Re: Hungary trip, part 3 & 4
Lindsay Clark Ross
Lindsay Clark Ross
Report from Hungary and Ukraine (part 3)
On the outside of Big Creek Presbyterian Church, high above the door, is a marble plaque showing two clasped hands and containing the words: “Religion – Education” “Big Creek Presbyterian Church – Van Rensselaer Academy”. Christians in the Reformed tradition have long valued education as a means of faith formation. Scotland was perhaps the poorest country in Europe five hundred years ago. Because of Presbyterian’s desire that all should be able to read the Bible, despite its poverty Scotland came to have the highest literacy rate! In Hungary and Ukraine, the Reformed Church is working hard to reclaim and rebuild schools, to form the faith of the next generation, and to prepare them to have an impact on the world for Jesus Christ.
The Mission Tour group from Missouri Union Presbytery had the joy of seeing this work as we visited several schools in the city of Miskolc, on Friday, May 28.
Everywhere we went, from pre-schools to seminaries, we were greeted with the words “aldas bekesseg” – “peace and blessing.” In Hungarian, “hello” is “servus” and “hi” is “sio.” Reformed Christians however, greet each other with the words “peace and blessing.” Isn’t that a marvelous acknowledgement of our brotherhood in Christ?
Our first stop was the Diosgyori Elementary School. It was turned back over to the church in 1994, after communist confiscation. As we entered each room, guided by the school director (principal), the students stood up beside their desks and formally greeted us. This school is full, and turning students away. Elsewhere, the state run schools are closing for lack of students. We visited several classes. The English class showed off their skills to us by singing the “Head and shoulders knees and toes” song. Currently, the only physical education facility this school has is an outdoor court. They are hoping to build an enclosed gymnasium.
Next we went to a kindergarten, 90 children from ages 3 through 6, in a facility designed for 75. The director told us they spend a lot of time outside playing! There was playground equipment, including a little cabin that I am sure was a playhouse when the girls where in it, and a clubhouse when the boys occupied it. The school is clean and modern and the children were having lots of fun. It was there that I tried out some Hungarian, asking a little girl what her name was. After some coaxing from an adult, she told me her name was Anna. She gave me a little card and a necklace that the children had made, given to all of us from the MUP.
We visited the Avas Reformed church, built in the 1400s. Following that, we went to the Josef LeVay Secondary School. It has 650 students. Unlike the elementary school, some of the students are not members of the Reformed Church. Our guide was the assistant director, who is also a pastor, and teaches religion classes. In Hungary, school principals and assistants are required to teach a certain number of classes in addition to their duties as administrators.
The Reformed Church Schools in Hungary and Ukraine have a reputation for high quality. A large portion of their students go on to university studies. Potential students (from kindergartners through high school) have to apply, and have to have a recommendation from the pastor of a Reformed Church. In Hungary, the schools do receive some money from the state, but this is not the case in Ukraine.
Pastor P. J. Southam
Report from Hungary and Ukraine (part 4)
Last time I wrote about the Hungarian Reformed Church Schools. I neglected to add, that part of the school day is a daily morning devotion time, and chapel at least once per week.
Our day in Miskolc also included a visit to the main Reformed Church there, the Avas Reformed Church, with Pastor Melinda as our guide. This building was constructed in the 1400s, became a protestant church during the Reformation, reverted back to the Roman Catholics during the Counter-Reformation, and finally came back to the Reformed Church.
In this photo, you can see how the pulpit has been moved from one end to the center of the sanctuary. This is because when the Protestant Reformation swept Europe, the centrality of the Word and the importance of preaching was reclaimed. The pulpit has a crown over it, which is a sounding board that reflects the preacher’s voice and makes it more audible to the congregation.
On the wall are the roosters, which had been on the steeple. As they wear out and are replaced, the retired ones find a place inside the building.
The church has a cemetery on its grounds. Two common symbols engraved on monuments are the communion cup, or the tree of life.
We also visited the bishop of this district. The bishop is elected by all of the elders in the synod, and works with a curate (head elder). The Bishop’s goals for his term are: to strengthen disciple-ship among church members, out reach to youth, and increase diaconal ministry (care for those in hospitals, the aged, etc.). The church is also engaged in a mission partnership with the Presbyterian Church in Malawi. They are building a church, and giving a Pastor Mambo Clapperton a seminary education so he can return to Malawi and teach pastors there.
The youth in the synod were all challenged to raise 200 Forints (about $1), and get four other young people to also donate 200 Forints, for building in Malawi. They were hoping to obtain enough to build one room. The youth raised enough to pay for the whole building! Now, the adults are asked to follow the lead of the young people.
Pastor P. J. Southam