Studium Academicum

- was called to life by six Reformed pastors who serve in the north-western region of Romania. On the way joined several Roman Catholic pastors and many lay church members as well, in order to accomplish the aims of the foundation

- had in the beginning almost close to nothing. It had no trained personal, no building where programs could take place, neither did it has the ever necessary financial means to fund its activities. But there were devoted people whose faith and devotion overcame all difficulties. They did not spare their energy and were willing to fund the first seminars from their own resources. On the way Studium Academicum found charitable partners who either supported the initiatives of the foundation or co-operated in organising the programs.

- would like to contribute to lay and adult education. We strongly believe that by organising different seminars, conferences, trainings and offering lectures we can have a beneficial impact on the emergence of a strong lay movement and active citizenship in Romania

- would like to be an independent community forum - which supports the values and acts within the church - where questions regarding our problems related to our social, political, and economic condition can be raised, where problems of religious, ethnic co-existence can be discussed and ways of co-operation can be find

- Our work is greatly hindered by the fact that we do not have permanent headquarters. Although the Osorhei (Fugyivásárhely) Reformed Congregation kindly assured us of their long-term support in offering us the community centre of the congregation, it would greatly facilitate our work if we could finish the construction of our residential centre we started years ago. As we are unable to bring about an end of this construction work - the finding of new resources demands a great deal of the members energy, and puts great strains on the foundation - we further count on our former and new partners’ assistance in the future.

- From the beginning of its work Studium Academicum was morally very much supported by the Ecumenical Association of Academies and Laity Centre in Europe (EAALCE). In 2002 Studium Academicum became a full member of this European organisation.

Communication of the Foundation Studium Academicum

This year is the 10th annyversary of the establishment of the Foundation Studium Academicum which has been initiated by 6 Hungarian reformed pastors in Oradea (Romania). With thanksgiving we may state that up to the present we have succeeded to realize the purposes formulated in our constitution:

1. We organized more than 20 conferences in the subjects regarding public life
2. We organized dozens of trainings for elders and lay people; other times we supported materially other similar trainings
3. More than 300 children participated the camps organized with fixed topics
4. We provided scholarship or/and financial support (in the case of socially disadvantaged) for almost 1000 youth in a total amount of 16500 Euro

In all these achievements we had supporters at home and abroad whose aim is also the stimulation of changing in this region of Central-East Europe along the scale of values which we also acquire. With thankfulness, but without enumerating them all, we would like to mention some of them: Diakonisches Werk, Rotterdam Stichting, Staatkundige Gereformeerde Partij (SGP), Stichting Hulp Oost Europa (HOE), STIOC, Hilfsverein der Evangelische Kirche in der Schweiz (HEKS), Stiftung der Firma Deichmann.

Meanwhile, because of the change of our times and the - toward us - not always friendly ecclesiastical milieu, three of the founder members has left our board; two of them moved overseas. But praise God, two other colleague of us accepted our request and has joined our Foundation. Thus the vacations has been filled by Endre Kondor, reformed pastor of Biharvajda (Vaida) and Attila Zsigmond, reformed pastor of Fugyi (Fughiu) in this summer. Now, that the staff is complete again, together with them and by the presidency of Barnabás Balogh we would like to continue our tasks undertaken from the beginnings.

Seeking the will of God and waiting for His blessing, we do believe that our human efforts will also promote that - along the Scriptures - the unparalleled values of the Christianity would also get through to those people and social layers who wish to see a far better and brighter tomorrow.

The board of directors of
the Foundation Studium Academicum