Leaders of Ukrainian Christian churches in Washington State have decided to join forces to serve both American society and the Ukrainian community in Washington. In addition, the newly created Council of Churches will help strengthen friendly U.S.-Ukrainian relations.

On March 12, 2024, more than twenty Ukrainian pastors and priests from all over Washington attended the inaugural meeting of the Council of Ukrainian Christian Churches hosted by the Life Christian Church in Tacoma. They represented communities of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostals), Evangelical Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and other Christian denominations.

The meeting participants adopted the Declaration on establishing the Council of Ukrainian Christian Churches of Washington State. Church leaders also approved the Regulations that will guide the Council.

Besides other goals, the Council of Churches aims to promote Christian values in Washington State and the United States as a whole, the protection of religious freedom and freedom of expression, the promotion of strengthening families and marriage relationships, the education of children and youth as responsible citizens based on Christian ethics, and the affirmation of the value of life as a gift from God.

Viktor Prokhor, Superintendent of the Assemblies of God National Slavic District and Senior Pastor of the Life Christian Church in Tacoma, was elected Chairman of the Council of Ukrainian Christian Churches of Washington State for 2024.

The newly created Council of Churches also plans to establish cooperation with Christian associations, non-governmental organizations, the Ukrainian diaspora in other U.S. states, and civil society in Ukraine.

Photo credit: (1, 2) Maksym Vasin; (3) Oleksandr Savchuk