Reformátusok Lapja, 1968 (68. évfolyam, 8-12. szám)
1968-11-01 / 11. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 15 President’s Page Rev. Dr. John Bütösi OUR LIGONIER RETREAT brought the following 42 persons together on October 28, 29, 1968: from the East — Rev. & Mrs. A. Babos, Dr. C. Baksa, Rev. I. Bertalan, Dr. S. M. Böszörményi, Dr. J. Butosi, Rt. Rev. & Mrs. A. George, Rev. A. Hamza, Rev. J. Kecskemethy, Rev. J. Marsalko, Rev. A. Molnár, Dr. A. Moor, Rev. & Mrs. Sz. Nagy, Rev. F. Vitéz. From the Central Area — Rev. V. Bodnar, Dr. & Mrs. L. Berzeviczy, Dr. & Mrs. L. Borsay, Dr. G. Csia, Rev. K. Csia, Rev. & Mrs. I. Kovács, Rev. A. Mircse, Rev. A. Silay. From the Lake Side Area — Rev. & Mrs. S. Csutoros, Rev. A. Elek, Rev. S. Farkas, Dr. & Mrs. J. Piri, Dr. N. Sewell, Dr. & Mrs. S. Szabó, Dr. & Mrs. K. Toth. From the West: Rev. A. Beretz. From New Haven, Conn, (speaker) — Dr. R. Becker. From Hungary (guests) —Rev. & Mrs. L. Madarasz. Those persons who, for one reason or another could not attend, were sincerely missed as the retreat welded the group together in understanding the Scriptures, struggling with realistic problems, and discovering anew the great privilege of serving together our great God. As someone put it: “The whole thing was like a rich Hungarian dinner. My only regret is not having two stomachs to digest them all...” Among the noteworthy decisions, the retreat clarified the dual standing of pastors and congregations emphasizing the difference between “fellowship” and “full standing and voting rights.” Voting rights belong to those only who have full standing with us; otherwise “dual standing” means only fellowship: participation in the deliberations without voting rights. Of course, we take it for granted that every pastor who serves a congregation of our Synod HAS full standing with us. The retreat also decided to urge all our pastors and congregations to take advantage of the new Family Protection Plan of our denomination as well as the United Church Health Insurance Program. The Synod President was asked to visit our classes and offer explanation to ministers and presbyters. Let me urge our consistories again to re-imburse the expenses of the participating pastors (the Synod paid only two cents per mile travel expenses). THE SALARY BASIS FOR PENSION FUND is going to be changed as of 1969. The denomination requests to include the value of the parsonage in the salary basis of all UCC ministers who are members of the Pension Boards at 20% of cash salary. In other words, the dues of 11% should be paid not after 100% of the cash salary, but after 120%. E.g. if a pastor’s cash salary is $7,000 per year the pension dues have been $770 per year (11%). But as of January 1, 1969 the base of the pension dues will be $8,400 per year (120% of the $7,000), and the 11% of this amount is $924 ($154 more than in 1968) which should be paid to the Pension Boards. When a cash parsonage allowance is furnished, the precise amount of this allowance should be added to the salary instead of the 20%. Many other denominations have increased the parsonage percentage to 20%; the Episcopal Church now sets it at 25% of cash salary. The General Synod of our denomination in 1965, and again in 1967, urged all churches to include housing as well as cash salary in the salary basis for the purpose of annuity dues. This is for providing more adequate benefits for our ministers. (The Family Protection Plan is also based on this premise: it will cost one percent of the new salary basis!) May I urge, therefore, all our congregations whose pastors are members of UCC Pension Boards to include in their 1969 budget the new standard of “salary basis” for the annuity dues. THE CONFERENCE COUNCIL met at Ligonier, Pa. on October 29, 1968. In conjunction with the Committee on Church and Ministry, it examined the credentials of the REV. LOUIS BECSKE and granted him Privilege of Call upon the evidences of his personal, educational and ecclesiastical qualifications. In connection with some ELECTION IRREGULARITIES, the Conference Council re-iterated two basic principles: (a) “A pastor, when submitting his resignation to the charge, shall send a copy of such resignation to the President of the Synod not later than three days following the submission of such resignation to the charge... When a resignation has been duly accepted, the Synod or the Conference Council shall dissolve the pastoral relationship and declare the pulpit vacant.” That means that the resigned pastor is no longer pastor of the charge, cannot act as an administrator without the approval of the Synod, and cannot use the pulpit for “helping the congregation to select his successor.” — (b) “A minister shall not serve a vacant church without the consent of the Placement Committee of the Synod.” That means that neither the resigned pastor, nor the consistory of the charge can invite “gi>' t, ministers” who, in fact, are candii for the pulpit without the knowle ad consent of the Synod. As a matte, of fact, the Conference felt that a minister who serves a vacant pulpit without the consent of the Placement Committee of the Synod automatically forfeits his right to be a candidate! — Our pastors and consistories must take note of these constitutional provisions and their interpretations for their own good! ELECTIONS: Rev. Ernest Zugor was elected pastor of the Hungarian Reformed churches at Johnstown and Windber, Pa. on Nov. 3. (Salary: $5,000. cash salary, $240 car allowance, $202.40 Social Security, $150 hospitalization, 11% pension, parsonage with all utilities, one month vacation.) Reported membership: 145. ★ Rev. Louis Becske was elected pastor of the Hungarian Reformed Church, Fairport Harbor, Ohio on November 3, 1968. (Salary: $7,200 cash salary, 12% of total salary for pension including parsonage value, parsonage with all utilities, one month vacation). Reported membership: 337 (or as revised: 197). VACANT PULPITS: Flint Mich. (Administrator: Rev. A. Beretz), Miami, Fla. (Call Synod President), Los Angeles, Cal. and Phoenix- villc, Pa. (Contact local churches). Rev. Francis Vitéz, Editor 493 Amboy Avenue Perth Amboy, N. 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