Annual General Meeting IV & Pedagogical Symposium

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Budapest, Hungary – November 6 to 8, 2026

A highly topical and inspiring weekend in Budapest where the International Association for Christian Education (IV) gathered. This year’s central theme was cutting-edge: the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on value-based education within Christian schools.

The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary, beautifully located in the center of Budapest. On Friday evening, IV President Piet Jansen and Bishop Tamás Fabiny opened the weekend. Following an introduction to the Hungarian school system and the pedagogical institute (EPSZTI), there was a valuable encounter with local teachers and students, followed by a warm welcome reception.

The Program: Day by Day

Saturday, November 7: AI in the Spotlight–

  • Deep dive with lectures: Saturday morning started with a chapel meditation by Krisztina Szilák-Túri, after which we immediately dove into the depth of the topic. Theologian František Štěch (University of Prague) spoke about how AI is changing our anthropological perspective. Educational researcher János Setényi then took over, outlining the future of Christian education in this AI era.
  • Practical workshops: In the afternoon, it was time for hands-on action during two interactive workshops:
  • AI and social media (led by Christijn Snippe).
  • AI in the classroom (led by György Sziráki and Márton Magyari).
  • Participants swapped halfway through, ensuring everyone went home with concrete, practical ideas.
  • Official general meeting: At the end of the afternoon, it was time for the statutory annual meeting. The day concluded festively with a joint dinner at a local restaurant.

Sunday, November 8: Soaking Up Underground Culture

Sunday morning brought a very special experience. The group traveled by public transport to Buda Castle. Instead of just looking above ground, participants received an guided tour through the Buda Castle Cave, a historic underground cave system. The program ended around noon, and everyone returned home.

Key Points from the General Meeting

During the official session on Saturday afternoon, a full agenda was reviewed:

  • Finances & Annual Reports: The 2025 financial statements and the 2027 budget were discussed, after which the board was granted discharge.
  • Organizational Changes: A major decision on the agenda was the closure of the IV office at the EKD (Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland). Votes were also cast regarding the future composition of the board and the election of a new treasurer.
  • Looking Ahead: Discussions took place regarding a cooperation agreement with the Conference of European Churches (CEC), the new design of the IV website, and updates from the global network GPEN by Wim Kuiper. Finally, a preliminary look ahead was taken at the 2027 General Meeting.

Key Takeaways

  • AI is Not the Future, It Is Now: Christian schools should not shy away from artificial intelligence, but rather explore how to use their moral and value-based compass when implementing it.
  • A Network in Motion: With a refreshed website, new partnerships (CEC), and organizational changes, the IV is ready for the years to come.