Reformátusok Lapja, 1969 (69. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1969-08-01 / 8-9. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 11 EYE WITNESS REPORT OF THE SEVENTH GENERAL SYNOD MEETING The Seventh General Synod meeting of the United Church of Christ was held at the Statler Hilton Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts from June 25 - July 2, 1969. The delegates started to assemble Tuesday from Maine to California, and some from Hawaii. This conference was celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the coming of the Gospel to Hawaii. The meeting was called to order on Wednesday, June 25 at 9:15 A. M. by the Rev. Gibson I. Daniels, Moderator, with the singing of the hymn “O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand”, and the reading of the Gospel, Mark 1:1-15. More than 1,800 rose to sing and to glorify God with their voices. Mr. Richard C. Pfeiffer was elected Moderator, the Rev. Dr. Theodore Ledbetter and Mrs. Thomas R. Wagner were elected assistant moderators. At this point the air was filled with excitement as if the whole room was aware that something was going to happen. As we turned to see what was taking place at the back of the room, Mr. James Forman was marching down the isle flanked by Ministers for Racial and Social Justice and youth delegates. He was escorted to the podium and introduced by Rev. Edwin R. Edmonds, New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Forman expressed his appreciation to the Ministers of Racial and Social Justice and for the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Black Economic Development Conference. He thanked the Community of Concerned Christians for their restitution of past grievances. He maintained that the spirit of capitalism is contrary to the spirit of Christianity. He called on the Church to meet the demands of the first nine points of the Black Manifesto. His demands, however, were turned down by the Seventh General Synod. Previous to the General Synod meeting, the Administrative Committee of the United Church of Christ in reply to Mr. Forman stated in part “the United Church of Christ will continue to commit financial support and leadership to programs directed to the realization of justice and freedom for all people. As in the past, these resources will be channeled through the agencies of the Church. Therefore the Administrative Committee on behalf of the United Church of Christ decline to meet the demands you have made upon it.” President Herbster gave his address to the General Synod, titled “Interrobangs” stating that we are not our own but only free to do what God chooses. We must take action that will make us brothers in one. “The Douglas Horton Lecture” was given by the Most Reverend Everest John Primeau, Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire and a close friend of Dr. Horton. He stated that Dr. Horton had done more in the ecumenical movement than any other person. Bishop James K. Mathews spoke on “Consultation on Church Union.” He stated that full union with the other denominations will not be realized until 1975 or later. Presentation of the youth: the leader of the group stated that they are frustrated about having only nine young people represent the youth of the United Church of Christ. He asked the General Synod that in the future more youth should be elected as delegates. Later, the Synod voted tc direct the Executive Council, Conferences and Local Churches to elect at least 20% of the delegates under age 30 for future General Synod meetings. Speaking for the World Conferences of Churches was the Rev. Albert Vender Heuvel. He stated that the burning problems of the country are great but that we should never overlook the other part of the world, especially those brothers that live and suffer under Communist rule. Ministers for Racial and Social Justice made a plea to the Synod stating “that the time has come when the United Church of Christ either do what their calling is, or stop using the name of Jesus Christ and hide behind His name.” They asked that they be given more freedom to determine their own destiny and more representation on the Executive Council, but most of all financial support be given to them to carry out the work with their own people. After a long discussion where each side was given equal time to speak, the Synod voted to grant their requests, believing that it is our Christian duty to support the pleas of the Ministers for Racial and Social Justice. For the next three years, $1,500.00 will be set aside for this work. One of the most memorable experiences of the whole Seventh General Synod took place Sunday evening at the Boston Symphony Hall when the Old South Church, celebrating their 300th Anniversary, presented “What Is Man” by the Boston Chorus Pro-Musica. The program was outstanding. Monday, June 30, the election of the President took place. Dr. Moss was overwhelmingly elected. He received 437 votes to 241 for Dr. Gray and 41 for Rev. Gibbons. The General Synod acted on the following pronouncements: 1. The “Selective Service System” and voted to ask the President of the United States to stop the draft, 2. “Sharing the cost of government fairly” — in the interest of justice we insist that the revenues necessary to meet the expenses of the government must be apportioned with utmost fairness and this should include the churches, 3. “Amnesty for war objectors” — the Synod voted to urge the President to grant at the earliest possible opportunity, amnesty and pardon for those who for actions witnessing to their beliefs have been incarcerated, deprived of their citizenship, or led by their conscience into exile during the course of the nations great agony in the Vietnam war, 4. “Gun control” — did not have enough support to pass, 5. “Vietnam War” — the General Synod passed the resolution as follows: “because of our continuing concern, be it resolved that the General Synod of the United Church of Christ urge the President of the United States of America to declare an early cease fire in Vietnam and to accelerate withdrawal of United States troops from Vietnam.” Each of these pronouncements was followed by a lengthy discussion, each side was given an equal opportunity to speak, but there was such a strong feeling against the war in Vietnam, that the vote was 437 to 100. President Herbster spoke briefly and thanked the General Synod for giving him the opportunity to serve for eight years. The new President was called on to say a few words- Dr. Moss in his message to the General Synod asked that we open our eyes and ears to the youth because they have something to say to us. He also stated that we are the first denomination to give the Black Man say about their own destiny and that we all should work toward this end. Now for my own observations — I firmly support the black man and their rights to guide their own destiny. As a Christian I cannot do otherwise. I cannot in good conscience withhold from them that which most of us have been enjoying, the freedom to do as one pleases, especially in our own Calvin Synod. We were given the right to govern ourselves over the last nine years. Therefore, I strongly support our black brothers in this respect. On the amnesty of war objectors, my own feeling was that each one of us owes a certain allegiance to that country which has given us freedom. I do not condemn those who because of their belief speak out against war, but I should, for they should realize that some died to give them the right to object. Albert Kovács (Mr. Kovács is an elder In our Fairfield, Conn, church.)
