The Czechoslovak Hussite Church in Social and Political Reality

The Czechoslovak Hussite Church was founded in 1920 as a fulfillment of the efforts of the reformist efforts of the Czech Catholic clergy. Its establishment was one of the consequences of the emergence of the independent Czechoslovak state in 1918. In addition to its missionary work, it was involved in various other activities that were in demand in the new state: social work, cultural work, publishing and educational activities, and last but not least work with children and young people. Through her charity work, the church made it clear that the Gospel must not only be proclaimed but also put into practice in life. Social unions were established, health stations, and day-care services. It also educated the younger generation, free citizens, and Christians for a democratic state. The church had its own children’s home. In the sense of active and socially engaged Christianity, it also acted internationally in participating in the pre-war efforts that led to the founding of the World Council of Churches (Oxford Conference 1937). Distinctive personalities were the biblical scholar professor František Kovář and sociologist František M. Hník. During the German occupation (1939-1945) its public service was outstanding, secretly organizing aid to Jews and all the persecuted. The brief period of democratic development after the war was replaced by a post Communist coup in 1948 by a dictatorship. The Church was forced to collaborate as state church laws in 1949 deprived it of the opportunity to operate in the public sphere (youth education, social work, publishing) and subjected it (and all other churches) to harsh economic and ideological control. The church survived the period 1948-1989 with considerable losses. Gradually, today it is restoring social work, and is also working in the army, hospitals, and prisons. It prepares workers professionally (far from being only clerics) at the Hussite Theological Faculty of Charles University, where in addition to theology, a number of other disciplines are taught such as social and charity work and pedagogy.