Reformátusok Lapja, 1969 (69. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1969-04-01 / 4. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 15 President’s Page Rev. Dr. John Bütösi THE TROUBLE with this “President’s Page” is that I would like to make it fresh, newsworthy and up-to-date, but this is an almost impossible task! The news of today (March 12) will not be fresh, newsworthy and up-to-date when you will read it... and it is impossible to know what will be fresh, newsworthy and up-to-date at that time... Thus in my dilemma, I decided to share with you some of my correspondence which might be of common interest at any time... (I should ask for the permission and understanding of those whom I drag into this experimentation without warning them beforehand.) CANDLES DURING WORSHIP SERVICE. This question was asked by the consistory of our church in Homestead. Here is part of my answer: “As to the problem your pastor wrote about at your request, I am not so definite: should candles be used in your church during the worship service? I never considered my office as a tribunal in such matters, and therefore consider my advice only as an individual opinion and not as an official decree!...” “I do not think that the use of candles in our worship services is advisable, useful or necessary at the present time. I am well aware of the fact that there are Protestant denominations which are using candles in church services, but our Reformed forefathers had the conviction that the true beauty of the worship service lies not in the outward ornaments of the place, but in the ‘frugality, piety, and virtues of those who are in the church.’ (The Second Helvetic Confession, Chapter XXII.) Would this innovation edify the WHOLE congregation in the obedient understanding of God’s Word: this is the crucial question as I see it, and I trust that you, too, are much more interested in THIS question than in how to satisfy the ‘popular demand’ or the aesthetic cravings of SOME in your congregation!” CONGRATULATIONS. This letter was sent to our Synod on March 3, 1969 by Wm. Kincaid Newman, Executive Vice President of the Pension Boards: “I have just been looking at the Our Christian World Mission figures for 1968 and am delighted to see the splendid increase by the Calvin Synod. Congratulations to you and all the other men who worked to make this possible.” Yes, we are no longer on the last place in the Basic Support giving, but precede several conferences. BISHOP OR NO BISHOP? On January 9, 1969 Drs. Zoltán J. Füle and Alexander Havadtőy sent the following letter to UCC President, Dr. Ben M. Herbster: “Dear Dr. Herbster: The Conference Council of the Calvin Synod submitted a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the Calvin Synod whereby the president of the conference would be called bishop, and the vice president deputy bishop. We are enclosing a copy. “This proposal causes us grave concern for we feel that it is against the spirit of Reformation and the polity of the United Church of Christ. “We would be grateful to you, Dr. Herbster, if you would express your views, both legal and theological, concerning this proposed amendment.” DR. HERBSTER’S REPLY, dated February 13, 1969, reads as follows: “I must apologize for having waited this long to answer your letter of January 9. I did not want to answer it until I had an opportunity to talk to Dr. John Bütösi about the proposal concerning which you have interrogated me. This opportunity came last week at the United Church Assembly. “Legally the Conference has every right to adopt the amendments. Theologically it is hard for me to judge because it is not plain whether the Bishop is to be an office or an Order. Theologically, of course, I am very much against the Order of Bishops. I think that all of us are equal before God. To be sure, some have to carry more responsibility than others, but this is simply a matter of office and not an Order. “I can understand some of the pressures that build up among our Hungarian people due to their tradition in Hungary and the fact that the Hungarian Church in America has a Bishop. I must confess, as I said to Dr. Bütösi, that I am left very cold to the proposal. I would not want to be called a Bishop. I suppose this grows out of my prejudice more than out of any rationale which I could document. “I do not know whether I have given you a satisfactory answer or not, but it is all that I can do at the moment.” JUST BRIEFLY. Dr. Joseph Zsiros was the unanimous choice of our Flint congregation to fill their vacant pulpit. The election took place on March 9, 1969. (Salary: $5,500 basic salary, $500 car allowance, 12% pension of total salary, including parsonage allowance, and one month vacation.) ★ Representatives of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, of the Hungarian Presbyterian Conference, and of our Calvin Synod met with Dr. James McCord and Prof. Nichols of Princeton Theological Seminary on March 10, 1969 to discuss the plan which was suggested by the Rev. Imre Bertalan concerning the research center and theological education of our bi-lingual ministry. The meeting made positive plans toward the establishment of “Hungarian presence at Princeton.” Details will be revealed at Synod meeting. ★ Pastors who prepare annual report books on the life and activities of 1968, are requested to send one copy to the Synod President’s office. ★ The American Hungarian Studies Foundation will sponsor their annual George Washington Awards Dinner on April 16, in the Plaza Hotel, New York City. The recipients of the awards are: Joseph Pasternak, film-producer; Rt. Rev. Dr. Zoltán Beky, president of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America; Dr. John Lotz, university professor; and Antal Dorati, the world famous conductor. The master-of-cere- monies for this eventful evening, will be Mr. Chet Huntley, newscaster for NBC Television. Rev. Francis Yitez, Editor 493 Amboy Avenue Perth Amboy, N. J. 08861 Please enter my subscription for the Reformátusok Lapja Megrendelem a Reformátusok Lapját for one year ( ) or ( ) years ($3.00 per year), egy évre ( ) or ( ) évre Subscription enclosed $...................... Előfizetés mellékelve Change of address only ( ) enclose old label. Name ....................................................................................................... (Please Print) Street ______________________________________________ State ................................... Zip.... City
