Press Release on the International Dialogue between the World Communion of Reformed Churches and classical Pentecostals
Representatives of classical Pentecostal churches and a delegation of the World Communion of Reformed Churches met at the Reformed retreat center Megbékélés Háza in Berekfürdő, Hungary, November 17-21, 2014. This meeting was the first session of a five year cycle with a focus on Mission, following two former rounds of theological conversations (“Word, and Spirit, Church and World” 1996-2000 and “Experience in Christian Faith and Life” 2002-2011).
The composition of the teams was new and it was important that the participants had the opportunity to get acquainted. Morning and evening devotions framed the working days. Presentations were made on the objectives of mission by Dr. Jean-Daniel Plüss (Pentecostal) and Rev. Fundiswa Kobo (Reformed). Under the theme “Ministering to the Needs of the World: Mission as Evangelization and Diaconate” papers from each tradition were presented by Dr. Theresa Chai (Pentecostal) and Dr. Douwe Visser (Reformed).
On Tuesday November 18 the teams were met by a delegation of the Reformed Church of Hungary led by Bishop Dr. Gusztáv Bölcskei. The following day the group met with a delegation of the Hungarian Pentecostal Church lead by Rev. Pres. Albert Pataky at the Ecumenical Center in Budapest. In both cases the situation of the churches and their respective ministries were presented.
The Pentecostal team included: Prof. Rev. Dr. Cecil M. Robeck, co-chair (Assemblies of God, USA), Rev. Dr. Teresa Chai (Assemblies of God, Malaysia), Rev. Assoc Prof. Jacqueline Grey (Australian Christian Churches), Rev. Dr. Harold D. Hunter (International Pentecostal Holiness Church, USA), Dr. Jean-Daniel Plüss (Swiss Pentecostal Mission) and Dr. Olga Zaprometova (Church of God, Russia). Prof. Dr. David Daniels (Church of God in Christ, USA) and Prof. Dr. Veli Matti Kärkkäinen (Pentecostal Church of Finland) were not able to attend this meeting. The Reformed team was composed of: Rev. Dr. Carmelo Alvarez (Disciples of Christ, Puerto Rico), Rev. Fundiswa Kobo (WCRC Intern, Uniting Presbyterian Church in South Africa), Rev. Viktória Kóczián (Reformed Church of Hungary), Rev. Dr. Karla Koll, co-chair, (Presbyterian Church USA), Rev. Nadia Marais (Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa), Rev. Dr. Bas Plaisier (Protestant Church in the Netherlands), Rev. Dr. Anna Quaas (Protestant Church in Germany) and Rev. Dr. Gabriella Rácsok (Reformed Church of Hungary) Rev. Dr. Douwe Visser, (Protestant Church in the Netherlands, WCRC). Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi (Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Ghana) was not able to attend.
The next session of the Pentecostal-Reformed Dialogue will take place form December 1 - 7, 2015 and focus on Mission and Salvation.
Read more on the Reformed-Pentecostal Dialogue Meeting on the WCRC website