Index – Interior – Zoltán Balog’s successor was elected by the Reformed

The meeting of the Reformed synod, which also decided on the office of the pastor president, set among its timely tasks the commemoration of the 50-year work of the Leprosy Mission in Hungary and the election of the Protestant field bishop of the Hungarian Reformed Church XV. within the ninth session of its synod cycle, he wrote on his website.

According to the synod’s information, Zoltán Balog, after resigning from the position of pastor president, temporarily handed over the tasks to Dániel Pásztor, the synod’s vice president of pastors, pending a decision. Dániel Pásztor, bishop of the Tiszáninnen Reformed Church District, was previously supported as the new president. But to a great surprise, on Wednesday morning, the Synod finally chose Bishop József Steinbach as its pastor president. Bishop Dániel Pásztor of Tiszánin will remain the vice president, it was announced. They wrote that “Bishop Zoltán Balog’s resignation from the position of pastor president of the Synod was taken into account in the framework of resolutions”.

After Zoltán Balog’s devotion, as well as the establishment and presentation of the series of subjects, the synod’s spring session continued in a closed circle. Within the framework of the resolution, the gathered took note of the resignation of Bishop Zoltán Balog from the position of pastor of the synod, and recognized his service to the church.

In his inauguration speech, the newly elected pastor president of the synod spoke about the call to serve after the biblical and theological message. József Steinbach, the pastor president of the synod, emphasized that he faced the task with humility and fear, but still with faith. Speaking about the last couple of months, he said that in critical times, they did everything to support the cause of those in difficult situations, the abused, and the needy with the love learned from Jesus Christ.

This can be proven by many who also know without a doubt that abuse of any kind is unacceptable in our church!

Responding to the pardon case, he emphasized the need for reassurance, and turning to the Lord, to serve again in unity, faith and hope. Forgiveness and renewal are needed, for which they must do everything. The president of the council pointed out that those who were disappointed in them should be given back their credit, at the same time he noted that they are not asking for the hurt, so forgive them and allow them to make amends.

There are highly skilled and dedicated employees in the Synodal Office, whom we trust and whose expertise will continue to be needed. We also want to encourage and strengthen them spiritually.

At the same time, József Steinbach is convinced that now, precisely for the sake of the above goals, it is necessary to step back, to work more slowly and quietly, but with the same devotion and confessional courage, “because the blessing does not depend on the external hustle and bustle, and in the meantime let the sanctifying and authentic giving Lord’s work”.

In other words, he noted that they have a lot of tasks, in addition to law-making and operation, although these are also big things. The tasks continue and are improved where necessary, while continuing to pay attention to the prophetic, confessional, teaching, spiritual caregiving and, above all, evangelizing service according to the theological foundation, and highlighted public education, charity service, Charles University, Bethesda Hospital, communication, the pension institution. In addition, their relevant goal is the work of the Reformed unity in the Carpathian Basin.

We think of everyone; we try to pay attention to everyone; not by power, not by power, but by the Holy Spirit.

He then closed his session with a prayer.

After the closed synod meeting, József Steinbach spoke to the press, behind whom the three other bishops and the chief guardians lined up during his speech. Before the press statement, Balázs Somorjai, the communications director of the Reformed Church of Hungary, said that Zoltán Balog’s position as bishop of the Danubian region is a district jurisdiction. He also pointed out that the Presidium Council recommended Pásztor Dániel for the position of synod pastor, but the Tiszáninen bishop could not take on the associated workload.

József Steinbach, who will hold his position for the next two and a half years and was trusted as the only candidate of the Synod, pointed out, among other things, that “I am asking the Lord to make me fit, as my new assignment involves even more service and responsibility, which I can only shudder at may. During my service as a bishop, I tried to pay attention to those entrusted to me with a pastoral spirit. I personally thank God for giving me the strength to serve devotedly at all times, despite all my misery and weakness. Even in the midst of conflicts, I confess the power of Christ’s meekness.”

At the Synod meeting, a decision was made that László Mészáros, after almost three decades of service as a field chaplain, can lead the Protestant Field Bishopric from the date of his inauguration as Minister of National Defense. The Synod accepted the report of the outgoing bishop, János Jákob, and at the same time thanked him for his service so far, they wrote.

Zoltán Balog resigned from the position of pastor of the Synod, which we reported earlier, after the resignation of the President of the Republic, Katalin Novák, in February. Balog worked as an advisor to Katalin Novák and supported Endre K.’s request for clemency. The President of the Republic granted the pardon to the former deputy director of the Bicske orphanage, who was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison for the crime of coercion, referring to the visit of Pope Francis.

Zoltán Balog, who admitted that he made a mistake and had a role in the clemency decision, previously worked as the Minister of Human Resources, as a bishop and as president of the clergy. Zoltán Balog said that he should apologize not because he sided with a person asking for mercy, but because the case caused damage to the Reformed Church.

According to his point of view, the public and political approach is different from the spiritual approach. He resigned from the position of president of the synod due to efforts to break unity. Not long after, he announced that he would also resign from the position of honorary president of the Small Virtuosos Foundation. The organization was created as a community organized to help outstanding musical talents with a difficult fate.

However, Zoltán Balog has not yet resigned from the episcopal seat of the Dunamellek Diocese. More and more Reformed pastors and church members called on the former minister to resign. We reported on the Index that a We can’t listen! The declaration was signed by intellectuals, poet and writer Anna T. Szabó, economist Péter Ákos Bod and historians István Papp and Dávid Turbucz. Ten members of the church plan to report the bishop to the Synodal Court as well.

(Cover photo: Zoltán Balogh. Photo: János Bődey / Index)