On December 23, 2024, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) held its annual end-of-year meeting. During this meeting, the Council reviewed its activities and accomplishments for the past year, discussed urgent issues concerning church-state relations, planned upcoming events for the first half of 2025, and nominated the next Chairman of UCCRO. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Hryhorii Komendant, the President of the Ukrainian Bible Society, and took place in the Metropolitan House of the National Conservation Area, “St. Sophia of Kyiv,” in Kyiv.
Members of the UCCRO analyzed the state of church-state relations in Ukraine and discussed various aspects of the spiritual and social humanitarian services provided by churches and religious organizations during the war. The participants of the meeting noted positive developments in addressing several pressing issues. These included the resolution of a legislative conflict concerning the transfer of religious property to organizations for free use, the exemption of religious organizations from the unnecessary requirement to disclose information about their ultimate beneficiaries, and the price of gas for religious organizations.
Representatives of the denominations reiterated their stance on the status of clergy during the mobilization period. They highlighted the importance of the ongoing dialogue between the UCCRO and the authorities throughout the year, which was aimed at promoting freedom of religion in Ukraine and resolving problematic issues that arise during martial law.
The Council of Churches reviewed and took note of the information on the participation of UCCRO representatives in various international events and meetings in 2024. These events include the International Religious Freedom Summit in the USA, the Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion in Germany, the International consultation of the Conference of European Churches in Poland, visits to Brazil, Indonesia, and Estonia, as well as meetings with the spiritual head of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury J. Welby, the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal P. Parolin, and the leadership of the Lutheran World Federation, the Commission of Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE, Brussels). UCCRO members have planned several advocacy activities at the international level for the first half of 2025.
In accordance with the Regulations on the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations and the order of chairmanship, on January 1, 2025, the chairmanship of the Council of Churches passes to the All-Ukrainian Union of Churches of Evangelical Christians-Baptists. The leadership will be held by the head of the Union, Bishop Valeriy Antoniuk.
During 2024, the UCCRO was chaired by the Ukrainian Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Ukrainian Bible Society.