Journal index

The relocation of the Reformed Theological Faculty from Aiud to Cluj in 1895 was preceded by a heavy dispute lasting several decades, and settled ultimately by the clash between Bishop Domokos Szász, promoting the relocation to Cluj, and Professor Ödön Kovács, militating for the stay of the institution at Aiud. The debate on the closure of the theological institution of Aiud was clearly one of the topics of everyday discussion during the final quarter of the 19th century, as reflected in contemporary newspaper articles. This study scrutinizes the related articles of one of these local newspapers, Közérdek (Public interest) during the year 1896, when the theological institution of Aiud was finally closed.

In the background of the increasingly popular group dynamics one should be aware of the loosening ties within the communities of the modern society. The essence of a small group is that it enables special, experimental and interpersonal learning. Their efficiency as live, open systems can be measured in the existential change of the personality. In our analysis we examine cases of adaptation to the church life at the level of complex ecclesial communal events.Studying the Bible in small groups is a genuine heritage of the Reformation, although it had taken centuries to be considered socially relevant. According to the pastoral-psychiatric practices, the most proper “social sphere” of repentance as the existential spiritual change of the personality is provided by the Bible-study groups. Group-phenomena such as group-cohesion, altruism, wholeness, dynamic balance can be matched very well to the spiritual qualities of the church as a unity of the living body of Christ. Group dynamical process will facilitate a live and fresh ecclesial life. Church services as moderated large-groups are to provide social integration for the Christians through concentric circles. Through the internalisation of a consensus-able dialogue-culture the ecclesial communities would be enabled to formulate a community model based on the love of Christ. To assign proper place of dialogic Bible study, the importance of groups should be increased within the system of church services and complex ecclesial occasions.