Reformátusok Lapja, 1968 (68. évfolyam, 8-12. szám)
1968-08-01 / 8-9. szám
12 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA an interesting attempt was made by the Church of the Savior in Washington, D. C. They do not enroll a child in the church school unless he has a parent or sponsor who would make a threefold commitment: (1) “I will attend the School of Christian Living or take part in another mission of the church.” (2) “I will bring my child to church school each Sunday.” (3) “I will work with him on his weekly assignment and communicate with his teacher weekly either in writing or orally.”— Similarly the teacher makes a threefold commitment: (1) “I accept the children and families of my class as my flock, praying for them and communicating with them regularly.” (2) “I will learn to use the selected materials and prepare my class lesson weekly.” (3) “I will attend the Teachers Training Class regularly and study the required material.”-—On the basis of these mutual commitments, teachers and parents meet weekly for worship, study and discussion: how to let the Good News sound in the life of the children... Perhaps, this seems to be too much for us. But let us not forget, that when a child is baptized in our churches, both the church and the home make a solemn commitment to the living God of our salvation “to instruct the child in the Word of God, and by precept and example to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” How seriously do we adults take our baptismal vows: this is the question. For it is better not to baptize a child than to lie to our God and to our children! I am convinced that in order to renew our Christian education we should start with the parents. Let us provide graded material which the parents can use in teaching their children in family setting! Let us- organize in every church, classes for parents in order to help them to accomplish their task at home! Let us have a national conference each year when we can orient ourselves in the jungle of educational problems and promises! Instead of blaming everyone else for the chaotic confusion of religious education, let us take the burden and joy of Christian education upon our own shoulder: this is the challenge of Rally Day in our churches! Dr. John Butosi, Synod President REQUEST FROM THE EDITOR We wish to call to the attention of all individual subscribers (those not subscribing through their local churches!, to fill out the form located on the inside of the back page and indicate your intentions for subscribing. Those desiring to continue their subscriptions or renewing their subscriptions, are asked to send in their correct mailing address, and $3.00 per year. Send all forms and inquiries to: Rev. Francis Vitéz, Editor, 493 Amboy Avenue, Perth Amboy, N. J. 08861. ★ Please send all news items or articles to the editor. Oar deadline is the fifth of each month. The Fourth Assembly of the World Council of Churches Uppsala, Sweden, July 4-20, 1968 Not for a thousand years had the Christian Church stood in one place and at one time as it did in Uppsala. The Orthodox, the Protestant, the Pentecostal, the Roman Catholic, the Unitarian were present with official and unofficial representatives. For the first time in a thousand years the quest for the oneness of the church was nearing an end. The great Swedish Lutheran Cathedral of Uppsala was the place where this great event took place. Buried around the high Altar are the ancient saints and kings of Sweden. Pomp and ceremony opened the first Worship Service of the Assembly hut it was the saying of the Lord’s Prayer each in his own tongue that welded the participants into a worshipping congregation. The high point was the Holy Communion. It was a moment of great expectation, and yet a moment of great sorrow. For it is at the Table of the Lord that our divisions are most painfully apparent. Would the theme of the Assembly: “Behold, I make all things new” come to pass, or would our hopes again be frustrated? The Table on that ancient Altar had been there for centuries. The time-honored Swedish Mass was the vehicle of worship. The history of the church and nation oozed out of the walls. The milieu was not given to newness or renewal. And yet, the Table was new. The old, traditional place of worship, the revered and ancient liturgy, the gathering of the vast assembly of Christians from-all parts of the church could not suppress the “newness” of God. The great congregation surged towards the places of Holy Communion. Orthodox, Protestants and Roman Catholic priests present stood side by side to receive the holy elemnets. Church rank and office were forgotten. All knelt at the Table as miserable sinners in need of forgiveness and grace. “Behold, I make all things new” was no longer a theme; it was a happy reality. And yet all could not join in this act of oneness. The official observer of the Vatican said with a sad heart: “A great struggle went on within ine as I resisted the Holy Table”. He went on to say that he felt his communion might be misinterpreted by the world and would actually harm the cause of unity. But he could not escape the “newness” of God nor could those who came to observe, to criticize, to dissent, to roadblock or to deter. The great event of the Fourth Assembly of the World Council of Churches is the revelation of God in making His Table new. In this newness, lies the best hope of the church and mankind. Rev. Arpad Beretz
