„Umkehr zum Herrn“

Community „Return to the Lord“ – Vienna

 

What We Are - Where We Come From - What We Are Amining At

„Umkehr zum Herrn“ (UzH) – „Return to the Lord“ is an ecumenical (inter-denominational) Covenant Community, consisting mainly of lay persons. It is located in Vienna, Austria.

The affiliated youth group „WILCO“ is an emerging youth fellowship.  

„Umkehr zum Herrn“ is a founding member in the “European Network of Communities” (ENC) and the Austrian national association of communities “Verbund” and supports various Christian initiatives for unity and renewal.

 

History and Background

In 1977 a group of Christians – the majoriy of them with roots in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal – formed the community „Umkehr zum Herrn“ in Vienna.

They felt called to a coveanant with each other and to work together in a service for the Kindom of God. Faithful to the name of the community, the call to „Return to the Lord“ is seen as a call to constantly submit one’s own life to God’s will and to carry the message of redemption and reconsiliation into an increasingly secular society.

From its origins, the community emphasized its ecumenical calling. Being people of different Christian backgrounds, the community members nevertheless tried to share as much as possible of their spititual life while accepting the fact that the full community of the Body of Christ is not possible yet.

Since its early years, „Return to the Lord“ grew in membership and currently has 130 adult members and 40 persons in a partner status. The majority are Catholic, the rest comes from Protestant and evangelical churches. Especially close ties exist with Jewish Messianic communities.  

Originally most community members were teenagers or persons in their early twenties. Now the community has grown to be a mainly familiy oriented fellowship with more than 100 younger children and an affiliated youth fellowship called  „WILCO“ consisting of approximately 70 teenagers and yound adults coming from a variety of backgrounds.

Additionally, „Return to the Lord“ encompasses singles and persons living a celibatary life. Some of the members share a closer Christian lifestyle by living in neighbourhoods or live-in communities.

Vision and Spirituality

The vision of the community is laid out in the „UzH-Charta“ which lists the shared values as well as the emphasis of the ministry outreach. Among the most important principles are a life of discipleship and personal devotion to Christ, open and committed relationships with the brothers and sisters, and a zeal to actively promote the work of the Kingdom of God by evangelism and an appreciation for other Christian Churches and a ministry of unity.

The experiences made in ones own community shall be expressed to the outside world through „apostolic ministries”. „Return to the Lord” specifically supports projects of community building within Austria and internationally. Recently the „European Network of Communities” extends the experiences made on a national level over the last two decades to a larger international scope. „Return to the Lord is one of the founding members of this Christian network. In a similar way, the reconsiliation between Christians and Jews, and in particular the dialogue with „Messianic Jews” is promoted by the initiative „Towards Jerusalem Council II” (TJCII).  

Just as important is a life of personal faith and commitment to Christ of each one. The local fellowhip life and the pastoral stucture of the community tries to support and encourage its members to be true disciples living according to Biblical principles in a society which is increasingly loosing its former Christian roots.

 

Structure and Organization

„Return to the Lord” is officially acknowledged by the Catholic and the Lutheran Church as a Christian Community and is member of the Evangelical Alliance, the Forum of Catholic Renewal Movements.

A leadership team is elected and approved by the General Assembly of all community members for a period of 5 years and currently includes 10 men and women.

The finances of  „Return to the Lord” are provided by the community members (tithes).

 

Community Meetings

Community gatherings: bi-weekly, children’s groups are meeting in parallel
Small group meetings: bi-weekly

Youth meetings: weekly

 

Areas of ministry

 

Contact Information

UzH Office:
Firmiangasse 27/6, A-1130 Wien, Austria
Telefon: +43 699 10514749

E-Mail:  uzh@crossnet.at

Homepage: www.uzh.at/english


Youth Fellowship „WILCO“

www.wilco.at