a service is to be held. They did not select themselves to do this service, but they were simply the last who could still read the Gothic script in German. The service falls more heavily on these brothers and sisters from year to year. In a few years many of these congregations will no longer be able to meet. That is the development in nearly all brother congregations. Parallel to this development I could observe new departures in congregations which opened themselves to the children and the youth, and often began with completely simple means to tell them the Gospel. Let us support these beginnings.
When I began, Manfred, Nikolaus Schneider and I were single fighters and everyone had to pay attention to how he could master the work, and from where he got support. With Ernst Schacht and the mechanism of our Consistory, a large step came toward the structure of a Church. Under Volker Sailer we found now a certain routine and won for the church infrastructure a stability, even if we constantly suffer from shortage of personnel. Nevertheless I want to try not to be proud of our work in the management committees of our church. Often it greatly pleases us to look up from our small situation locally, on the entire situation of the church in the Urals, Siberia and further to the East. Often we used our all strength in theological disputes and neglected the service to this church. Thus we were not able it to find a common way to install training for congregation leaders and church coworkers in Siberia, although we had support for it from many sides. With all existing differences which concern theology and piety, it does not matter who will keep right, but what fruits we brought, and that is at present rather meager.
I think that it must in the future go around it, paying less attention about from where our Church will be shouted loudest, to develop a concept of where we want to go together as a Church. What is our goal, which are the most important tasks which we plan for the next ten years? And then other things must still wait, our possibilities are just limited. Then we must work together for these goals also with our partners in Germany and the ELKRAS [Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche in Russland und anderen Staaten, i.e. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia and other Countries]. Particularly within the areas of personnel policy and training we must come to such common goals, if it is to continue. At present I have the impression that we are blocked both within the church, and in relation to our partners in Germany and particularly in the ELKRAS.
I would like to signal to this church already here and now that I will look for cooperation from Novosaratovka outward, in the area of the basic and advanced training of church coworkers. I hope that this church finds a new beginning on this subject again, perhaps a little smaller, perhaps more carefully, but with the prospect, to set up young people for our congregations, which wait longingly for the fact that people with good Biblical and church bases take over the heavy services of the leadership and the care of souls. I wish you all God's rich benedictions and His escort for the further way of the Lutheran church in this far country, which grew very close to my heart.
So far the report. My large request is now naturally our successor in Krasnojarsk. The congregation can bridge a certain time of vacancy -- in Germany one often hears the argument that it sometimes does well for a congregation to get along without pastors -- that may be, in congregations like those which have existed for hundreds of years; the Krasnojarsk congregation is eight and a half years old and is still very wobbly on the legs, as concerns going its own way. Therefore I hope very much that a new pastor comes here soon. On the other side it is important for me to let go, and not yield to a temptation to still influence things here from St. Petersburg. I must get a good conclusion, in order to be free to turn fully to the new task. Thus we are full of eager expectation, and want to experience the Lord both in what leave here, and in what comes new to us there.
Now still our new address, which applies then beginning 1 January 2004:
Postal address: 191186 St. Petersburg, Newski Prospekt 22-24,
Petrikirche, Rudolf Blümcke, Novosaratovka
Private telephone we do not have yet.
Our telephone at the Seminary: 007/812/4410907 or 007/812/4411949
Fax: 007/812/4411889
Email remains up to the year end (1 Jan 2004): rubl@siberianet.ru
and then the new address will again be communicated.
Kirsten:
It is always so difficult, to compress a year with all its innumerable events into a few lines. So much has happened again, so much has changed; there is more than enough reason to give thanks. The largest change brought our sweet little Samuel. Even if there were the usual arduous times, I am astonished nevertheless as he took his completely natural place more and more and quite problem-free in our often very full life. Now he already runs through our dwelling and we all have very much, very much joy in him!
It is also amazing that Jonathan and Anna Maria accepted that a large measure of my attention is taken now by Samuel. Often they even give me a lot of help. Jonathan came in the summer into a new school and goes now into the 5th Class. He seems to have found himself there very quickly. When I asked his Russian teacher at times whether he actually differs much from the Russian children, she said if she had not stumbled over his surname, she would not have noticed at all that he is not a Russian. The only place where he differs from the other children, is his knowledge of the Bible, which they looked at recently in the Literature subject. Also Anna Maria comes along very well in the 3rd Class, and we must sometimes watch out that we talk enough German at home, since Russian rests high in their heads, particularly after being in school. With the two I have again and again the feeling that in fact they are fully integrated here, and we hope that in St. Petersburg that they again succeed. In any case they look at moving very calmly.
I try also, but after we already pack the first crates, I realize nevertheless that still another arduous time is approaching for us. It always helps me to take one day after the other one, as Jesus has said, and to let Jesus give me strength again and again. Many think I am such a strong woman, but I recognize more and more that I can only be, because God gives me strength. The certainty that God leads us eases for us also the parting, which is not simple, from so many dear people here. I have already discharged that feeling in former times, e.g. when Samuel was born. I gave up my work in the congregation completely, and that already was for me like a parting. Letting go was not easy for me, especially if I had the impression that I was still needed. Generally we notice it in both ways: on the one hand a certain independence with some coworkers and congregation members, on the other hand in addition, an amazing and sometimes also disappointing dependence on clear leading by Rudi or me. Disappointing, because we strove to train independent and conscious coworkers, which unfortunately only partly succeeded for us. All the more important it is to find a successor now, and we ask you to pray also for this. Here we thank you all for your manifold support in all these years, above all we want to emphasize here our parents and families in Germany, who carry us so affectionately, and at the same time again and again have to let us go. You are unique, THANKS! I would like to conclude this letter with the yearly watchword for the next year: Jesus Christ speaks: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Mark 13:31)
As always, none of us knows quite what will come in the New Year, and we experience that particularly strongly this time, since our new beginning coincides with the New Year. But whatever comes, God and His word will never pass away; He remains the living, loving, gracious God, who keeps His word, even when heaven and earth have already passed away. In this sense we wish you a bright and cosy Advent and Christmas season, and a calm start in the New Year, your family Blümcke
Anna Maria, Samuel, and Jonathan Blümcke
Fall 2003