Representatives at the annual General Council of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) Europe, meeting in Transylvania, were told that “political buzzwords” are no substitute for the biblical language of forgiveness and salvation.
The Revd Dr Kevin Snyman, Head of World Justice and Inter Faith Relations for the United Reformed Church, was one of 25 representatives from across Europe who travelled to the city of Nagyvárad (Oradea), where they were hosted by the western district of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Transylvania. Together, they considered a question inspired by St Paul’s letter to the Hebrews: “What does it mean for European Christians to persevere in their witness?”
Bishop Szabolcs János Bogdán (pictured below), from the Reformed Church in Hungary, argued that steadfastness is not about institutional self-preservation or digging in for a culture war. Rather, it is the freedom of faith in Christ. He sounded “a gentle but urgent note of caution”, saying that churches can be tempted to swap biblical language of forgiveness and salvation for the latest secular or political buzzwords. It is a temptation to be resisted with good humour and theological clarity, he said.
Kevin noted that “the Reformed family comprises churches forged in very different contexts”, and as a result there was “real sparkle” in the small group discussions. “It became abundantly clear just how much historical and political context shapes our theological accents. Differences emerged not only between east and west, but also north and south.” He said that the question on everyone’s lips was: “Whose voices do we actually hear when we open the Bible and attempt to read the signs of the times? And how do voices from the global South participate in a distinctly European gathering?”
No-one pretended there were any quick fixes. “But participants managed to listen, acknowledge and appreciate one another’s perspectives without papering over genuine differences. That, all agreed, is the work of the Spirit as much as the agenda.”
The World Communion of Reformed Churches is a network of Protestant churches in 108 countries, with an estimated combined membership of 80 million people. Forty Churches from 29 countries are represented in the European Area.
Kevin Snyman is Vice-President of WCRC Europe. Watch his conversation with Jenny Dobers (Uniting Church in Sweden, and WCRC Europe President) and Kerstin Koch (Church of Lippe)
Images by Kevin Snyman: Bishop Szabolcs János Bogdán; (montage) Kevin with Ulrich Weinhold and Kerstin Kich, Jenny Dobers, Oradea, small groups