On September 1, 2023, the chairmanship at the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations was transferred to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, headed by Stanislav Nosov, president of the Ukrainian Union Conference of the SDA Church, for the next six-month term.
By the UCCRO Regulations, members of the Council preside in turn for six months. The principle of rotation of the chairman of the Council allows the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations to maintain independence and self-governance.
During the current year, from January 1 to August 31, the Council was chaired by Bishop Vyacheslav Horpynchuk of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church. His term of office lasted longer – for eight months – based on a specific decision of the UCCRO.
The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations was established in December 1996 as an interdenominational institution. Its purpose is to unite the efforts of denominations in the spiritual revival of Ukraine and coordinate interchurch dialogue both in Ukraine and abroad, as well as to participate in the development of draft regulations on church-state relations and the implementation of comprehensive charitable activities.
Today, the UCCRO consists of 16 churches and religious organizations and 1 interchurch organization, including Orthodox, Greek and Roman Catholic, Protestant and Evangelical churches, as well as Jewish and Muslim religious associations. Thus, the UCCRO represents more than 95% of all religious organizations in Ukraine.