Bethlen Évkönyv, 1991-1992 (Ligonier)
Amerikai Magyar Református Egyház
DUQUESNE, PA Pastor: Louis Illés Church: 1411 Kennedy Avenue, Duquesne, PA 15110-1839 — Phone: (412) 2300 — Sunday worship service (except in the summer): 9:45 a.m. Hungarian, 11:00 a.m. English, Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Chief Elder (1991): Andrew Peclet. Acting Assistant Elder (1992): Stephen Larkin, Sr. During 1990 and 1991 our congregation continued its efforts to face some difficulties, the same time we have many reasons to look forward to a hopeful future. The relocation of the steel industry hit the Duquesne area very hard. All social areas, churches as well, feel the impact of the industrial change. Lay-offs, emigration of families, are some of the reasons of a shrinking working population. While Duquesne counted over 40 thousand residents in the 40’s, today we have under 10 thousand, most of them retirees, or living on welfare. In addition, the city’s demographic structure underwent a strong racial change, too. Our ethnic and dogmatic uniqueness enabled us so far survive these difficulties. Our congregation still draws a major part of her membership from neighboring comminities, sharing this advantage with the other three larger Hungarian Reformed congregations in the Pittsburgh area. This fact enables us to face the disadvantages of industrial and social changes more positively. We have experienced other changes in our own church life. Time marches on, funerals outnumber births/baptism, retirements outnumber job finding, growing age robs some of our diligent laborers of their ability to continue. The stress of everyday living and labor makes it hard for some to live up to the duties of stewardship. The trend to discontinue serving on church council past one term is alarming. Unfortunately there is no reserve to draw from for replacement, to make up for our loss by this attitude. The same situation is true in the case of office-holding. There was no one willing to take the treasurer’s or the secretary’s job. Now the Pastor’s office is taking care of these duties. Of course this takes its toll on the Pastor’s time schedule. 174
