Northern Europe

UMC Northern Europe, Baltic & Ukraine Central Conference

The United Methodist Church in Northern Europe is actively engaged in ministry across a diverse region that includes Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Moldova.

Current priorities include supporting communities affected by war - especially in Ukraine- through humanitarian aid, pastoral care, and refugee support.

Churches are also focused on youth engagement, church planting, and strengthening local leadership.

The Church continues to adapt its ministries to local needs, offering worship in multiple languages and fostering inclusive faith communities.

Ecumenical partnerships and cross-border collaboration remain central, as the Church seeks to be a visible sign of hope and unity in a changing Europe.

History

The history of Methodism in Northern Europe traces its roots to seafarers and emigrants.

In the 1830s, a Swedish sailor and missionary in New York city launched the ‘Bethel Ship John Wesley’, ministering to Scandinavian emigrants who carried the Methodist revival with them to other parts of the United States, as well as to their home countries.

Of note is seaman Ole Peter Petersen who started preaching in Norway in 1849.

Churches were founded in Norway (1856), Denmark (1859), Sweden (1868), and Finland (1881). Missionary efforts extended into Russia and the Baltics but were halted by war, political change and persecution.

Following independence in 1991, Methodist communities in Latvia and Lithuania were re-established.

In 2012, many within the Swedish Conference merged to form the new ecumenical Uniting Church in Sweden, with other congregations retaining Methodist affiliation under Finland’s Swedish-speaking conference.

The Conference was further joined by Ukraine and Moldova in April 2022. Today, the Conference connects churches across Nordic, Baltic, and Eurasian regions, rooted in a shared history of mission and resilience.