Who we are and what we want?
Definitions
Called for the Hungarian Reformed Christian Pastoral Service in Western Europe (in Hungarian NyEMRLSz), this Christian network framework is primarily aiming to preach and offer church services in Hungarian. The organization is directed toward Hungarian Protestants in general and Calvinists in peculiar living outside the Carpathian Basin. Based on traditional synod-presbytery principles, this network includes members in Western-, Central- and Northern-European Diaspora, the Baltic-Scandinavian region and was in 1991 one of the founding members of the Hungarian Reformed World Federation, as well since 1995 member of the Consultative Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Churches http://www.tzsinat.hu.
Identity
the Hungarian Reformed Christian Pastoral Service in Western Europe is aiming to preserve and carry on with Hungarian Reformed traditions concerning spiritual values. Belonging to the branch of the Reformation, the relationship of this organization is not corporate but rather ecclesiastical toward the Hungarian reformed churches/congregations in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The Service is legally registered "Foundation" in the Netherlands.
Ecclestical Committement
This Christian network pertain the norms for the faith based on the whole of the Holy Scriptures, is organized on Synod-Presbyterian principles, carries its heritage from the reformation continuously practicing the ideas of the "semper reformare", is completely independent and open in all its activities toward other churches. Our Web-site available since 1996 does list all the Protestant Hungarian services throughout Western Europe. The leadership with honorary officials are elected biannually according to the Statue created in 1947 and amended latest in 2002. Trying to re establish bilateral connections with the Hungarian Reformed Church in 1991 and in 2013 subsequently, there is a continuous effort of maintain spiritual exchange manifesting attachment to our roots.
Members, congregations and activities
There are approximately a quarter of a million Hungarians living in 10 EU countries and the Baltic - Scandinavian Region, assuming some 100.000 of whom being Reformed Christians. These believers' organized countrywide account some 80 congregations/parishes and do keep close relationship with this network. Many of our churches' members fled during the decades after the WW2 from communist controlled countries in the Carpathian Basin (primarily Hungary, Romania). More recently from former Yugoslavia, but entering the EU, there are new migrants of work seeking Hungarians to EU countries, yet requiring worshipping in the language and hymnody of our own heritage.
The congregation in Felsőőr/Oberwart is since 2004 biannually hosting the joint year theological conventions thus representing kind of stable spiritual base for the organization, otherwise meeting at alternating locations in Western Europe and Carpathian Basin (Sárospatak 1992 and Csákvár 2013, Hungary; Kolozsvár – Nagyvárad 1994, Romania; Komárom 1996 and 2000, Slovakia; Beregszász 1998, Ukraine and Bácsfeketehegy 2003; Serbia).
Christian national and ecumenical commitment We ought to provide Hungarians’ needs in clarity of their native tongue and support the structure of the church, serving the Hungarians' spiritual needs, maintain reformed faith and practice, reflected in a common theological heritage, liturgy, hymnody and piety. In this way we do our bests to force back arrogant chauvinist nationalism and liberal cosmopolitanism forgetting about commitment to people and nation, manifesting ourselves on behalf of Christianity. As for our ecumenical openness in general and seeking common platforms for all Hungarian Protestants in peculiar, we do cooperate and maintain close relationship and with the fraternal organization for Hungarian Lutherans and Protestants in Europe.
Historical background Our preliminaries date back to the historical events in Europe following WW2. "The Hungarian Reformed Church living in Diaspora" was formed for Western Europe in 1944 ordered by the intuitive order of the late Bishop TD László Ravasz and action of Rev. Sándor Nagy. The mutual relationship was held by 1957 as result of the communists' influence on the Reformed Church of Hungary and The Hungarian Reformed Christian Pastoral Service in Western Europe became its legal successor. The Baltic States became a new area for our activities upon their independence in early 1990's and the Prague congregation http://reformata.cz joined us in 1999.

Revised Febr. 2014