The general assembly of the Királyhágómelléki Reformed Church District (KRE) held on Friday in Nagyvárad elected János Bogdán Szabolcs, a priest from Kraszna, dean of the diocese of Szilágysomlyó, as the bishop of the church district.
János Bogdán Szabolcs and László Forró, the deputy bishops of the currently expiring cycle, were nominated for the position, and János Bogdán Szabolcs won the vote 54-49.
The general assembly for electing bishops was convened after Bishop István Csűry, who had led the church district since 2009, retired.
Speaking to the public media after the election of the new bishop, he assessed that there are signs of a spiritual and spiritual crisis all over the world, which are now also accompanied by the first signs of a financial crisis. In such circumstances, he wants to do so that a spiritual community that brings renewal is formed in the Reformed congregations.
Bogdán Szabolcs was born on August 24, 1978 in Zilah. He finished his elementary school in Szilágypanit, then became a student at the Cluj-Napoca Reformed College. In his introductory article, which can be read in the Harangszó congregational newspaper, he says: he first felt attracted to pastoral ministry during his high school years. Thus, by the will of God, in 1996 he became a student of the Protestant Theological Institute of Cluj. He finished his university studies in 2001 and began serving as an assistant pastor at Szilágyszentkirály.
After his years as an assistant pastor, he served in Szilágyborzás for 11 years, from where he was invited by the Kraszna parish, where he has been serving for eight years. In 2016, he was entrusted with the service of deacon of the Szilágysomlyó Diocese, to which position he was re-elected this year. He has been married to his wife Ilona for 22 years. So far, by the grace of God, six children have been born to them. Their eldest son is a second-year student at the Cluj-Napoca Theological Institute, the others are studying at educational institutions in Krasna.
MTI/ Maszol
Photo: Mária Kulcsár
