My Visit to Prague and The Christian Reformed Church in Hungary

Dear Friends From the 3-5th March the Rev Dr Setri Nyomi ( WCRC General Secretary) and I had the marvelous opportunity to attend the meeting of the WCRC European Region in Prague. We were deeply impressed by the attendance of THE Leaders from our member churches, the agenda, quality of conversations and fellowship and the spirit in which they were found. We had the opportunity to present our vision and mission direction and strategy for the World Communion of Reformed Churches, which is to be discussed in the Executive meeting in May. However, it was good to sound out our direction for WCRC and to get some valuable insights into what people think about where we are going. There was general consensus that we are heading in the right direction and concerns expressed that we should be really selective about our programmes. There was a good discussion on the future of Reformed Theology in Europe, financial business and elections of office bearers for the next 6 years. From the 5 – 8th March I had the incredible opportunity to visit with the Reformed Church in Hungary. What was marvelous time it was! I met with different groups ranging from congregants, pastors, bishops, church staff , the junior Secretary of State in Parliament and many others. I presented a lecture in the Reformed Theological College in Debrecen and met with Church leaders in the Ecumenical Council in Budapest. I was particularly moved by the ability of the Reformed Church in Hungary with the many impressive properties and facilities. I valued the opportunity to address the congregation in the Great Church and to share in the administration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. I was fascinated by the church’s ability to preserve and maintain the Reformed identity. I think that they have many things to teach us in this department since for many of us across the world are struggling to preserve our Reformed heritage. I was deeply drawn to the country’s experience of communism and how it divided and separated the Hungarian people. This also seriously affected the church, for more than 15 years there was a total separation of these churches that were divided by the imposed borders. But thank God that there is a very warm relationship between the neigbouring Bishops, whom I met altogether over dinner. In 2009 as part of the Calvin Celebration all these churches came together in Debrecen and met in the Great Church for their first General Synod and the signing of a constitution fostering joint work. The stories of suffering and oppression are many and, for me, they reminded me of the imposition of apartheid which divided the people in South Africa into four race groups, dehumanizing and oppressing people of colour. I believe that this aspect of socio-political and economic separations have much to tell us about how we may need to develop communion and justice. We need to request more conversations as we connect people with similar experiences. I wish to thank the Reformed Church in Hungary for their invitation, warm reception, great hospitality and more, especially, for taking the opportunity to share their story with me. May God continue to bless them from strength to strength and may they continue to keep the light of Christ shinning in Hungary and even beyond. Thank you for the experience!