The change in the office of President of the Protestant United Church in Belgium was marked by a festive service.
After 13 years as president, Reverend Steven Fuite is now retiring. In his speech, he emphasised that the model of a united church also serves as a role model for Belgian society, which is marked by deep divisions. „In the Protestant United Church in Belgium, we live together regardless of our denominational or linguistic differences or our origins.“ Fuite’s term of office was marked by many global crises, but also by the more than 550 days during which the Belgian state was without a gouvernment.
Reverend Isabelle Detavernier was inaugurated as his successor. She was most recently pastor of the Brussels-Botanique congregation and has been a member of the Synodal Council for several years. She preached on Peter’s catch of fish (Luke 5) and asked what it means for us today when Jesus asked us to put out into the deep water. Deep waters are where everyone is gossiping about others and it can be important to speak up against it. Deep waters are where we step out of our comfort zone and feel uncertain. Here we can know that Jesus assures us: “Do not be afraid!”
The service was conducted entirely in French and Flemish and reflected the various facets of church life.
General Secretary Fischer and Council members Ulrich Rüsen-Weinhold and Markus Schaefer attended the service from the side of the CPCE.