Two mass ordination services on Sabbath, 27 October will see a further step in the reunification of two branches of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hungary. The two groups divided over forty years ago, principally over issues of government control during the then communist regime.
In recent years the two groups, the official Seventh-day Adventist Church and the KERAK group, have spent considerable time actively listening to each other, seeking forgiveness for past mistakes, and building understanding. In 2015 they signed a joint declaration following a series of consultations that began in 2011. Leaders then travelled together to the 2015 General Conference Session in San Antonio and the World Church rejoiced with them and prayed for them as the process towards unity continued.
As a background to the two ordination services that will take place on the same day in the two conferences that make up the Hungarian Union, Natasha Pujols travelled to Hungary to meet with leaders of the two churches, and to understand the process of how the have come back together.
Raafat Kamal, president of the Trans-European Division will travel to Hungary to join in the two special services. While the process towards reconciliation started long before he became president, and recognising the vast contribution of a variety of leaders in the process, Pastor Kamal is nevertheless delighted to join with the Hungarian pastors in this significant and symbolic step.
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Settling the past and building a future in Hungary
Church Reconciliation in Hungary celebrated at the San Antonio World Session
This article was originally published on the Trans-European Divisions website