Bodnár Lajos (Margitta, 1980) református lelkipásztor a Kolozsvári Protestáns Teológiai Intézetben végezte teológiai tanulmányait (1999–2004). 2004 és 2017 között a borosjenői (Aradi Református Egyházmegye), 2017 óta pedig éradonyi (Érmelléki Református Egyházmegye) lelkipásztor. 2014 és 2016 között a nagyváradi Partiumi Keresztény Egyetemen végzett vallástudományi magiszteri tanulmányokat, 2015 és 2016 között pedig a Stichting Contextueel Pastoraat in Nederland által Magyarországon szervezett kontextuális képzésen vett részt. 2016 óta a Debreceni Egyetem Történelmi és Néprajzi Doktori Iskolájának hallgatója. Fő kutatási területe a magyar református liberális teológia a dualizmus korában, különösen Kovács Albert (1838–1904) élete és munkássága.
The sources of Albert Kovács’ (1838–1904) theological freedom must be analysed in order to understand his theological thinking and determine his place in liberal theology, especially on the wide palette of its Hungarian representatives. In this study, I explore the origins of the influences that impacted him in his childhood, during his theological studies in Transylvania and abroad, that could have shaped his thinking. His childhood years in Mezőbánd were characterised, on the one hand, by the devotion of his family towards the church and, on the other hand, by the indelible imprint of the declining ecclesiastical crisis. During his school years, he became acquainted mainly with the ideology of rationalism, which laid the foundations for his later liberal theological orientation. During his studies in Utrecht and Göttingen, he encountered liberal, mediating and orthodox positions. Upon his return, he came under the influence of the radically liberal Mór Ballagi (1815–1891). Although this clearly set him on the liberal side, his orientation did not preclude the use and application of ideas taken from representatives of confessional theological schools that he has got acquainted with abroad.