Soviet Evangelicals Since World War II, Walter Sawatsky, 1981

Raevskii, the much-criticized senior presbyter for Eastern Siberia and the Far East, at least made it as candidate member, since, after all, contact had to be maintained with that vast region. Iia Orlov, approved to full council membership in March 1969, lost his seat. ; After three congresses, sufficient changes had been achieved in the governing structure and the statute in order to persuade the majority of the evangelicals to suppor gregational. Most supporters accepted that further change must come t the union. The AUCECB had become more con- . The Union Defended, 1963-1969 2 21 d ae tee ae such change to continue to move in the right direction, th oat ae ead sins was vital. After everything had been aad ; d , tangible results would be heavily dependent on individual lesdlesd > at all levels Without question the least desir ed hot spot was the office of we ay ete oing to ‘ ; enior presbyter look like? It in ee noe ee for the Council for Religious Affsirs oe permission to bapti ¥ , cnaaias service in) ane of the counenes end tor Se iaily phe se : ni ose persons on the list he had subinitted months complaint about a fi : f ae ee bus to another building to clarify a home, the presb oe safety hazard in another church. When he returned bles to him Oube th z m a nearby town was waiting to pour out his trou- aes a mee a hrs had been comforted, he sat down to plan the to churches farthe saat conference and also wrote a half-dozen letters ing them to pre : ie aera that he was coming to visit and ask- Ta ae fae or the ordination service. Before completing this, he ioe meds again in, order to reserve hotels, restaurants aad ve- this activity, part ot eeenon that was coming to visit. During all ae ee fa is ct ni was groping for an appropriate text and two-hour service thee 6 ld be th to preach that night. And then after the ae ould be the usual counseling and committee meet- ee ks aa big the vital link between the churches and the Ge eee es e churches and the state, fulfilled a multiplicity of rineebytet Ivan S.C ee to be a unifier and troubleshooter. Senior Conti ally bein i re a complained that the senior presbyter was at hie ae - : on to make emergency trips to put out fires, and he Ree i e ak fire prevention.”° This latter role, that of a ie ee nae ters, was also his task. Fortunately the presbyter aca ils introduced in 1966 provided significant help in As chi i ‘ ; the a Sieer aes with the state, the senior presbyter bore volved many tem ih un sored attitude toward religion. This role also in- would treat him beter : he would cooperate with the authorities, they Nn eer are . Hee presbyters who started off straight gradually constant font tati ae presbyter. But even the resolute ones faced ptation. For example, it might happen that a senior presbyter 222 Soviet Evangelicals Since World War Il and a local presbyter were close friends, cooperated and trusted eac