WCRC opens new round of dialogue with Pentecostals

“Mission” was the theme of the first meeting in a new dialogue between Reformed and Pentecostal theologians held in Hungary at the end of November.

This first session also had an introductory character, with time taken to review previous meetings and reports, as well as to get to know participants better. 

Once the theme was taken up, participants looked at how both Reformed and Pentecostals have defined “mission”–and how both have put mission into practice.

“Theologically we do not differ on the principles, but the way we live as churches is different,” said Douwe Visser, WCRC executive secretary for theology. “For we Reformed, Pentecostals challenge us to rethink our way of being church. For the Pentecostals, the challenge may be to develop a great variety of thinking and praxis into deeper theological reflection. Both challenges are fascinating.”

On the second day two main papers were presented, one from each perspective but on the same theme: “Ministering to the needs of the World, Mission as Evangelisation and Diaconate.” Dialogue for the remainder of the day sprang from the presentations.

Besides focusing on the dialogue theme, participants took advantage of their location to learn about the local context by meeting with members of the Reformed Church in Hungary and Hungarian Pentecostals. They also took the opportunity to visit Budapest.

“Mission” will continue to be explored at the next round of this Reformed-Pentecostal dialogue and will be held in December 2015. Five meetings in this round of dialogue are planned.

Nine participants represented the WCRC while a half dozen came from the Pentecostal church. The WCRC’s co-chair is Karla Koll and its co-secretary is Douwe Visser, while Mel Robeck serves as the Pentecostals’ co-chair and co-secretary.

The meeting took place at the House of Reconciliation in Berekfurdo, Hungary, from 17-21 November. The House is owned by the Reformed Church in Hungary. “We are grateful for all work done on making us to feel really at home there,” said Visser.