ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 30, 2006  

Hungarian Church, State Relations Subject Of Lutheran Leader's Discussions
06-162-JB

     BUDAPEST, Hungary (ELCA) -- Cooperation between the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary (ELCH) and the national
government was a theme of a series of meetings Oct. 27 involving
local church leaders and the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding
bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) president.
     Hanson, his wife Ione, and officials of the ELCH met in
separate meetings here with Katalin Szili, president of the
Hungarian Parliament, and April H. Foley, U.S. ambassador to
Hungary.
     For nearly one hour here at the historic Parliament
building, Hanson, Szili and ELCH representatives discussed a
variety of church and state issues such as funding, cooperation,
equal treatment of churches and the current political situation.
     The ELCH is a church with about 300,000 members in a country
of approximately 10 million people.  Noting that the ELCH has
made a significant commitment to social service through its
diaconal program, Hanson told Szili that he is "always concerned"
that small Lutheran churches are recognized for their
contributions in their home countries.
     "My hope is that they (ELCH social ministries) are supported
by the government and are not overlooked," he said to the
Hungarian president.  Hanson added that the church is a member of
the Geneva-based LWF, which is a global communion of 140 churches
in 78 countries, representing 66 million Lutherans.
     The Rev. Janos Ittzes, presiding bishop of the ELCH, who
attended the meeting, said the ELCH is a "diaspora" church.  "It
is a great joy for us that the LWF pays attention to small
churches," he said to the Hungarian president.
     Hungary has "a special place" in the LWF because of the
actions of the 1984 LWF assembly here, Hanson said.  He cited
that assembly's actions on apartheid in South Africa as an
example of how Lutherans are involved in the world.  Today the
LWF is deeply involved in global problems such as HIV and AIDS,
and working for peace in the Middle East, Hanson said.
     The ELCH's contributions to education, charity and social
work are "very important," Szili said, adding that the government
and the church must work more closely together.  She also
proposed that regular discussions between the church and the
government be "institutionalized."  Szili added that the church
"should witness to the values of human life."
     Churches in Hungary should be treated equally by the
government, Ittzes said, adding that churches have had their
difficulties here because of past aggression under the former
Communist regime.
     "We can create a framework under which we can do further
work, and I fully agree with equal treatment of churches," Hanson
told the president of the Parliament.  "Transparency and
accountability: we ask that of our selves, and we expect that
from governments."
     The Hungarian Parliament president agreed that cooperation
is important in Hungary between churches and the government.
Dialogue should begin to help shape the future, Szili said. "We
have the same goal," she told the Lutheran church leaders.
     Hanson's visit coincided with the 50th anniversary of the
unsuccessful October uprising against the Communist regime in
Hungary.  The anniversary was a time to lift up the strength and
contributions of the Hungarian people in the United States,
Hanson said.
     Szili added her thanks "for all the countries that received
Hungarian refugees."
     In a brief afternoon meeting at the U.S. Embassy, Foley, who
is new in her role as U.S. ambassador, said the Hungarian economy
is an attractive market for U.S. investors, with some $9 billion
invested by U.S. interests since 1990.  While the current
government deficit is too high, Foley said "the fundamentals of
this (Hungary) economy are very strong."  She thanked the ELCH
for its "robust" activity in the country.

ELCH diaconal social ministry program extensive, seeks to expand
     The ELCH has made a significant commitment to diaconal
social ministry.  It has some 30 separate institutions in the
country, serving people of all ages living with disabilities,
young mothers and their children, older people in need of
assisted-living or nursing home care, and feeding programs for
people who are homeless, said the Rev. Andras Sztojanovics,
director, ELCH Diaconal Center.
     He described the church's commitment to social ministry in a
meeting with Hanson and ELCH officials.  In most cases, social
ministry programs are started by a congregational initiative, he
said.
     The church serves some 1,000 people in assisted-living or
nursing homes and about 220 people living with disabilities in
its facilities.  All are licensed by the state. The church
employs approximately 800 people in its diaconal ministries,
Sztojanovics said.
     "Diaconia in our church is growing.  It is a great joy for
us that there is a great demand for church facilities.  The
church has no other choice (but) to do this work, even if
finances are limited," he said.  The government contributes funds
to the church for services, and the church must also raise funds
to pay for appropriate care.
     The ELCH has begun planning for a Lutheran hospital to be
located here, specializing in rehabilitation services,
Sztojanovics said.
     Hanson visited ELCH facilities here for people living with
physical and mental disabilities and for people in nursing care.
     Hanson concluded the day by greeting an overflow crowd at a
Lutheran church in Deak ter, where Gergely Prohle was installed
as ELCH general inspector.
     "I wanted to come here to say thanks be to God for the
strength of your history," Hanson told the congregation.  "You
have faced persecution, faced difficult times, but upheld the
cross of Jesus Christ."  Hanson also praised the late Bishop
Lajos Ordass of the ELCH, who was forced from office and held
under house arrest under the former Communist regime.  Hanson
said Ordass, who served the LWF as a vice president, was "a
strong witness."
     On Oct. 28 the Hansons visited the Western Diocese of the
ELCH, headquartered in Gyor, and visited the historic Benedictine
Monastery in Pannonhalma.
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     Information about the Lutheran World Federation is at
http://www.lutheranworld.org on the Web.

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