WCC Interview: Archbishop Rinalds Grants: Our differences should not prevent us striving for unity and serving those in need

A month since Archbishop Rinalds Grants has taken office as the new head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia, WCC invited him for a conversation on the importance of unity among Christians, and the path towards a just peace in Ukraine from the perspective of the Baltic countries. Archbishop Rinalds Grants, head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC 17 October 2025 Churches in Europe and the West often mention the decline in church membership as one of their main challenges. You have led the interdenominational Alpha course movement in Latvia, which focuses on encouraging churches to go beyond their boundaries and reach out to people in the community. What is your experience when the number of people belonging to church is declining, yet at the same time the church has practical tools to reach out to new people? Archbishop Grants: I cannot say that we have overcome this challenge - the number of our congregation members is overall decreasing too. In the context of Latvia one of the reasons is also the demographic situation - the population is decreasing, and therefore, especially in regions, we have not been able to stop the decrease in the number of members in smaller congregations. However, there are congregations developing and growing numerically. I have had the opportunity to serve for 25 years in one such congregation - the St Gertrude's Old Church in Riga, where we have experienced that the congregation has developed and also grown over all these years. And the reason for this has largely been the already mentioned Alpha course. Not only as a tool to reach today's people, but also as a tool that has shaped the congregation itself, because a large number of our church members, the so-called lay people, are involved in it.  Does this mean that hospitality and the congregation's willingness to welcome in new people is a crucial precondition for the healthy development of the congregation? Archbishop Grants: Yes, because there is an increasing gap between the environment in which the majority of society lives and the culture that is in the church. And it means that to enter the church is increasingly challenging and difficult for people, one might even say that it is becoming more of another world. However, if with such a hospitality the congregations can reach out and do not take it for granted that people, upon entering the church, should understand everything - if we try, so to speak, to simplify this path and make it more gradual, then it is definitely easier for people to fulfill their curiosity and interest by entering through the church doors. Often people at first are not even ready to immediately hear the gospel, they more observe upon entering the church - the people, their attitude, their interpersonal relationships. The Old St Gertrude congregation in Riga is one of the ecumenically active congregations in Latvia, engaging in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity every January. Why do you think unity among Christians is important? Archbishop Grants: In my opinion, it is sad or even disturbing, that we need to ask such a question - that unity among Christians no longer seems obvious and a goal to pursue. Of course, there are many reasons and a long history causing this, but the unity should be self-evident. We see that for Christ, our Lord, unity was important. How could we not consider it important? The division of the church itself must be seen as a scandal - it is not normal, and we must not become accustomed to it. Both because it weakens our Christian message and impacts how convincingly we can witness to people. Also, we ourselves lose something essential - for God poured out His grace, His charisma over the entire Christian church as a whole. Where Christians experience unity, they are also a blessing to each other.  Archbishop Rinalds Grants of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia welcomes Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the ecumenical prayer service at Riga Cathedral during the visit of His All Holiness to Latvia, 13 September 2025. Photo: Uldis Muzikants/LELB Your first official meeting in the new position as an archbishop was a joint meeting of the leaders of country’s largest churches with the president of Latvia. How would you describe the relationships among the different churches in Latvia? Archbishop Grants: If I were to say that our relationships are very friendly, it could be subjective. The fact that our foreign guests often mention our mutual respectful relationships as a rather unique observation perhaps makes it somewhat more objective. The close cooperation at the leadership level of our churches has been long built through human, fraternal relationships. In Latvia, ecumenism is not so much based on conclusions derived from theological dialogues, but rather on the understanding that we must work together to fulfill Christ's mission in this land. What do you see as the main challenges to Christian unity in a world increasingly dominated by polarization and division?  Archbishop Grants: We can currently observe that the divide often no longer runs along denominational lines – this gap frequently arises and grows within a single denomination, among differently oriented groups. Among them are those who wish to keep up with modern society's demands and adapt to them, and others who want to preserve the authentic stance and message of the church as it has been through the centuries. In my opinion, this is one of the reasons why tensions and divisions more often occur within a single denomination – in one country, multiple churches may arise within the same denomination. In Latvia, with two Lutheran churches in one country, what would be your dream in this regard? What is the church in Latvia you would like to see in future? Archbishop Grants: My colleague Archbishop (of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church Worldwide) Kārlis Žols has expressed a thought, which I agree with - our greatest ideal is to have one Latvian Lutheran church in Latvia and in the world. I don't think it is very realistic at present. But we shouldn't lose this perspective – even if it doesn't seem possible right now. At the same time, we can try to better understand each other, show respect to one another and realize that the mission from Christ is given to us jointly, which certainly provides opportunities for joint action. Most likely, preserving also the differences, which currently mark our churches as distinct. However, I do not think we need to exaggerate these differences or make them into such insurmountable obstacles that would prevent us from doing anything together.  After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic states are increasingly referred to as the Eastern frontline of Europe. What is the mood in Latvian society, congregations?  Archbishop Grants: The mood, overall, is still worrisome. Even if anxiety has diminished since the moment when the war in Ukraine began - at the time it amounted even to panic among some: knowing the historical experience of Latvia, many people were convinced that the war would soon be here as well. Over the years the anxiety has slightly diminished, but on a deeper level it is still present. People have thoughts, for example, about whether to stay in Latvia, or perhaps plan some alternatives. If a person constantly thinks about it, this also affects how they live today here, in this land. Besides the feeling of insecurity, I also observe that people are more open to existential questions and the search for security and peace outside themselves. What is the church's response to it? Firstly, we strive to be responsibly involved in what is happening in Ukraine – both through humanitarian aid initiatives, and by supporting those people who as refugees have arrived from Ukraine here, in Latvia. One beautiful, ecumenical initiative, shared by all churches - every day at 12 o'clock , the bells of Latvian churches ring, inviting people to unite in a common prayer for Ukraine. We practice it also at our church offices - whatever meetings would be taking place, we stop every day at twelve o'clock to pray together. At the same time, we are also currently trying to find our place as a nationwide church in the field of civil protection - to be responsibly prepared, both to preserve our sacred heritage and to ensure that congregations and churches, whose network in Latvia is unprecedented, can serve as a resource centers and a support points in case of crisis.  Flags of Latvia, Ukraine and European Union jointly sway in front of the Riga Cathedral, seat of the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia - a common sight in Latvia, symbolizing the country's ongoing support and solidarity with Ukraine, which has been enduring Russia's full-scale war of aggression since February 2022. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC From your perspective, what is a “just peace,” and what would it specifically mean in the case of Ukraine? Archbishop Grants: The concept of a just peace is somewhat a consequence of a just war - as opposed to a much less favorable resolution, which would be an unjust peace. What can restore a sense of justice to the many people whose lives have been shattered, whose loved ones have been killed, who may not even know where their relatives are, where their children are, and what is happening to them now in Russia? I don't know if anything can resonate with them as a just, fully just peace. Nevertheless, we must all collectively strive to make it as favorable or as just peace as possible. Speaking in specific terms: firstly, to envision any kind of justice, it is important that at the end of this war, Russia acknowledges that it was aggression, not self-defense or anything similar - that it was aggression. That Ukraine's sovereignty and integrity are recognized. That prisoners and all those children who have been kidnapped are returned to Ukraine, acknowledging that they were taught hostile ideology in Russia. Just peace also definitely means economic responsibility from Russia in the restoration of Ukraine. War criminals must face a tribunal. And finally, there must be guarantees that this is a lasting peace, so that the Ukrainian people can look towards the restoration of their land and people. When all of this has happened, it might be called a just peace – but acknowledging that there are people in whom the sense of injustice will remain, and no one will erase it. War always leaves scars that take a long time to heal - we can help them heal, but these scars will always remain. What can churches and Christians around the world do to bring such a peace and justice into reality? Archbishop Grants: The most important is not to be passive and to clearly advocate for the possibility of such a just peace in Ukraine. It is important that a civil society - and the church, as an essential part of it – use their voice to not allow any compromises with injustice. It is also clear that one day the war will end, and Russia and Ukraine will continue to be neighbors. How can these two nations coexist side by side, and how can any healing process occur among them? Christians on both sides will certainly have a significant role and calling to fulfill. Could you elaborate on how the Latvian churches support those affected by the war? Archbishop Grants: Initially, it was mainly the reception of refugees. In a very short period, a large number of refugees arrived in Latvia, and there was really no other organization that had such a network across Latvia as the church. We could mobilize and immediately from the first days of invasion accommodate people, even if in quite challenging conditions – in congregation houses, somewhere even in church premises.  At that moment, the congregations were quite actively involved. Later, everything was organized so that people were accommodated in families - these were both families from congregations, and the wider community, including other organizations providing assistance. Our church's Center of Diakonia, both in Riga and elsewhere in Latvia, has been supporting refugees from Ukraine all these years.  I just heard a beautiful story from the Āraiši congregation - this is a quite small congregation, with just a little over 100 people. Soon after the war started, they decided to donate the fourth collection of each month to aid in Ukraine. At first, this seemed to some quite reckless - such a collection in a small congregation means a quarter of their income. The congregation's pastor testified how amazing it is that such a small congregation have been able to give away 6,000 euros a year from its budget, yet all their needs are still met. Could this be an example in which people from congregations come together to do something very important, and they do it together with Christians from other churches, and together with people who are not affiliated with a church? Archbishop Grants: Yes, of course - people in society are often more convinced by actions, not words. And then, if those actions have convinced them, then they are ready to hear the words too. This is the experience in many congregations, where people distanced from the church are ready to support the church's social projects. At the same time, we always say that the church is not a social institution, and it's important to remember that our main task is to preach the word of God and administer the sacraments. But I don't think that in Latvian churches there is currently a great risk of losing this focus - perhaps we are even too cautious. WCC congratulates Archbishop-elect Rinalds Grants, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia (WCC news release, 27 August 2025) Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia WCC member churches in Latvia See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland