WJLF-Külföldi Kapcsolatok Intézete (KKI)
Brief Introduction of the Institution
John Wesley Theological College (WJLF) was established by Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship (MET) of methodist confession on its annual general assembly in 1987, in order to train pastors, religious teachers and workers of counselling.
John Wesley, the central figure of the methodist revival movement – which defines the spirituality of our college –, proclaimed that in the life of a grown-up person, faith based upon personal decision should be combined with a sense of mental, humanitarian, and social responsibility.
Being devoted to the socially marginalised, Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship decided to establish Oltalom (Shelter) Charitable Association. The organisation has been operating a system of health care and provision for the homeless since 1989. In 2002 a refugee home was established.
The very existence of the church’s charitable ministry demonstrates, that besides pastors and religious teachers there is a tremendous need for those doing social-deaconal work.
This gave the inspiration to the church to establish the Social Workers’ Training Department in 1993.
Since the building of our college is located next to the homeless shelter, also in the middle of the 8th district – a significant location in this respect. From a social and study point-of-view the area is especially suitable for the students to make good use of their studies in accordance with our educational philosophy which includes experience-oriented elements.
At the Social Worker’s Training Department duration of the degree-programme is four years. The department, being one of the biggest social worker training institutions of higher education in Hungary, admits 170 new students every year. Disabled people are also welcome, and the college is ready to give them the proper assistance they need during their studies. There is also the possibility of individual curriculum.
The department claims neither religious, nor confessional conformity of its students and teachers.
Social worker training, just like our religious degree.programmes, is characterised by ecumenical openness. The training is also marked by a tolerant-receiving spirituality, open to initiate dialogues with different values and streams. The issue of those in need of help, the social outcast, the downcast, the special aspects of the socially marginalised, the easing of everyday tensions – may they be of secular or religious, confessional nature – and solidarity with creation are put in the centre.
Mission Statement of the Theological Department
Education at John Wesley Theological College’s Theological Department focuses on three targets: a) training of those students who sense a call to be pastors, or to spiritual, catechetical ministries within the Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship, the church maintaining our institute; b) training of theologians and pastors who wish to serve the word of God in churches outside the Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship. (Our students have the opportunity to study denominational subjects at accredited institutes of higher education maintained by other churches ); c) imparting the disciplinary elements of theology.
During their studies our students can increase their positive knowledge and deepen their responsiveness to issues related to notions of life and the world of values. They get acquainted with the basic issues of Christian faith and tradition, and study the inherence of theology and religious science, their notional and scientific system, the major trends of theoretical/practical traditions of the Hungarian Evangelical Fellowship and/or their own denominations. Besides attaining experience in scientific research, they have the opportunity to attain general knowledge of cultural, social-sociological and human sciences.
It follows from the testimonial character of Christianity and the Wesleyan tradition, that theological studies can not be limited to attaining theoretical knowledge and to imparting the symbolical and theoretical system of values of the Gospel. A likewise important component of pastoral and theological preparedness and identity is the integration of knowledge at a personal level. One of the greatest ambitions of our education is, that our students’ sense of vocation and attitude would be imbued with their authentic relationship to the Gospel, the heart of their studies. We find it especially important that our future pastors would hold the preached word treasure, value and way of life which they can impart throughout their ministries being mature enough and having enough knowledge of theoretical, methodological and communication skills.
The Scriptures speak quite convincingly about the fact, that every man and every women is the child of God, and it leaves no doubt about the fact either, that the Creator is seeking our salvation out of the same love. Therefore it is our special ambition to get our students acquainted with social-charitable values, and we devote ourselves to impart a theological attitude that is disciplinary and denominationally open, honouring other denominations, faiths and convictions, and dialogue-oriented. Our desire is that our graduating students would present Jesus serving others through their lives and offices, and that they would devote themselves to the daily renewal of God’s peacemaking and reconciling work.
We especially devote ourselves – out of out theological vision we consider it of singular significance – to the idea of Jewish-Christian brotherhood and to the Jewish-Christian per defitionem not hostile relationship.
In our educational ministry we pay a special attention to cohabiting minorities, especially to the life of Gypsies and the socially most marginalised brothers, to deepen in our students the Samaritan attitude – as a God-given responsibility – towards the social outcast.
Address: 1086 Budapest, Dankó u. 9-11.
Phone: (0036) 1 210-5400/137
E-mail: office.intern@wjlf.hu
Website: www.wesley.hu