Wednesday, June 26, 2019
The Reformed Congregation in Szentendre has begun building relations with a congregation in Syria. They would like to send financial aid, and perhaps, even travel to the war-torn country. We asked Rev. András Harmathy about the details.
In Hungary, 1.15 million people claimed a Reformed affiliation in the 2011 Census, including 600,000 active in Reformed congregations.
Following the call of Christ, the RCH aims to be a witness in the world, fulfilling a faithful mission and strives to live as an ever-reforming church.
For many centuries, our Reformed church has played a significant role in the historical and cultural development of Hungary.
Congregations are considered the most fundamental unit of our church, based on the principle: "the church exists in its congregations."
The Hungarian Reformed Church is composed of the Hungarian-speaking Reformed churches in the Carpathian Basin.
The Hungarian Reformed Church (HRC) is the "mother" of many Hungarian Reformed churches and communities all over the world.
The RCH works with different ecumenical organizations across Hungary to demonstrate its dedication to “Communion as unity in diversity."
In light of International Romani Day, Reformed Roma communities in the Carpathian Basin gathered to worship and pray for one another. This year, reconciliation is the focus of the event.
From February 20-23, a seminar on reconciliation took place in the beautiful mountains of Mátraháza, Hungary. The aim of the workshop was to facilitate reconciliation within the Hungarian context. - Personal reflection from Stephanie Chunoo.
Mission is a priority task in the life of the RCH. Through active mission, our church reaches out to every needy group in Hungarian society.
The diaconal service aims to reach people in need and motivate Reformed congregations to "Carry each other's burdens." (Gal. 6:2)
The RCH fulfills its mission through maintaining certain institutions that serve not only their local communities, but people nationwide.
The partnership and cooperation with churches and organisations around the world, has always played a major role in the life of the RCH.
The International and Ecumenical Committee, assisted by the Ecumenical Advisory Board, is responsible for the RCH’s ecumenical strategy.
The RCH believes it is important to deepen the relationships with partner churches by inviting and welcoming mission coworkers.
If you are interested in establishing a partnership with a Hungarian Reformed congregation, please contact us!
“I wish that our young people think about ways to shape our world so that it may look more like God’s Kingdom,” says Rev. Márton Járay, the keynote speaker at this year’s Starpoint Festival.
Last month, the Assyrian Presbyterian Church in Tabriz, Iran was stormed by intelligence agents of the Iranian government. In response to this, the Founding Committee of the SECID called for an urgent appeal for advocacy.
On the tenth anniversary of the unity of the HRC, the Calvin Synod Conference of the UCC officially joined the HRC. In honor of this event, the Bishop of the Calvin Synod Conference, Rt. Rev. Dr. Csaba Krasznai, shared a letter of thanksgiving.
The Transtibiscan Reformed Church District issued a declaration of solidarity on the Boat Accident of Budapest and announced a special worship service in Debrecen to commemorate Hungarian and Korean victims.
In late March, a sizeable delegation visited the Evangelical churches of Lebanon and Syria, signing memoranda of commitment. We have asked the delegates about their experiences in the Middles East, including the situation of local Christians as well as the significance and further possibilities of cooperation.
We have visited the 2000-year-old Christian memorials of Syria’s capital, as well as its Armenian and Arab-speaking Evangelical communities. Our brothers and sisters experienced the spiritual journey of Paul during the years of war: they gained a new kind of sight amid their suffering that sets an example for us as well.
People have a will to live even among ruins, according to Bishop István Bogárdi Szabó, who, as part of a delegation, has recently visited civil-war-torn Syria. The church leader feels that the efforts of Christians in the Middle East are exemplary, and it is now our turn to help the victims of the destruction caused by the war.
We share the Easter greetings of Rev. Haroutune Selimian, president of the Armenian Protestant Community in Syria, in the spirit of friendship and shared hope for the future of Syria.
In March, a delegation of seven young adults from the RCH attended the International Ecumenical Youth Meeting in Beirut, Lebanon.
Following the meetings in Beirut, the RCH delegation traveled to Syria to visit local congregations and church leaders in Damascus, Homs and Aleppo.
“Church and Migration is a topic that deals with people in church and society worldwide. Depending on the context, the challenges are different, but as a church, we are all confronted with the issue of migration,” reads the letter of invitation from the EkvW to its International Ecumenical Conference.
Click here if you are interested in twinning.
Reformed Church in Hungary
Address: H-1146 Budapest, Abonyi utca 21.
PO Box: 1140 Budapest 70, Pf. 5
Phone/Fax: + 36 1 460 0708 
Email: oikumene@reformatus.hu
We encourage you to read our former GM intern Kearstin Bailey's blog about her time, spent in Hungary.
