Bethlen Naptár, 1984 (Ligonier)
Frank Demes: The American-Hungarian Reformed Presbyters' Association
72 BETHLEN NAPTÁR THE AMERICAN-HUNGARIAN REFORMED PRESBYTERS' ASSOCIATION The 37th Annual Conference of the Association was held on Sunday, September 3, and Monday, September 4, the Labor Day weekend in the conference room of the Bethlen Home in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. Our keynote speaker was the Rev. Louis Illés of the Hungarian Reformed Church of Duquesne, Pennsylvania. He spoke to us on “The Presbyter, His Significance and Role in the Life of Our Church.” This was the theme of the entire conference and after Rev. Illés’ presentation the executive committee acted as a panel to discuss our (the Presbyter) role and significance in the church today. Since the executive committee represented all of the geographical areas and have had such different and varied Hungarian Reformed backgrounds and upbringings, the panel discussion went very well. When the discussion was opened to the rest of the Presbyters attending the conference, their participation and enthusiasm was very surprising. The lecure of “The Presbyter, His Significance and Role in the Life of our Churches” was first given at the Presbyters Conference held in 1948 by the Rev. Stephen Szabó. This lecture about “Our Role and Significance” is no less important now than it was 35 years ago. If anything, it is more important than ever before. If we are to succeed in preserving our Hungarian Reformed traditions and fortifying the Hungarian Re-The American-Hungarian Reformed Presbyters’ Ass n, meeting in Ligonier, 1983
