A young generation is taking over responsibility - Annual Conference in Hungary

The Provisional Annual Conference of the UMC in Hungary met from April 13 to 16, 2011, in Kaposvar/Hungary.

At this year’s Annual Conference in Hungary the participation of a young generation could be experienced more than ever before. Among both clergy and lay people a considerable number of men and women from a younger generation had been elected as members of the various commissions. This resulted in many new ideas and approaches in the reports to the Conference. The report of the Commission for Youth Ministry urged, however, to mirror this development in the local churches, as well, by electing more committed young members into the church councils.

In a special worship service Zoltán Kovács was ordained elder of the UMC. He is the first one in a row of younger pastors in Hungary, who have chosen the way into ordained ministry. Since 2007 he has been pastor in Szekszárd. Other young pastors and applicants for the ministry will follow. They are currently on probation, they are doing an internship or they are working through their studies of theology.

The difficult economic situation of the country has also some considerable implications on the financial situation of the UMC in Hungary. The Church is currently facing some rather difficult challenges. Although the local giving is increasing year by year, the Church hardly manages to keep up with the inflation. Therefore the Methodists in Hungary are very grateful for the support of Brothers and Sisters from all over the world for both pastors’ salaries and missionary and diaconal ministries.

Zoltán Kovács (clergy) and István Ambrusz (lay) were elected as delegates to General Conference 2012. Superintendent István Csernák (clergy) and Henrik Schauermann jr. (lay) were elected as additional delegates to the Central Conference 2013.

The next meeting of the Annual Conference will take place from April 11 to 14, 2012.

Source: Office of Bishop Patrick Streiff, Zurich/Switzerland
Date: April 26, 2011