Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1971-01-01 / 1. szám
14 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA copal Church, Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church U. S., United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, and United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (Consultation on Church Union) AGENDA ANNOUNCED FOR NEXT GENERAL CHURCH ASSEMBLY IN HOLLAND Driebergen — Preparations are well advanced for the final session of the “General Church Assembly” of the Netherlands Reformed Church, scheduled for January 2,3 and 4, 1971. The General Church Assembly in an attempt to democratize the Church by giving laymen and local pastors an opportunity to express their views as to the Church’s tasks and policy during the seventies. The Assembly took place here last Whitsun, when the number of issues raised turned out to be so numerous as to make a follow-up session necessary. At the January assembly six agenda items wil be up for discussion: 1. worship, community and spiritual life 2. education, information and manpower 3. membership criteria and parish boundaries 4. the church’s committee structures 5. buildings and finance 6. the future and status of the General Church Assembly. As with the Whitsun meeting, so the January session will be preceded by an intensive programé of study and preparation on the local and regional level. RPPS DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH STAYS IN ALLIANCE Pretoria —- The Dutch Reformed Church (Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk) in the Republic of South Africa, at its Synod meeting last October, decided not to sever its ties with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. Although there were misgivings among some members of the Synod about certain tendencies and political directions within the Alliance, it was felt that the NGK should remain in membership in order to retain an international platform on which the church could make its views known to the world at large. The Rev. Dr. J.D. Vorster, brother of South Africa’s Prime Minister, was elected to succeed Dr. J. S. Gericke as Moderator of the Church. The Dutch Reformed Church, with more than 1.2 million members is the largest Protestant denomination in the Republic, and the strongest Alliance member church in Africa. RPPS NEW CHURCH ARTS CENTRE IN SCOTLAND Edinburgh — Work has begun on the building of the new Church of Scotland arts centre which is to be located in the Royal Mile, Edinburgh. When it is completed next near, the centre will have a three-fold purpose: 1) to provide workrooms for the production of church audiovisual materials — including films, filmstrips and sound tapes; 2) to be a meeting place for people interested in the aits; and 3) to provide a “window” for the church in one of Edinburgh’s main tourist centres. The director of the new centre, the Rev. George Candlish, sees the building as providing a logical continuation of the Church of Scotland’s work at the Gateway Theater, where a unique partnership between the church and the arts was established. RPPS HOW MUCH WILL YOU GIVE FOR YOUR CHURCH'S WORK IN 1971? Over 700 of your fellow members chosen as delegates to the General Synod of the United Church of Christ suggested that 5% or more of annual income would be a sensible standard. WHAT DO YOU THINK? P.S. As you think about it, please remember that due to inflation, here and overseas, work that cost $500 during the past year will cost about $550 in 1971. So you will be voting for your church to cut back its work by about 10% if you give the same amount next year as this year. Stewardship Council 1505 Race Street Philadelphia, Pa. 19102 The President’s Page LOCAL CHURCH REPORTS The forms were mailed to each pastor and are due back no later than January 20, 1971. LETTER TO MANVILLE, N.J. The Conference Council, acting on behalf of our Synod, sent the following resolution to Mr. K. Tugend, recording secretary of the Manville Reformed Church: “Whereas the Manville Ref. Church requested on Jan. 29, 1970 to be transferred from the Classis of Raritan of the Ref. Church in America to The Calvin Synod of the UCC; and “Whereas the Classis of Raritan as well as the Particular Synod of New Jersey agreed that said congregation ‘be commended in faith to the Calvin Synod’ and ‘the physical property be transferred’; and “Whereas the constitutions of both the United Church of Christ and The Calvin Synod empower the Conference to admit a local church of any denomination into the fellowship of the UCC, “Be it resolved that, as of Jan. 1, 1971, the Magyar Reformed Church of Manville, N.J. be a congregation in good standing of The Calvin Synod.” CALVIN SYNOD FLOOD DONATIONS IN 1970 Hungary ....................... $5,452.80 Transylvania ................... 760.00 Total: .............................$6,212.80 Kenya Mission ..............$ 279.00
