going BEYOND borders churches in LEARNING PROCESS

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 2 FACTS One of the largest Reformed communities in Europe are the Reformed Churches in the eight countries of the Carpathian Basin. There are more than 1.5 million members almost in 3000 congregations. In spite of their fragmentation the common confessions – the Heidelberg Catechism and the Second Helvetic Confession beside the Apostolic Confession – the Hungarian language and the common history provide important cohesion. The largest Reformed communities live in Hungary, in the western and middle part of Romania, in the Southern counties of Slovakia, in the Sub-Carpathian area of Ukraine and in the Northern part of Serbia and Croatia. They are organized in independent churches by countries. There is one Reformed congregation in Austria and in Slovenia. As a result of emigration there are Hungarian Reformed communities living in all over the World, of which the largest communities live in Western Europe and in North America.

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 3 SEEKING UNITY in SEPARATION Life in forced separation Life in communion: 22 MAY 2009 web Constituting Synod

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 4 FACING CHALLENGES Economical challenges Social challenges Political challenges Community on the search for identity and orientation in an ever changing context Working Plan

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 5 UNITY IN/FOR MISSION Life in unity for mission in the Carpathian Basin and beyond Deepening community within the church, strengthening networks, encouraging voluntary service ECUMENICAL AND INTERNATIONAL engagement web Bridge of Love Csillagpont Youth Festival EU-Presidency

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 6 BEYOND BORDERS SOCIAL MINISTRIES Think wider go overseas Changing attitudes: from survival towards sharing gifts – even if limited in terms of financial and human resources Social ministries

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 7 RESOURCES TO SHARE Normally churches (congregations) are self- supporting partial restitution public responsibilities, educational, social, health care institutions financed partly by the state Donation campaigns

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 8 MONEY 1 % FOR border-crossing MISSION Campaign tool of Reformed Church in Hungary in 2011 TV spotTV spot: Not simple! Still natural for people! Internet (director version): Internet sites: Mobile media: iPhone: iPad: Android:

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 9 BEYOND BORDERS SOCIAL MINISTRIES Critically present – advocacy and help Refugee ministry Roma ministry Hungarian Reformed Church Aid – red sludge Hungarian Reformed Church Aidred sludge

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 10 Journeying BEYOND together Join us in critical presence in order that we can learn about ADVOCACY. sharing experiences. raising our voice beyond the borders of the church. SOCIAL MINISTRY. sharing in mission in society beyond church community. EMERGENCY RESPONSE. sharing of resources globally.

8 April 2011 GOING BEYOND - Presentation at CGMB 11 SERENITY God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference u