In order to strengthen efforts to support refugees, ecumenical delegation will meet with Hungarian church leaders, government officials and members of international organizations.

The delegates represent the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Conference of European Churches (CEC) and the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME).

Responding to the refugee crisis is a priority for many church organizations working in the region. In a recent statement, WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit stressed that it is “absolutely and critically necessary that all European states take their proper responsibility in terms of reception and support for people seeking refuge, safety and a better future for themselves and their families. This cannot be left only to the states where they enter first.”

Headed by the WCC general secretary, the delegation includes Dr Audeh Quawas, member of the WCC Central and Executive Committee and the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, Doris Peschke, general secretary of the CCME, Rev. Alfredo Abad, vice moderator of the CCME; Marianne Ejdersten, director of WCC Communication and Paul Jeffrey, photo-journalist.

In Hungary, the delegates are scheduled to meet Bishop Dr Tamás Fabiny of the Lutheran Church in Hungary and vice president of the Lutheran World Federation; Bence Rétvári, parliamentary state secretary, Ministry of Human Resources; Bishop Dr András Veres, president of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference; Bishop Dr István Szabó, ministerial president of the Synod of the Reformed Church in Hungary; Prof. Dr György Nógrádi of Corvinus University of Budapest; Dóra Kanizsai, director of the Refugee Ministry of the Reformed Church in Hungary; Dr Tamás SZŰCS, head of the representation of the European Commission in Hungary, as well as Rev. Aaron Stevens, pastor of the Church of Scotland congregation in Budapest and Dr Vilmos Fischl, general secretary of Ecumenical Council of Churches, Budapest.

Photos from the visit will be available at www.photos.oikoumene.org

Source: oikumene.org