Cooperation and Partnership: A Story from Hungary

Szabina Sztojka and Rev. Balázs Ódor

The Reformed Church of Hungary believes it is important to deepen the cooperation and relationship with partner churches by inviting and welcoming mission coworkers or mission personnel. They are friends who wish to live out their call to Jesus Christ through service to the RCH. Their call to service includes a commitment to partnership and mutuality in their work. Mission coworkers serve in a variety of settings and play an important role in deepening our relations with their home churches. Our church collaborates with missionaries from the United States, Canada and Korea, who are involved in different fields of RCH ministry for example, in the service among Roma and refugees.

When it comes to “ecumenical” relations, in Hungarian there is a difference between the notions of ecumenical as “inter-church” and "international" relations. The RCH has close working affiliations to all mainline churches in Hungary, including the Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches as well as the Jewish faith communities. The RCH is also open for inter-confessional cooperation with other churches and faith communities based in Hungary. The RCH is a founding member of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Hungary since 1943 and the Ecumenical Youth Office (together with the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches since 2000). The RCH is also an active member of the Council for Christians and Jews.

This reflection comes from two members of the Reformed Church of Hungary.

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Szabina Sztojka works for the Mission Department of the Synod office of the Reformed Church in Hungary. She is actively involved in Roma mission and began studies at the Reformed Theology School in September in the hope of becoming a pastor.

The Rev. Balázs Ódor serves as Ecumenical Officer for the Reformed Church in Hungary.