Magyar Egyház, 1997 (76. évfolyam, 1-4. szám)
1997 / 4. szám
MAGYAR EGYHÁZ 7. oldal DECLARATION The Hungarian Reformed Federation and the Consultative Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Churches, in the name of our Hungarian Reformed brethren, scattered in forty some countries all over the world, greets the 23rd General Assembly of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches with Christian love and gratitude toward almighty God. Our Hungarian Reformed Federation was founded in 1991 in this city, Debrecen, reverently called the ‘Calvinist Rome’. The Consultative Synod, founded in 1995, is a representative organization, which unites within itself those Church bodies who as a unified denomination entered into the membership of WARC in 1909, then after that, independently remained members of the same organization. Our member Churches are faithfully keeping their historical, credal and cultural heritage, searching and caring for their Hungarian Reformed identity within the framework of ecumenical Christian unity and the universal Reformed brotherhood. The main theme of the 23rd General Assembly in Debrecen “Breaking the Chains’ of Injustice” (Isaiah 58,6), has a special meaning in this part of Europe. We are grateful to our Creator that in 1989 the chain of communism was broken and after the downfall of the atheistic tyranny in Eastern and Central Europe, the General Assembly can be held for the first time on this side of the former Iron Curtain. According to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have to know the truth, and the truth will set us free (John 8, 32). Within the context of the former communist countries, the message of Christ’s teaching means that the hegemony of atheistic ideology needs to be replaced by the renewal of our evangelical mission. The liberation of the former Soviet power-sphere will only be complete and the chains of the accursed “communist heritage” will only fall apart, if the Word of Christ our Lord, Christian values and true discipleship will again gain citizenship in this region (John 8,31). The prophetic Word and teachings of Christ are equally valid in both social and ethnic relations. The Eastern and Central European societies after the communist era are threatened by material and spiritual impoverishment the same way as the Third World societies. From our deteriorating situation only the complete transformation to a democratic system and the European integration can lead us out. The same is also true in connection with our distressful minority problems. To break the chains of social oppression and the miseries of ethnic discrimination, we call upon the truth in Christ. The first condition of liberation is to find the truth and to proclaim it. The prophetic and evangelical witness of the member Churches of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, gathered from all over the world, will promote the liberation of the Eastern region and their effective fraternal solidarity will prevent the danger of any other world-dividing new Iron Curtains. As we greet the Debrecen Assembly of the WARC, we call your attention to the practical realization and necessity of “religious freedom” for all. Freedom of religion always is deficient, and only a mere fiction, until the material conditions of mission and service of the Gospel are realized in post-communist societies. During communism our churches’ possessions were confiscated, and they are greatly remain handicapped in fulfilling their Christian mandate to be self-supportive until their schools and their unjustly confiscated possessions are restored. We are confident that the General Assembly of the Alliance will greatly help to remedy the injustices done to our churches, and will be instrumental in gaining social justice and equity by reassuring the relations between Church and State. The Hungarian Reformed Federation and the Consultative Synod ask for God’s richest blessings upon the work, social and public service, and liberating witness of the 23rd Assembly, in Debrecen. László Tokes Dr. Kalman Csiha President President of the Synod of the Federation István Szabó Dr. Ákos Bodnar President of the Synod General Secretary of the Federation Dr. Lorant Hegedűs Acting President of the Synod The DECLARATION emphasises the following: In the ex-communist countries the teachings of Christ mean that the absolutism of the atheist ideology should be eliminated by a reviving evangelical mission activity. “The Reformed World Federation as well as the prophetical and evangelical testimony of our brother churches that gathered together from all parts of the world will promote the cause of the liberation of the eastern region, and our efficient brotherly solidarity will help prevent the lowering of new iron curtains to divide our world... Freedom of religion is rather insufficient or it is even a mere fiction as long as in the postcommunist societies the material and instrumental conditions of missionary work and evangelical service are not realized fully. Our churches plundered during the communist era are incapable to perform their mission until they are compensated for their confiscated properties, until they reestablish their financial bases and as long as they are bereft from their schools and they are incapable to maintain themselves.
