V i e n n a – The Federation of Baptist Churches in Austria is showing positive progress. The church’s General-Secretary, Pastor Walter Klimt (Vienna), pointed this out at the annual delegates’ assembly in Vienna. The numbers of church members in the 22 congregations increased by 3,7% to 1.400. Klimt was especially surprised by the number of baptisms. In recent times 50 persons were baptised during an average year, but in 2004 the “sensational” number of 79 baptisms was registered. In the past year that number grew even further to 83. Klimt was also pleased with the number of church visitors. The Sunday visitor average of 2.200 is 53% higher than the federation’s official number of members. In the past year smaller congregations in particular stabilised themselves.

Church income is also encouraging. All congregations had responded positively to a voluntary pledge and paid the federal missions contribution of 40 Euro pro person. But further donations remain a necessity. The Federation’s work demands 120.000 Euro annually; world mission, youth work and other projects require an additional 240.000 Euro. Klimt thanked in particular the German “Federation of Evangelical-Free Churches” for contributing 40.000 Euro towards meeting the annual budget. A partnership programme unites German and Austrian Baptists. Anita Ivanovits (Steyr), the Federation’s current chairperson, was confirmed in her position. It also became known that one of Austria’s best-known Baptist theologians, Pastor Dr. Emanuel Wieser (Vienna), will transfer to Germany during the coming year. He has been called to pastor the Baptist congregation Munich-Holzstraße.

The festive service held in Vienna’s Marriott Hotel on the occasion of the annual conference proved popular. More than 500 persons totalling over a third of the church’s total membership particpated. The sermon was held by Carlos Waldow (Curitiba), General-Secretary of a Brazilian denomination founded by German immigrants. He appealed to the listeners to do everything possible to strengthen the spiritual unity of Austrian Baptists. The musical contributions included a Rumanian-speaking Baptist congregation from Vienna, a mandolin orchestra from Kapfenberg, a Farsi choir with members from Iran and Afghanistan as well as a hip-hop dance group from tbe Baptist congregation Vienna-Beheimgasse. A children’s choir from this congregation presented a song from the musical “Joseph”. The entire children’s musical was performed for a simultaneous children’s programme.

Just prior to the conference, 80 leading workers from 17 congregations met in Vienna for a theological retreat. Central topics covered during the retreat were the authority of leadership, the understanding of Scripture, the role of women and ecumenism. The spiritual foundations were laid by the German Baptist Pastor Helmut Schwarze (Mainz). He called all to support a congegation’s chosen leaders as they also have been installed by God. Those not happy with a congregation and who rule out the possibility that God’s Spirit is working there, should find another congregation. Yet leaders on the other hand should not be glued to their posts. No leader possesses all the gifts listed in the Bible and therefore requires supplementary aid from others. Those who criticise leaders must always permit their own behaviour to be questioned. Their assessments may also be flawed.

A discussion on the spiritual role of women became a heated controversy. The majority of listeners regarded female pastors and leaders as unbiblical. These delegates also labeled a passage on the understanding of Scripture in “Justification through Faith” – an advisory statement of faith issued by Austrian Baptists and the German “Federation of Evangelical-Free Churches” - inadequate. They request that this paper be supplemented by the Austrian Evangelical Alliance’s statement of faith, which underscores the Bible’s “complete reliability”. Some delegates felt that even this statement was lacking. They emphasized the “infallibility” of the Bible’s original manuscripts.

Walter Klimt notes that this forum’s discussions are not binding. One will nevertheless continue to attempt dialogue in hopes of reaching a consensus on these controversial issues. To this end, prayer support also in other countries is indispensable.