The Hon. Colleen Bell, United States of America Ambassador to Hungary met Rev. Dr. Károly Fekete, Bishop of Transtibiscan Reformed Church District.
The Honorable Ambassador Colleen Bell, who only recently arrived to our country as Ambassador, met with the local religious leaders in Debrecen on the 18th of February, 2015. The churches were represented by Bishop Nándor Bosák from the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Károly Fekete from the Reformed Church in Hungary, and the Rev. Lilla Molnár from the Evanglical-Lutheran Church in Hungary. In addition, local Jewish Tamás Horovitz took part on behalf of the Jewish Community. During the meeting Ambassador Bell was informed on the life and public service of the local religious communities.
In the course of discussion Bishop Fekete also informed the ambassador on the situation of the church district and the Reformed Church in Hungary. The Reformed Bishop called the Ambassador’s attention to threats the Ukrainian war poses for Hungarians living in Sub-Carpathia. Bishop Károly Fekete spoke of the RCH and its relief organisation, the Hungarian Reformed Church Aid, and its effort in supporting those in need and who work towards peace.
The Bishop also requested the assistance of the ambassador concerning the case of the Székely Miko Reformed High School in in Sfantu Gheorghe (Sepsiszentgyorgy), Transylvania, explaining the disregard of law by the Romanian Government against the Hungarian Reformed community in Transylvania, and regarding the restoration of the ownership to the Church.
At the meeting the church leaders spoke of ecumenical efforts against terrorism, and their commitment for interreligious dialogue and pluralism.
Bishop Fekete also reported on the RCH’s service in the field of social inclusion, especially the mission with Roma.
In highlighting partnerships with American Churches, the bishop spoke of the example of the partnership agreement between the University Reformed Congregation of Debrecen and the Reformed Church in America.
Finally, in response to requests by the sister-churches in Korea, the bishop presented a letter from the Presidium of the Synod to Ambassador Bell, as a call of solidarity with the Korean Churches , regarding the case for changes in the US and South-Korea policy of isolating North Korea.
Transtibiscan Reformed Church District
Photo: János Barcza