Debrecen Reformed Theological University

The Debrecen Reformed Theological University (in Hungarian: Debreceni Református Hittudományi Egyetem), in English translation also known as Debrecen University of Reformed Theology (but the first form is the official English name) is originated from the Debrecen Reformed College of historical importance (founded in 1538). The University is one of the Hungarian centres for Protestant theological training, with a major interest in training ministers for the Reformed Church in Hungary.

History

Debrecen Reformed College

Theology was taught in the Debrecen Reformed College (Debreceni Református Kollégium in Hungarian) right from its founding in 1538. In a document from the general synod of the Reformed Church talking about the high expectations to theological training in the institute:

"As the schools are the gardens of the church (seminarium ecclesiae)… the languages, Latin and Greek grammar (as well as Hebrew, if possible), dialectics, rhetorics, and the free arts should be taught that are necessary for theological studies. Then theology and the Scriptures are also to be presented to the students…"[1]

The college educated generations of ministers to the Calvinist parishes in Hungary and Transylvania in the last almost five centuries.

Faculty of Reformed Theology

The Hungarian Parliament – based on the existing higher education of the Reformed College – founded the Hungarian Royal University of Debrecen in 1912, which was settled in the building of the College. One of the three sections of this new institute was the Faculty of Reformed Theology. [2]. In the following decades the University had various names (according to the dominating political directions) but the theological training remained within the university until the rule of the Communist Party.

Academy of Theology

In 1949, in the first year of the Communist Regime in Hungary the theological faculty separated from the University of Debrecen, and continued as Debrecen Reformed Theological Academy, funded by the Reformed Church in Hungary.

Theological University

The Academy changed its name after the Change in Hungary (1989) and became the Debrecen Reformed Theological University, founder member of the 'Universitas Association' of Debrecen (which contained all universities of the city) in 1991 [3], and is still in association with the University of Debrecen. The university has nine departments, nine institutes and 300 students studying on its Bachelor, Master and Doctorate programs.

The Reformed Church decided the integration of the Ferenc Kölcsey Teacher Training College of the Reformed Church into the university. The decision was made in 2010 and the process of integration has started in the same year, but it is not sure yet if it will be finished in 2011 or only in the next year. Thus the university will work with two faculties in the near future.[4]

Departments

Biblical studies

• Department of Old Testament Studies
• Department of New Testament Studies
• Department of Biblical Theology and History of Religion

Systematic theology

• Department of Christian Doctrine
• Department of Social Ethics and Sociology of Church
• Department of the History of Church

Practical theology

• Department of Practical Theology
• Department of Missiology and Ecumenical Studies

Other departments

• Department of Christian Education (in the city of Szeged)
• Department for Modern Languages

Academic Programs

Bachelor program

• BA in Christian Education, 6 semesters

Master programs

• MA in Reformed Theology, 10 semesters
• Master of Divinity, 12 semesters
• MA in Chrstian Education, 4 semesters
• MA in Pastoral Care and Management of Organisations, 4 semesters

PhD programs

The Debrecen Reformed Theological University has PhD programs in the fields of Biblical, Systematic and Practical Theology.

External link

• university web site