He has journeyed multiple times to war-ravaged Ukraine to provide spiritual leadership, comfort and connection to The United Methodist Church.
Nordic-Baltic-Ukraine Area Bishop Christian Alsted have a commitment to The United Methodist Church. He also risked his life for the cause of peace.
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On Aug. 15 he received a World Methodist Peace Award, the highest honor bestowed by the World Methodist Council.
“This award is presented annually, and it is not just for Methodists but for people who exhibit courage, creativity and consistency,” said Bishop Ivan M. Abrahams, the outgoing general secretary of the World Methodist Council.
Abrahams presented the 2023 award to Alsted at a ceremony during the 22nd World Methodist Conference in August.
Alsted joins a company of award recipients that also includes the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and the late South Africa President Nelson Mandela.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Alsted stepped up when it became impossible for Moscow-based United Methodist Bishop Eduard Khegay to provide oversight in Ukraine and neighboring Moldova.
Since the start of the war, Alsted has visited Ukraine at least seven times — offering Christian care and fostering connections between Ukrainian United Methodists and The United Methodist Church worldwide. He also meets with Ukrainian United Methodist leaders each week online.
With Ukrainian United Methodist leadership, he now is developing a Methodist Center in Ukraine that will support internally displaced people with humanitarian aid as well as psychological support for dealing with post-traumatic stress.
Abrahams, in reading the citation, said the World Methodist Council was recognizing Alsted “for courage in challenging churches, governments and organizations to assist the people of Ukraine and to treat all persons as worthy of justice.” The citation also noted that Alsted faced danger to meet with Ukrainians in order to meet their needs.
In his award address, Alsted — who is based in Copenhagen, Denmark — stressed that Ukrainians face danger daily and that he shares the reward with the United Methodists and other Christians in the war-battered country.
He said that the peace Christ provides offers a guide for a way forward.
“The prerequisites for peace are freedom, truth and justice,” he said. “When any of these is absent, there can be no peace. Right now, peace in Ukraine seems far away. Nevertheless, we must practice peace.”
The Rev. Yulia Starodubets and her family are among a small contingent of Ukrainians attending the World Methodist Conference. She said Ukrainian United Methodists are so grateful for the support Alsted brought to help them through the war.
“He even went to Kyiv,” she said. “He also is in very close touch with us through the regular online meetings. In these meetings, he provides to us pastoral support and prays with us. He listens to us about our struggles, and we feel emotionally supported by him as well.”
excerpt from a story by Heather Hahn, assistant news editor for UM News.
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