| Hungarian Reformed Church | |
|---|---|
| Magyar Refomátus Egyház | |
| Type | Western Christianity |
| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Continental Reformed |
| Scripture | Bible |
| Theology | Reformed theology |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Structure | Communion |
| Dioceses | 10 |
| Region | Carpathian Basin |
| Language | Hungarian |
| Liturgy | Reformed |
| Origin | 2009 |
| Congregations | 3,125 |
| Members | 1,623,991 |
TheHungarian Reformed Church (HRC) orHungarian Reformed Communion (Hungarian:Magyar Refomátus Egyház) is a global fellowship ofcontinental Reformed denominations historically related to theReformed Church of Hungary.[1][2]
The purpose of the organization is to maintain unity among Hungarian Reformed churches in different countries and to give joint representation of denominations in international organizations of Reformed denominations.[3]
From theDissolution of Austria-Hungary, after theFirst World War, the members of theReformed Church of Hungary were spread over several countries.[4] In each of these, Hungarian reformeds organized themselves as a new national denomination.[5][6]
On May 22, 2009, 6 of the Hungarian Reformed denominations (Reformed Church in Hungary,Reformed Church in Romania,Reformed Church in Transcarpathia,Reformed Christian Church in Serbia,Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia andReformed Church in Slovenia) decided to form a Hungarian Reformed Communion, also called the Hungarian Reformed Church.[7]
In the same year, theHungarian Reformed Church in America joined the organization.[8]
In 2013, theReformed Christian Calvinist Church in Croatia was accepted as a member.[9][1][2]
In 2019, theCalvin Synod (United Church of Christ) was accepted as a member[10] and in 2024, theHungarian Reformed Church in Australia also joined.[11]
All denominations part of the communion subscribe to theSecond Helvetic Confession andHeidelberg Catechism as a faithful expression of biblical doctrines, such as theReformed Church of Hungary.[12]
Likewise, they differ from the otherreformed denominations in that they call those responsible for a church jurisdiction "bishop".[12]
Communion members are:[1]
| Country | Denomination | Number of congregations | Number of members | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hungary | Reformed Church in Hungary | 1,230 | 943,982 | 2022[13] |
| Romania | Reformed Church in Romania | 1,352 | 495,380 | 2021[14] |
| Slovakia | Reformed Christian Church in Slovakia | 304 | 85,271 | 2021[15] |
| Ukraine | Reformed Church in Sub-Carpathia/ Reformed Church in Transcarpathia | 108 | 70,000 | 2015[16] |
| Serbia | Reformed Christian Church in Serbia | 50 | 17,000 | 2004[17][18] |
| United States | Hungarian Reformed Church in America | 27 | 6,080 | 2006[19] |
| Croatia | Reformed Christian Calvinist Church in Croatia | 21 | 3,378 | 2006[20] |
| United States | Calvin Synod (United Church of Christ) | 29 | 2,500 | 2016[21] |
| Slovenia | Reformed Church in Slovenia | 4 | 400 | 2004[22] |
| Australia | Hungarian Reformed Church in Australia | - | - | - |
| Carpathian Basin | Hungarian Reformed Communion | 3,125 | 1,623,991 | 2004-2024 |