Reformátusok Lapja, 1963 (64. évfolyam, 1-9. szám)
1963-10-01 / 8. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 13 ENGLISH SECTION-p)//p\ Our heroic struggle for life in the United Church of Christ came to a victorious end. The resolution recommended by the Executive Council was unanimously passed at the General Synod meeting in Denver, Colorado. The uncertainty that dwelt in our hearts has ceased. Magyar Synod was recognized as an Acting Conference. At the Conference Executives of the East Central Region meeting Dr. Herbster stated that the official policy of the United Church of Christ is to strengthen the Magyar Synod. Following the suggestion of Dr. William Rest, president of North Illinois Synod, it was unanimously adopted that the same policy should be maintaned by the Synod presidents and Conference superintendents. After the four Fall Work Conferences I will appoint a committee to draft the proposed By-Laws of our Synod. The committee should always have in mind the fact that the proposed By-Laws should be acceptable to our clergy and laymen. This would give us the confident hope that the presented By-Laws will be approved by our Synod and will be eventually ratified by our congregations. I have consulted our Ex-Synod presidents, our four Classes presidents and our Synodical Council members on the issues and problems of drafting our Synod By-Laws. It was their unanimous agreement that the guiding principles in making our Synod By-Laws should be the following: Our Synod By-Laws should be the real and true reflection of the By-Laws of our congregations. All real or personal church property should be owned, managed and disposed of by the local congregation. It should be the PRESIDENT’S MONTHLY REPORT DRAFTING OUR SYNOD BY-LAWS By REV. ARPAD GEORGE, Synod President foundation on which we endeavor to build our future life. It should be the legal framework of a precious fellowship to which we have belonged in the past and desire to belong to in the future. Our By-Laws should be evangelical in principal, Calvinistic in character and Synod- presbyter in system of church government. In true spirit to our heritage and to the faith of our forefathers, it should state the complete Scriptures, the Second Helvetic Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism as our official doctrinal standards. The Constitution and By-Laws of the Evangelical and Reformed Church should be basically used as a main source, because it is well known by our clergy, it was for many years in common use by our congregations and our predominantly English speaking gneration members have been brought up in our church life under it. It kept us together in the past and it will nourish and strengthen our unity in the future. It is highly desirable to give more representation to our dedicated laymen in all our Synod instrumentalities. The Synodical Council should be increased from the present membership of five to seven. The lay representation in it should be raised from the present one to three. One of the three should be elected the curator of the Synod (Acting Conference) as co-president. In accordance with my promise made at our Synod meeting I have already mailed to the pastors of our congregations a variety of By-Laws and selected material in two copies. At our Fall Work Conferences I have sought the opinion, counsel and advice of our ministers and laymen. All the material I have received from individuals, congregations and classes will be transferred to our By-Law Committee. We should pray that the dedicated members of our By-Law Committee will do a consecrated work in drafting our Synod By-Laws and thus serve the glory of God, strengthen the ties of our fellowship and bring increased peace to the spiritual welfare of our congregations.
