Reformátusok Lapja, 1971 (71. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1971-05-01 / 5. szám
10 REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA the Ecumenical Council of the Reformed Church in Hungary, President of the Wallingford, Conn. Ministerial Association, Chairman of the Church World Service Committee of the Connecticut Council of Churches. Named by the Church World Service of the National Council of Churches to work with the World Council of Churches to assist Hungarian refugees in Austria. Appointed Dean of Vienna by the Reformed Church of Austria. Vice-President and Director of the Northwest Indiana Council of Churches, attended the Second and Fourth Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Evanston, 111. and Uppsala, Sweden as press participant. Delegate to the 400th Anniversary of the founding of the Reformed Church in Hungary, Delegate to the National Council of Churches Assembly in Miami, Florida. Locally, he gave leadership to the re-locating of the Congregation from East Chicago to Hammond and dedicating a new Sanctuary and educational building, also in uniting with the First Evangelical and Reformed Church of Hammond. The II Phase of the Building Plans is now under construction bidding. He is also President of the Hungarian (Magyar) Club of Chicago, 111. and General Secretary of the Polish-Hungarian World Federation with headquarters in Chicago, 111. The new Bishop is married to the former Helen E. Kosa of Kalamazoo, Michigan, a teacher of German at Highland High School, Highland, Indiana. His daughter, Julianna will receive her Master’s Degree from Rutgers University in June, 1971. Margaret Louise is a Junior at Hope College, Holland, Michigan, The Bishop’s mother lives in Stratford, Conn, and his brother Louis in Trumbull, Conn. Address preceeding installation of new officers of Calvin Synod In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Albert Einstein, the world famous Jewish scientist, made a following excellent witnessing of the effectiveness of the earthly visible church in pre- World War II Germany. Being a lover of freedom when the Revolution came in Germany, I looked to the universities to defend it, for they boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth — but the universities were immediately silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers, who in their inflaming editorials proclaimed their love of freedom, but they also were silenced. Then I looked to the individual writers who wrote fiery articles concerning the place of freedom in modern life, but they too were mute. Only the Church of Christ stood as a bastion of freedom. I feel a great affection and admiration for the church because of its courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth, and freedom. Archbishop William Laud humbly beseeched God for the universal church in the following manner: Fill us with all truth and in all truth, with peace, where it is corrupt, purge it; where it is in error, direct it; where it is superstitious, rectify it; where anything is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen and confirm it; where it is in want, furnish it; when it is divided and rent asunder make us caprious thereof. According to tradition as the ruling prince Géza head of the Hungarian government was absent, the general of his army remarked that the Géza’s worship two Gods: the Christian and the pagan. Géza’s wife answered the general: my husband is so wealthy that he can afford to worship two Gods and make worthy sacrifices for both. Calvin Synod is a bi-lingual Synod. Yesterday afternoon, I had the privilege of being present at the Canadian Ministers meeting as they planned the program of their National Ministerial Conference. A suggestion was made to study the need of bi-lingual worship services in Canada. Calvin Synod faced this problem some thirty-five or forty years ago. The congregations which refused to respond to the need of holding English Worship Services paid a heavy price for their stubborn refusal. The congregations which were over-anxious to Americanize their Worship Services and Church organizations even because of their own will or because of outside pressure, also paid a heavy price for their over-act. Many congregations closed their church doors because of tragical errors made by their pastors and leaders, because it was one thing to supply the congregations with bi-lingual pastoral services in the past then it will be another thing to do the same in the future. Within five years, sixty-five percent of the Hungarian Reformed and Presbyterian ministers in the United States will reach the retiring age of 65. In the past it was a challenge for members of our clergy with a European educational background to learn the English language. It was likewise a challenge to the members of our clergy who were born and raised in the United States to learn the Hungarian language. The third, fourth, and fifth generation members of our congregations preparing now for the Christian ministry are no longer so enthusiastic to follow the challenge met by their dedicated forefathers. Calvin Synod must make an utmost sacrifice to educate a bi-lingual clergy to replace the retiring ministers as long as our congregations request such bi-lingual ministry. May our Synod and our new Synodical Council have the foresight, wisdom and dedication to courageously meet the challenge to provide our congregations with the needed bi-lingual Christian ministry. Be ye faithful even unto death. Amen. Arpad George
