Reformátusok Lapja, 1970 (70. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1970-10-01 / 10. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 13 400 VACANT PASTORATES IN DUTCH CHURCH Driebergen, the Netherlands — To combat a seriously increasing shortage of ministers, the Synod of the Netherlands Reformed Church decided at its winter session to permit laymen to preach. 20% of the pastorates are vacant, and it is estimated that by 1975 this will have gone up to more than 25%. Nearly 400 congregations are without a minister at present. In future, lay members of the congregation will be authorized to conduct worship “provided that their education and ability make them fit to do so.” The Synod, in a statement, has underlined that the proposal was made not only in response to ministerial shortage, but also to stimulate the “coming-of-age of the laity.” In addition, it was announced that the retirement age of ministers would be increased from 65 to 75. RPPS DUTCH PASTOR FOR ISRAEL Bussum, the Netherlands — The Netherlands Reformed Church, the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Christian Reformed Churches have seconded the Rev. C. B. Bavinck to the Christian Kibbutz Nes Ammim in Israel, with special responsibility for pastoral work and lay training. The aim of the Nes Ammim settlement, which now has more than 50 members, most of them Dutch, is to express practical solidarity with the Jewish people in the construction of the state of Israel, and to contribute to better relations between Jews and Christians. Mr. Bavinck’s appointment, which is for six months, will also facilitate the organization of a larger visitor’s programme in the Kibbutz and of study groups and conferences. RPPS NEW SCRIPT FOR OBERAMMERGAU? The German Protestant Committee for Service to Israel has urged those arranging the Passion Play at Ober- ammergau to re-word passages that tend to evoke anti-Jewish feelings of biblical truth and justice to the Jews. NEWS ITEMS SCOTTISH CHURCHES REJECT UNION A proposed plan of union between the national Church of Scotland and the Congregational Union of Scotland has been rejected after 10 years of dialogue and negotiation. The Church of Scotland’s presbyteries voted 30 for and 32 against. The Congregational vote was 55 congregations for union and 60 opposed. ★ A ROMAN CATHOLIC AWARD The associate executive secretary of the Worlds Council’s New York office, Charles P. Lutz, has received the Archbishop John Ireland Award from the Urban Affairs Commission of the St. Paul-Minneapolis (Minnesota) Diocese for his contribution to the urban ministry of the Church. The theologically trained Lutheran layman was founding director of the Centre for Urban Encounter in St. Paul, which is supported by eight Protestant churches and the Roman Catholic archdiocese. ★ LUTHERAN/ROMAN CATHOLIC DIALOGUE ON GOSPEL AND LAW The universal jurisdiction and infallibility of the Pope remain issues that require further clarification, according to a Lutheran-Roman Catholic international study commission that held its fourth session at Cartigny near Geneva. The commission, sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation and the Vatican Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, explored the theme “Gospel and Law” with emphasis on various aspects of Christian freedom. Lutheran members of the commission expressed the hope that “the current revision of Roman Catholic canon law would be continued with a concern for ecumenical rapprochement: with the realization that, although it directly binds only Roman Catholics, it represents nonetheless a work affecting the whole of Christendom.” AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIANS FORM DEVELOPMENT SECRETARIAT The Australian Council of Churches (ACC) together with the Roman Catholic Church in Sydney will form a joint secretariat to promote “social justice, development and peace” throughout the continent. It will operate a joint development fund to be raised by an appeal to the congregations, asking members to give a reasonable percentage of their income. ★ NINE CPC LEADERS BOYCOTT WORKING COMMITTEE Nine prominent members of the Christian (Prague) Peace Conference have said they will not participate in the Working Committee and the International Secretariat “for the time being.” Protesting against the “events and methods of the past months,” their letter dated February 27 referred specifically to the “externally enforced resignation of the general secretary, J. N. Ondra” and efforts to ignore the leadership crisis instead of clearing up differences in fraternal discussion. Congratulations to the Rev. and Mrs. Zoltán Szabó on the birth of their son, Arpad. ***** Congratulations to the Rev. and Mrs. Denes Tamas on the birth of their son, Joseph Zoltán. ***** Congratulations to Mrs. Caroline Murany, widow of the late Rev. John Murany, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday in Lakeland, Florida. She received birthday greetings from the White House from President and Mrs. Richard M. Nixon, and Vice- President and Mrs. Spiro Agnew. She has four children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
