Croatia
Peace-building among nations is the first priority in war-torn Croatia. The most important challenges are close cooperation with the Osijek Peace Center, the development of a peace studies program and other peace-building projects. Because religion has been a source of controversy and enmity, theological education needs to offer interfaith learning that transcends cultures and denominations.
War affects the physical and mental health of everyone, but of children in particular. Dealing with the generation-spanning aftermath of violence is a challenge for our mission partners that needs our support.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) supports Christian witness and service, and the peace process, in Croatia through partner churches and organizations and through our mission personnel, who work closely with them.
Partner church
Reformed Christian Church of Croatia
Partner organizations
Christian Information Service
The Christian Information Service (CIS) is a nongovernment, nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization based in Zagreb that attempts to bring about reconciliation among Serbs, Bosnia Muslims and Croats. CIS is highly regarded for effectively enabling conversations and dialogue among the three groups. CIS also provides information about present conditions in the former Yugoslavia to interested people and groups in Europe, North America and the rest of the world.
Osijek Peace Center
During the 1991 bombings of Osijek a group of intellectuals realized how little influence ordinary people had on the development of society. Their discussions gave rise to what is now the Center for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights. One of the largest projects the center supervises is the Peace Building Project. Five multiethnic teams were placed in locations regarded as having a high likelihood of violence. Striving for sustainability, the teams collaborate with volunteers to offer a continuum of activities ranging from cross-community events that bring different ethnicities together, ecumenical work, educational/personal growth workshops and forums that address topics such as election issues and posttraumatic stress syndrome.
The PC(USA) also relates to the Conference of European Churches (CEC), a regional ecumenical organization. The movement that led to the creation of the CEC dates back to the period of the Cold War, when a group of church leaders brought into conversation churches in European countries separated by different political, economic and social systems. CEC has sought to build bridges not only between Eastern and Western Europe but also been between minority and majority churches and between Christians of different confessional traditions.
Learn more about Croatia
Visit the BBC country profile.
