Before the lecture, Rector Zoltán Kustár of Debrecen Reformed Theological University introduced the speaker to the audience. The Rev. Prof. Jerry Pillay, an honorary doctor of our university, is an ordained minister of the Reformed Church, an extraordinary professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and he was the first president of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Since 2023, he has served as the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches and met the Pope eight times since assuming his current office.

As his presentation also demonstrated, Prof. Pillay travels extensively to conflict-ridden regions across the globe, driven by the very mission that formed the subject matter of his public lecture. (The Hungarian translation was delivered by Dr. Gábor Ittzés.)

Prof. Pillay began his presentation by describing the “polycrisis” defined by the World Council of Churches in 2022. According to this definition, the simultaneous presence of five major crises can be observed in our world today: 1) accelerating climate change; 2) increasing economic inequality; 3) an erosion of the consensus about human rights, which can affect the dignity of ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities alike; 4) a crisis of governance, the weakening of democratic institutions, and the rise of authoritarian regimes; 5) the spread of violence, manifesting both within countries and in international relations.

The Christian world can confront this complex crisis only by bearing witness to the lordship of Jesus Christ, the speaker emphasized. Speaking on the changing nature of the Church’s mission, the speaker noted that “recent developments in thinking about mission and evangelism can be of catalytic importance to contemporary churches, especially in clarifying their essential roles and defining their mission and ministry in and to the world.”

He emphasized that “the Church is not the sender but the one sent. Its mission is not secondary to its being; the church exists in being sent and in building itself up for the sake of its mission.”

In this context, the speaker cited the document published in 2012, Together towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes: “The Church is a gift of God to the world for its transformation towards the kingdom of God. Its mission is to bring new life and announce the loving presence of God in our world.”

Speaking about the role of the Church, he emphasized that “The Church needs to stand where God stands and not get mixed up with the rich and powerful. The language of love is best expressed in standing up for truth, siding with the poor and holding out hope amid injustices and sufferings.”

Reflecting self-critically on the unrest in our world, he stated: “Even churches express different views; we are too caught up in religious nationalism, often used as instruments of states and politicians[.]”

Speaking of discipleship, he remarked: “Our discipleship, even when aimed at transforming systems of injustice in the world, must be premised on our own transformation, brought about through ongoing conversion to the love of God in Christ, the needs of the world, and love’s imperatives.”

Following questions from the audience, the event concluded with closing remarks from the Rector, who expressed his appreciation for the lecture and presented gifts from the university to General Secretary Jerry Pillay.