Ecumenical Solidarity on ‘renationalisation’ of Székely Mikó High School

Reformed Church in Romania faces 'renationalisation' of the Székely Mikó Refromed High School in Sepsiszentgyörgy/Sfântu Gheorge this caused them to call for solidarity among Reformed Brothers and Sisters, leading to numerous responses.

WCRC solidarity letter to the Reformed Church in Sub-Carpathia

Messages of Condolence

“In whatever you face, we will not forget you”

“In whatever you face, we will not forget you” the president and secretary of the Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches Europe expressed in a message of support to the reformed people of Transcarpathia. The Council met in Warsaw on 27-28 March with some 40 participants representing 25 churches to, among other orders of business, extend their solidarity and prayers for the people of Ukraine.

WCRC Solidarity Visit

The Steering Committee of the WCRC European Area held its last meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania between 23 and 26 January. Last decisions and arrangements were made for the upcoming Area Council to be held in Warsaw, but besides business, solidarity was at the heart of the meeting. Balázs Ódor, ecumenical officer of the Reformed Church in Hungary and vice president of WCRC European Area, was among the WCRC representatives present. This visit closely follows the organization's last trip to Lithuania for the occassion of the Evangelical Reformed Church in Lithaunia's extraordinary synod meeting in March 2013.

Updated: Battle Over Church-Owned Property Still Ongoing in Romania

The Transylvanian Reformed Church District's battle with the Romanian government concerning the re-naturalization of church-owned property will come to a head 21 January when the court will reconvene for the next court session. It will likely be the final turning point in the prolonged legal battle. Bishop Béla Kató released the following statement on 18 January concerning the case:   "We look at the confiscation of our rightful property under the communist tyranny as historical injustice, and now we must suffer the fear and pain of loss again. We recognize with bitter displeasure that the Romanian administration of justice and current political powers will polish their worn prestige by once more taking away – based on half-truths and false testimonies – what was already lawfully returned and dragging through the mire the names of those who simply performed their duties in this matter."

Opening Doors and Strengthening Reformed Ties

Rev. Dr. Jerry Pillay is the president of the World Communion of Reformed Churches, of which the RCH is a member church, and also the General Secretary of the Presbyterian Church in South Africa. He recently made a trip to Hungary where he received an honorary doctorate from the Debrecen Reformed Theological University. In his interview below, he discusses the importance of unity within the reformed family as well as the special meaning associated with receiving this honorary doctorate.

Hungarian Reformed Church Aid Medical Team Deployed to the Philippines

A medical team from the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid (HRCA) deployed to the Philippines on 11 November following the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan in order to deliver medical equipment and 15,000 dollars-worth of aid. The HRCA has been keeping an eye on the situation from the beginning and prior to leaving communicated their capacity to the UN.

Extraordinary Synod in Lithuania

On 23 March, the Evangelical Reformed Church in Lithuania (ERCL), a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), held an extraordinary Synod where, among other issues, 33 voting members reelected Thomas Šernas as General Superintendent for another three-year term and Rimas Mikalauskas, a local pastor in Birzai, as Vice Superintendent. Petras Puodziunas was elected as the new President of the Consistory (Church Board). A number of ecumenical guests and state officials, including Deputy Ministry of Justice Paulinus Griciunas among others, attended the Synod meeting in Vilnius. Balázs Ódor, Ecumenical Officer of the RCH, was present as the representative of WCRC Europe.