Reformátusok Lapja, 1970 (70. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1970-02-01 / 2. szám

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

15

Rev. Dr. John Bütösi

HUNGARIAN REFORMED ECUMENE

The current theme of our REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA is “Hungarians Throughout the World,” and the January issue already indicated the unfortunate fact that one-third of the Hungarians live outside of the present borders of Hungary in the neighboring states and more than a million are scattered throughout the world. But the real tragedy lies in the fact that Hungarians throughout the world do not have any cohesive organization, political or religious, to care or help. I believe it is our duty to change this situation.

In between the two world wars, attempts were made to bring together these scattered Hungarians. In 1929 the first World Congress of Hungarians was held in Budapest and in 1938 the World Federation of Hungarians was organized in connection with the Second World Congress. The Reformed Church in Hungary also adopted a law in 1933 (Article III, paragraph 9) in which she acknowledged the care of her members abroad as her God-given task and desired to fulfill it everywhere where circumstances made it necessary and the international relations made it possible. In 1938 Dr. Bela Vassady edited a series of articles in which the situation of the Hungarian diaspora in different countries was described and evaluated, but World War II prevented the continuation of this work. As a matter of fact, after World War II the Conventus or General Council of the Reformed Church in Hungary openly admitted that the care of the Hungarian diaspora had to be abandoned and the new Constitution of 1967 clearly omitted the paragraph of 1933. The present Hungarian government makes serious efforts to reach Hungarians throughout the world but formidable differences prevent any formal organization of all Hungarians. Thus, when we experience the greatest dispersion of Hungarians in history, the sense of togetherness and the cultivation of our common tasks is at its lowest ebb. This is the burden of this problem.

In 1951 an attempt was made to organize “The Hungarian Reformed Presbyterian Church in Diaspora” under the leadership of Rev. Sándor Nagy and Dr. Geza Soos but it never came to fruition. However, in the last few years a new urgency is emerging among the leaders

of the diaspora to take seriously the problems of the Hungarian Reformed Ecumene. The new aspect of this recent movement is that all eyes are turned to us, Hungarian Reformed people living in the United States of America. They expect us to start the ball rolling because in numbers, influence and material possibilities we are the most significant part of the Hungarian Reformed diaspora. Recently an open letter was addressed to us stating in part: “The time has arrived for action. It is untenable, unhealthy and irresponsible that the problem of the most prosperous, best situated, big churches is centered in their own comfort while in the other part of the world some of our churches have to wage a hopeless battle for their mere existence. This is a frightening analogy of the relationship between the developed and undeveloped countries of the world.” This quotation can be multiplied in order to prove that we can no longer postpone action in this regard.

Of course, we can escape this responsibility by cheap excuses such as: “Why should we care about Hungarian Reformed people in other countries? Let them care about themselves! No one helped us! What right do they have to claim our money, energy and help?” I call these cheap excuses, because we know that they cannot stand the tests of history and Scriptures. Historically it can be demonstrated that most of our Hungarian Reformed churches in America did receive financial support from others. There were churches which were supported for many years and without such aid they would have never been able to survive. It is good to know that even in these days many Hungarian churches are supported by larger denominations all around the world. E.g. in South America our United Church of Christ helped to buy church buildings, to pay mortgages, to subsidize the pastor’s salary in several Hungarian Reformed colonies. But recently our denomination, along with other American denominations, was forced to change this policy as other urgent problems demand support. This is why I think that OUR time has arrived to do our utmost in the care of our brethren

throughout the world.

But even if we would be able to refute the historical argument, the Scriptural obligation we cannot. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ,” the Apostle Paul says. “Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows that he will also reap . . . Let us not grow weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. SO THEN, AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD TO ALL MEN, AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO ARE OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH” (Gal. 6:2, 7, 9-10). In other words, there are laws in nature as well as in the church which we cannot break without tragic consequences. Among these laws is the law of sowing and harvesting. If we do not care to bear one another’s burdens, if we fail to do what is right to do, we commit the sin of ommission (James 4:17) and soon we shall reap the consequences of barren self-centeredness and the judgement of lifelessness. On the other hand, if we dare to share what we have, even at the expense of our comfort and self interest, we shall reap in due time life abundant, blessings unexpected and the very joys of Christ Himself (II Cor. 9:6-8). Of course, all this we should do in due season, for the winter comes when no man can sow. In short: if we take the Scriptures, even our Lord Jesus Christ seriously we cannot escape the obligations and responsibility of the Hungarian Reformed Ecumene.

In order to see the situation clearly and set the priorities properly, I already sent out a questionnaire to Hungarian Reformed church leaders. Soon we intend to have a consultation with the leaders of our denomination as well. But the most important task is to rekindle in us the gift of God (II. Tim. 1:6) to love our brothers as He loved us, not in word or speech but in deed and truth (I. John 3:16-18). I certainly hope and pray that our forthcoming synod meeting in April may chart the course of our Hungarian Reformed Ecumene in clarity and depth for the glory of God and the edification of His Church.

Rev. Francis Vitéz, Editor 493 Amboy Avenue Perth Amboy, N. J. 08861

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