A small step forward
In the Carpathian basin, Churches and seminaries tend to be orthodox, biblical, and they have a 5-year program. This basin is the last Bastille of Protestantism, especially Calvinism toward the East. Last fall, October 2003, 2 students at the department of religion of Karoli Gaspar Reformed University wrote articles about homosexuality and published them in a leftist newspaper. One of these students was a guest of the UCC at 2 different occasions and his article was basically a research article about homosexuality and how the different churches of the world relate to this issue.
In the Carpathian basin, Churches and seminaries tend to be orthodox, biblical, and they have a 5-year program. This basin is the last Bastille of Protestantism, especially Calvinism toward the East. Last fall, October 2003, 2 students at the department of religion of Karoli Gaspar Reformed University wrote articles about homosexuality and published them in a leftist newspaper. One of these students was a guest of the UCC at 2 different occasions and his article was basically a research article about homosexuality and how the different churches of the world relate to this issue.
He praised the stand of the United Church of Christ and the Disciples very strongly. The other student related to the faculty that he has homosexual dreams and inclinations. The faculty senate brought charges against both students. The senate includes not only the faculty of the department of religion, but also two employees of the department and 3 student representatives. The faculty senate voted to dismiss the first student for the academic year of 2003-2004, and then he would be able to continue and finish his studies. The other student, who had started his 5th year already, was totally dismissed from the University. The majority prevailed by 2 votes. The employees of the University and the students were of the majority. This means that the majority of the faculty, in reality, voted against this issue.
The dismissed student turned to the courts of Hungary. The high court of Hungary made its ruling in January of 2004 stating that it is “discrimination and the University has to reinstate the dismissed student”. The leading newspapers of the country discussed this issue thoroughly and mostly were on the side of the dismissed student. Thus the student was readmitted to the university, but with his own words to me, he stated “the atmosphere is so hostile, that I will apply to other seminaries.” He applied to Istvan Selye University, Theological Faculty, Komarno, Slovakia, where I also teach. In the late summer of 2004 the faculty council of Istvan Selye University discussed his application. At this meeting I presented to the faculty the findings of genetic research. They listened inventively. At the end I asked if our Christian mandate is to condemn or to enable, uplift and love. I also asked if we should play Hitler and machine gun down those, who are different from us or throw them down from the cliffs like some Greek societies, or can we even be human beings and Christians. After a period of long silence, the dean of the faculty said “the only decent and Christian thing is to accept this student’s application.” The faculty unanimously voted to accept this student. Thus, our friend is set to graduate from the seminary in June, 2005.
To some people, it may appear as a very small step forward, but to this student, who is very bright, physically handicapped and extremely sensitive and caring human being, it means a reaffirming of him as a valuable human being and an opportunity to use and share his knowledge and values. He did not waste 4 years at the seminary, but now he will have his degree and can be a part of making our world a bit better for all of humanity.
Sincerely yours in Christ’s service, your extended arm in mission in Hungary and Slovakia,
Zoltan D. Szucs
Zoltan Szucs is a missionary with the Hungarian Reformed Church in Hungary, assigned to the Faculty of Theology at Karoli Gaspar University in Budapest to teach practical theology, and to be available to the Reformed Church of Hungary and its General Assembly as needed. Zoltan serves as Professor of Practical Theology at Karoli Gaspar University in Budapest.