Reformatus.hu

“Have No Fear” – Churches call for intensified efforts

2016. június 20., tags: refugee, conference of european churches (cec), refugee ministry

Remembering World Refugee Day, the Conference of European Churches has issued a press release on their recent high-level consultation organized jointly with WCC, CCME and PKN. Two representatives of RCH also attended the meeting in Lunteren, Netherlands.

The Opposite of Fear

2016. június 09., tags: consultation, refugee, refugee ministry

Representatives of Reformed churches and international organisations gathered in Budapest on the first days of June to discuss the challenges presented by the refugee situation, as well as the responsibility and opportunities of churches. Having accepted the invitation of István Szabó, Ministerial President of the Reformed Church in Hungary (RCH), guests from fourteen European countries attended the meeting, which was jointly organized with the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland.

Courage and Hope at the Reformed Table

2016. június 07., tags: refugee, refugee ministry, partnership

As a follow-up consultation to the January meeting in Rhineland, partner churches continue the discussion surrounding common responsibility in the current migration situation. Representatives from fourteen countries and many churches and faith-based organizations took part in this meaningful dialogue regarding migration in Europe.

Partner Church Consultation on Migration

2016. május 26., tags: partner churches, refugee ministry, refugee

As a follow-up consultation to the January meeting in Rhineland, partner churches continue the discussion on the common responsibility in the current migration situation.

Presbyterian Church Takes the Message Home

2016. április 14., tags: myers park church, refugee ministry, refugee

International partners from the Presbyterian Church (USA) recently visited the RCH on a trip to trace the path of refugees through Hungary, Greece, and Germany. Now, members of Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina are taking what they’ve learned back to America as they continue posting reflective pieces on their church’s new blog, Love Builds Up.

Traveling the Path of Refugees

2016. március 30., tags: presbyterian church in usa (pcusa), refugee, partnership, moderátor, refugee ministry, moderator

International partners from the Presbyterian Church (USA) recently visited the RCH to deepen ecumenical ties between the American and Hungarian churches while tracing the path of refugees through Hungary, Greece and Germany. The delegation, led by the PCUSA Moderator, also consists of representatives from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), as well as local pastors and leaders from the wider PCUSA denomination, who have come to engage in active support of the work being done in Hungary by the RCH for migrants and asylum seekers.

Resettlement Means Safe Passage

2016. március 08., tags: refugee ministry, refugee

Refugees fleeing conflict zones are now able to gain safe passage to cooperative European member states through resettlement efforts. The NGO offshoot of the Refugee Ministry of the RCH, the Kalunba Social Services Association, is at the forefront of this work in Hungary thanks to an agreement with the Hungarian Office of Immigration and Nationality. The last refugees from those interviewed in 2015 just arrived in March of 2016, bringing the total number of arrivals for the year 2015 to twelve persons.

Conference Focuses on Migration and Aggression in Europe

2016. február 24., tags: refugee, world council of reformed churches (wcrc), refugee ministry, reformed alliance in germany

A joint conference by the World Council of Reformed Churches and the Reformed Alliance in Germany took place in Emden, Germany between 17th-20th February. A delegation of RCH also participated.

Call for Respect of Human Rights against the Genocide in the Middle East

2016. február 05., tags: refugee ministry, conference of european churches (cec), refugee

The Presidium of RCH welcomes and strongly supports the resolution passed in the European Parliament and related statement of CEC regarding the persecution of religious minorities by so-called ISIS/Da’esh.

People Are Not the Religion

2016. február 01., tags: refugee, rch, refugee ministry, interview

Elif and Sema, two Turkish women studying for their Masters at Károli for the semester, sit down to talk with the RCH about their interest in religion and Muslim-Christian relations. These women come from a Muslim background and studied in Budapest in order to gain firsthand experience with Christian communities here as they study various components of religion, both academically and philisophically.

WCC/UN conference calls for coordinated action on refugee crisis

2016. január 26., tags: refugee, refugee ministry, world council of churches (wcc), united nations (un)

Dóra Kanizsai-Nagy, head of the RCH Refugee Ministry, recently represented the RCH at the World Council of Churches/United Nations high level conference on the refugee crisis in europe, which took place at the Ecumenical Centre Geneva on 18-19 January. A statement has been issued entitled "Europe’s Response to the Refuge Crisis, From Origin to Transit, Reception and Refuge, A Call for Shared Responsibility and Coordinated Action”.

Mapping Migration: New publication from CCME and the World Council of Churches

2016. január 26., tags: refugee, refugee ministry, world council of churches (wcc), churches' commission for migrants in europe (ccme)

The RCH participated in the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) joint study, Mapping Migration: Mapping Churches’ Responses in Europe. The 2016 text explores challenges and changes in the European church landscape in light of international migration through theological interpretation, sociological accounts, and the voices of migrants themselves.

’For You Yourselves Were Foreigners’ - Partner Consultation in Rhineland

2016. január 15., tags: partnership, refugee ministry, bishop, refugee

Prior to the Synod Meeting of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, Praeses Manfred Rekowski invited the leaders of their partner churches to a consultation "For You Yourselves Were Foreigners..." to talk and exchange of views on the refugee situation. On behalf of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Bishop István Szabó was present and asked the participants to continue this common work in Budapest, where the next meeting will be held later this year. The following press release has been issued after the Consultation.

An International Christmas

2016. január 04., tags: refugee, Church of Scotland (CoS), Scottish Mission, refugee ministry, scottish mission

Each year the RCH Refugee Ministry coordinates a Christmas party for their clients and community members. This year, the event was attended by a diverse group of around 80 people, all gathered together to focus on the joy and love of the Christmas season. Religious and cultural differences added to the rich connections made between those in attendance, and set the tone for a joyous year ahead.

Church and Asylum: Providing space for the marginalized

2015. december 21., tags: refugee, refugee ministry, asylum

"Any church should have a place for the vulnerable. It might be women. It might be children. In our case, it means making space for refugees. For other churches, it might mean something different; but there always has to be a space for the marginalized." - in giving voice to this conviction at a recent conference, Rev. Bernhard Fricke reminded attendees that one of the most important roles of a church and its congregations is to provide safe space for those who are on the fringes of society, and who need to find sanctuary—safe space.

Coming to Hungary for Jesus

2015. december 16., tags: refugee ministry, refugee

A family which converted from Islam to Reformed had to flee their home nation of Iran more than 10 years ago. Besides political reasons, they wanted to leave to convert to Christianity and because of this they were condemned to death in their country. In Hungary, they found a new country and religion in one of the county centers as recognized refugees. We have visited the family to show how they live among us and how they celebrate Jesus’ birth as refugees converted to Christianity. For security reasons for the family, the names of the family members have been changed and we do not share photos of them.

Helping Despite Uncertainty

2015. december 10., tags: refugee ministry, refugee

Dauda Condé arrived in Hungary in 2009, at the age of sixteen, after fleeing violence in his home country of Guinea. He has been living here ever since – even after those he made the journey with left for new homes. Recently he has learned that he will not be able to gain refugee status here, but still he stays in hopes of gaining residency in this place that now feels like his home. If he cannot get permanent residency, he hopes to stay as long as possible to he can receive an education to take back with him in order to help his home country.

Churches on the Frontline of Integration

2015. december 03., tags: refugee ministry, conference of european churches (cec)

Today the European Commission convened a Dialogue Seminar focussed on looking beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis provoked by the recent influx of migrants and refugees on European soil. COMECE, CEC, and CCME gathered experts and Church leaders from across Europe to discuss models of integration, best practices, and the fundamental values that guide integration within the European Union. Dóra Kanizsai-Nagy, head of the RCH Refugee Ministry also attended the Seminar and held a short presenation on the Models of integration into the labour market in a Hungarian context.

“European solidarity must be strengthened”

2015. november 02., tags: world council of churches (wcc), refugee ministry, refugee

Today 35 bishops and church leaders from 20 countries gathered in Munich, Germany to discuss the refugee situation and the role of the churches in Europe.

Refugee crisis to be discussed in Munich

2015. október 28., tags: refugee, refugee ministry, world council of churches (wcc)

The international refugee crisis will be the focus of a consultation of 35 bishops and church leaders from 20 countries, to be held on 29 October in Munich, Germany.