Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1971-11-01 / 11. szám

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REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

If I were a pauper And had not a cent;

The gifts I’d give Would be lovingly sent.

I’d open the doors On the vault in my heart;

And spread love and kindness As gifts for a start.

Then I’d wrap understanding And sympathy, too;

And help a lost soul To start life anew.

I’d send in a box Well tied with a bow;

Tolerance and forgiveness To my friend or a foe.

To my soldier-in-arms I’d write in a letter;

Courage and Faith Sealed well with a prayer.

If I were a rich man And bought gifts by the cart; None could equal the gifts In the vault of my heart.

Margaret Fekete Csóványos

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TENTH ANNIVERSARY

September 19th of this year, Grace Reformed Church of Gary, Indiana, celebrated the Tenth Anniversary of its new church building with a re- consecration worship service and a Jubilee Banquet for its members and for friends from our surrounding six sister Churches.

Participants leading the Worship Service included guest pastors from the area: Rev. Desmond Parragh, Rev. Dr. Arthur Ludwig, Rev. Laslo Med- yesy, Rev. Dr. Charles Szabó, and Rev. Metzer. The Anniversary Sermon was offered by Rev. Frank Endrei, originally the pastor under whom the new Grace Reformed Church was built and currently of Cleveland, Ohio.

The day was a festive event with membership joyfully aware of God’s grace. Chief Elder, Mr. James Ba- rath, reports that never has a construction loan payment to the Hungarian Reformed Federation been made late, and the Church has been blessed by cohesion, financial security, and spiritual motivation.

Mrs. Coralyn T. Medyesy, Acting Pastor

PLAN FOR PAY INCREASES FOR POST-FREEZE EFFECT

Churches which are now making budgets should include provisions for increases in minister’s salaries, to take effect when the wage freeze is ended, according to a joint statement by the Pension Boards and the Council for Church and Ministry. The statement says:

“One problem of a wage freeze is that inadequate salaries are also frozen. Some groups are seriously affected because they need increases to catch up to their proper salary level. Many of our ministers and other professional employees of the church are in such a group.

“UCC progress in raising salary standards has been good in recent years. Many conferences and congregations have studied clergy salaries and set new, more adequate goals for total compensation. General Synod has recommended fair salaries with annual reviews, full retirement, disability, life and health insurance coverage for career leaders.

“Churches are making budgets now, and these should include suitable increases for ministers with a footnote that the increase will not take effect until it becomes legal. If no such provision is made it may be difficult for ministers to receive raises early in 1972, if they have not been budgeted.

“Some ministers are called to churches with a contract providing regular increases. In such cases, churches should review such agreements with care to see if increases are possible under the freeze. While the wage freeze also fixes so-called fringe benefits churches should be sure they provide fully for the minister’s church- related business expenses, especially those connected with his car. These are not considered to be fringe benefits.”

K.Y.P.

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U.S.A. BEST SELLER

The American Bible Society’s modern English translation of the Bible, Good News for Modern Man, recently passed Dr. Benjamin Spock’s Baby and Child Care as the best-selling paperback book in the U.S.A. More than 25 million copies of Good News have been sold compared to Spock’s 24.1 million.

Editor’s Clipsheet

Official Communications

(Continued from page 2)

The Twelfth Hungarian Protestant Ball was held on November 12, 1971 in the Hotel Statler Hilton in New York City. The Connecticut Protestant Ball was held on November 13, 1971 in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Arthur Moor, our synodical legal advisor, was chairman of the Committee on Arrangements.

PASTORAL SALARIES

The Nixon Wage Freeze has affected our ministers most severely since our pastors are amongst the lowest paid in the denomination. Consistories should review their pastor’s salary before the end of the year and make the necessary salary increases for 1972 with the understanding that they will go into effect when it becomes legal. Let us handle the matter of pastoral remuneration with understanding and Christian love.

Note: The “freeze” does not apply to auto expenses for the pastor on behalf of the congregation. Congregations, therefore, may fully reimburse the pastor either on a mileage basis or on an estimated percentage of total costs which would be applicable to serving the congregations needs.

CONGRATULATIONS

The members of the consistory and congregation of the First Hungarian Reformed Church of Pittsburgh, Pa. are happy to announce that their pastor, the Rev. Dr. George S. Csia became a citizen of these wonderful United States of America on October 8, 1971, and we wish to congratulate him on this occasion and wish him much success and happiness for the future.

SYNOD APPEALS FOR 1971:

1. Heart-Lung Machines.

2. South American Mission (Montevideo, Argentina, Brazil, diaspora visitation).

3. Aid to churches in Hungary and Transylvania (floor relief, etc.).

4. Kenya Mission.

5. Aid to Hungarian Reformed churches in Europe (Belgium, Switzerland, refugees).

REMEMBER

Our missionaries in Africa:

Rev. István Csákány

Maasai Rural Development Centre

P.O. Box 24860

Karen, Kenya, East Africa

Dr. Janos Pásztor

St. Paul’s United Theological College P.O. Limuru, Kenya, East Africa