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

1971-04-01 / 4. szám

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 15 CONSULTATION ON CHURCH UNION INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — A unique new commission of the Consultation on Church Union went into operation here March 31-April 2, eharged with finding out how a future united church could obtain a maximum mis­sion with a minimum of bureaucracy. The Commission on Structures for Mission, appointed by the executive committee of the nine-denomination COCU, probably will report prelimi­nary findings in the fall of 1972. It is headed by the Rev. Isaiah Scipio Jr. of Detroit, Mich., general secretary of the National Division of Missions of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The commission met for the first time at the Indianapolis Hilton and heard Dr. Paul A. Crow Jr., general secretary of COCU, explain that its task was to be creative and to search for “new styles in the church’s struc­tural life.” COCU in 1970 offered a plan of union for the nine churches, a plan now under study widely by inter­denominational and denominational groups. Dr. Crow said the 10-member com­mission’s assignment included analyz­ing present church structures and identifying steps and actions in struc­ture which would make the proposed Church of Christ Uniting “possible and credible.” During the meeting, the commis­sion determined it wanted to focus on preparing some options for region­al, national and local structures in a united church. Dr. Paul A. Crow, Jr. FOURTH CENTENARY OF MAJOR REFORMED CONFESSION La Rochelle, France—Preparations are well ahead to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the French Confession, also known as the Gallican Confession or the Confession of La Rochelle, a port on the west coast of France. At a Synod meeting, April 2-13, 1571, delegates from all the Reformed Churches in France confirmed the 40-article confessional document, which included a preface addressed to King Francis II, in which a plea is made for justice by the persecuted protes- tants. The French Confession had first been presented in 1559 at an assembly held secretly in a private house in Paris, where twenty delegates initially approved the draft with a few altera­tions. The original draft Confession, which consisted of 35 articles, was probably written jointly in Geneva by John Calvin, Theodore Beza and Peter Viret. The Reformed Church at La Rochelle is organizing celebrations from June 11-13 next, to which representatives from many churches and church or­ganizations have been invited. The program includes lectures by Pro­fessor J. Cadier and the Rev. P. Marcel. A commemorative service will be held when the preacher will be the Rev. P. Bourguet, an ex-president of the Reformed Church of France and a former chairman of the Euro­pean Area Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. An exhibition is also being organized to mark the occasion. RPPS FROM THE PASTOR'S REPORT 1970 It is not easy to compile a pastoral report. It has never been, but lately the task became aggravated by the crisis we experience in the church. According to a recent survey, persons who are professional workers for the church seem to experience a seven­fold vocational crisis in these days: (1) the crisis of integrity: a feeling of falseness; (2) the crisis of power: a question of recognition and influ­ence; (3) the crisis of capacity: a sense of impotency and lack of ambi­tion; (4) the crisis of the fear of failure: an impression of fruitlessness and lack of achievements; (5) the crisis of destination: a status of insti­tutional ambiguity and theological fluctuations; (6) the crisis of role: a confusion of traditional concepts and new demands; (7) the crisis of meaning: a lack of purpose, satisfac­tion and fulfillment. The pastor — as any other professional man — is an educated, expert, institutional, respon­sible and dedicated man, but when it is popular to write and talk about “the end of the Christian era,” “the frozen people of God,” “the death of God,” “the complete reorganization of the church,” “the end of the pulpit and the parish,” “the meaninglessness of ordained ministry” and so on, — the pastor is really puzzled as to what and why to report on his activities ... However, I am here to report to you without fear or confusion, “for God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and love and self-control” (2. Tim. 1:7). Not that we do not feel the crisis, but “as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions and hard­ships, in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute” (2. Cor. 6:4- 10). According to the Plan of Union of COCU, the functions and respon­sibilities of a presbyter-pastor are as follows: (1) Preacher of the Word, (2) Celebrant of the Sacraments, (3) Teacher of the Gospel, (4) Leader in Mission, (5) Prophet for God, (6) Pastoral Overseer and Administrator, (7) Ecumenical Leader, and (8) Participant in Discipline. Dr. John Butosi Rev. Francis Vitéz, 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 ($3.50 per year), egy évre ( ) vagy ( ) évre Subscription enclosed $............................ Előfizetés mellékelve. Renewal ( ) New Subscription ( ) Change of address only ( ) enclose old label. Name Street (Please Print) City State Zip

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