Title: Hungarian Church, State Relations Subject Of Lutheran Leader's Discussions ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 30, 2006
Hungarian Church, State Relations Subject Of Lutheran Leader's Discussions 06-162-JB
BUDAPEST, Hungary (ELCA) -- Cooperation between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary (ELCH) and the national government was a theme of a series of meetings Oct. 27 involving local church leaders and the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran World Federation (LWF) president.
Hanson, his wife Ione, and officials of the ELCH met in separate meetings here with Katalin Szili, president of the Hungarian Parliament, and April H. Foley, U.S. ambassador to Hungary.
For nearly one hour here at the historic Parliament building, Hanson, Szili and ELCH representatives discussed a variety of church and state issues such as funding, cooperation, equal treatment of churches and the current political situation.
The ELCH is a church with about 300,000 members in a country of approximately 10 million people. Noting that the ELCH has made a significant commitment to social service through its diaconal program, Hanson told Szili that he is "always concerned" that small Lutheran churches are recognized for their contributions in their home countries.
"My hope is that they (ELCH social ministries) are supported by the government and are not overlooked," he said to the Hungarian president. Hanson added that the church is a member of the Geneva-based LWF, which is a global communion of 140 churches in 78 countries, representing 66 million Lutherans.
The Rev. Janos Ittzes, presiding bishop of the ELCH, who attended the meeting, said the ELCH is a "diaspora" church. "It is a great joy for us that the LWF pays attention to small churches," he said to the Hungarian president.
Hungary has "a special place" in the LWF because of the actions of the 1984 LWF assembly here, Hanson said. He cited that assembly's actions on apartheid in South Africa as an example of how Lutherans are involved in the world. Today the LWF is deeply involved in global problems such as HIV and AIDS, and working for peace in the Middle East, Hanson said.
The ELCH's contributions to education, charity and social work are "very important," Szili said, adding that the government and the church must work more closely together. She also proposed that regular discussions between the church and the government be "institutionalized." Szili added that the church "should witness to the values of human life."
Churches in Hungary should be treated equally by the government, Ittzes said, adding that churches have had their difficulties here because of past aggression under the former Communist regime.
"We can create a framework under which we can do further work, and I fully agree with equal treatment of churches," Hanson told the president of the Parliament. "Transparency and accountability: we ask that of our selves, and we expect that from governments."
The Hungarian Parliament president agreed that cooperation is important in Hungary between churches and the government. Dialogue should begin to help shape the future, Szili said. "We have the same goal," she told the Lutheran church leaders.
Hanson's visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of the unsuccessful October uprising against the Communist regime in Hungary. The anniversary was a time to lift up the strength and contributions of the Hungarian people in the United States, Hanson said.
Szili added her thanks "for all the countries that received Hungarian refugees."
In a brief afternoon meeting at the U.S. Embassy, Foley, who is new in her role as U.S. ambassador, said the Hungarian economy is an attractive market for U.S. investors, with some $9 billion invested by U.S. interests since 1990. While the current government deficit is too high, Foley said "the fundamentals of this (Hungary) economy are very strong." She thanked the ELCH for its "robust" activity in the country.
ELCH diaconal social ministry program extensive, seeks to expand
The ELCH has made a significant commitment to diaconal social ministry. It has some 30 separate institutions in the country, serving people of all ages living with disabilities, young mothers and their children, older people in need of assisted-living or nursing home care, and feeding programs for people who are homeless, said the Rev. Andras Sztojanovics, director, ELCH Diaconal Center.
He described the church's commitment to social ministry in a meeting with Hanson and ELCH officials. In most cases, social ministry programs are started by a congregational initiative, he said.
The church serves some 1,000 people in assisted-living or nursing homes and about 220 people living with disabilities in its facilities. All are licensed by the state. The church employs approximately 800 people in its diaconal ministries, Sztojanovics said.
"Diaconia in our church is growing. It is a great joy for us that there is a great demand for church facilities. The church has no other choice (but) to do this work, even if finances are limited," he said. The government contributes funds to the church for services, and the church must also raise funds to pay for appropriate care.
The ELCH has begun planning for a Lutheran hospital to be located here, specializing in rehabilitation services, Sztojanovics said.
Hanson visited ELCH facilities here for people living with physical and mental disabilities and for people in nursing care.
Hanson concluded the day by greeting an overflow crowd at a Lutheran church in Deak ter, where Gergely Prohle was installed as ELCH general inspector.
"I wanted to come here to say thanks be to God for the strength of your history," Hanson told the congregation. "You have faced persecution, faced difficult times, but upheld the cross of Jesus Christ." Hanson also praised the late Bishop Lajos Ordass of the ELCH, who was forced from office and held under house arrest under the former Communist regime. Hanson said Ordass, who served the LWF as a vice president, was "a strong witness."
On Oct. 28 the Hansons visited the Western Diocese of the ELCH, headquartered in Gyor, and visited the historic Benedictine Monastery in Pannonhalma.
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