Calvin Synod Herald, 1977 (77. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1977-05-01 / 5-6. szám

2

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

The Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi Bishop

963 Laurel Ave. Bridgeport, Conn. 06604 (203) 368-3658

Published bi-monthly.

Editor-in-Chief: The Right Reverend Dr. John Butosi, Bishop 963 Laurel Ave., Bridgeport, Conn. 06604

EDITOR: REV. FRANCIS VITÉZ 493 Amboy Ave., Perth Amboy, N.J. 08861 201-826-3513

Subscription-Elöfizetés: yearly: individual: $5.00 group: $3.50 Printed by I. H. Printing Co., North Brunswick, N.J. Second class postage paid at New Brunswick, N.J. 08901 Send Form 3579 to Calvin Synod Herald-Reformatusok Lapja Circulation Department 493 Amboy Ave., Perth Amboy, N.J. 08861 Please make checks payable to the Calvin Synod Herald Send all correspondence to the Editor Manuscripts and photographs are not preserved or returned.

THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA:

Editor-in-Chief ____ The Right Rev. Dr. John Butosi, Bishop

Editor _______________________________ Rev. Francis Vitéz

Board Members: Rev. Desmond D. Parragh, Rev. Zoltán Király, Dr. Joseph Piri, Rev. Arpad Antal, Rev. Zoltán Szabó, Rev. Victor Orth, Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Szabó, Rev. Dr. László Berzeviczy, Rev. Andrew Hamza, Rev. Leslie Egry.

OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS

THE 39TH ANNUAL MEETING of our Calvin Synod is over. It was held from April 18 through 20 at the Holiday Inn of Ligonier, Pa. With guests, the attendants were close to 100. In order to help the delegates report to the consistories, the Synod News again summarizes the most important decisions. They are as follows:

1. In regard to the Erdély situation, Synod overtures the 11th General Synod of the U.C.C. calling attention to human rights and cultural freedoms violations against minorities in the Socialist Republic of Rumania.

2. Synod learned the unpublicized fact that the March 4 “Rumanian’’ earthquake left 60 of the 75 Reformed church buildings in Kovasna County, Transylvania seriously damaged : 15 uninhabitable, 5 are to be demolished, 6 steeples are beyond repair, etc., the approximate damage estimated as high as $2 million. In order to help these churches, Synod designated Pentecost May 29 as “ERDELY EARTHQUAKE RELIEF SUNDAY” asking our churches for generous support.

3. The retreats greatly enriched the Synod deliberations: committees were busy discussing OUR grass root problems, many of them not having sufficient time to formulate recommendations. The approved recommendations include :

□ Sunday School curriculum survey;

□ Sunday School teachers workshop;

□ Voting list of local churches to be submitted to Synod (Feb. 1) as reported membership;

□ Booklet on our diaspora work;

□ Stress on adult education: Bible study, elders training, sense of mission and stewardship in the Body of Christ, visitation, etc.;

□ Accelerated refugee work;

4. In financial matters, Synod approved the recommended budget of $51,088.00, raising the per capita assessment from $2.50 to $3.00; at the same time paid less for travel expenses (12 cents per mile) than a year ago (15 cents) in order to balance the Travel Equalization Fund.

5. Assistance to the Bishop was approved in principle, but in practice only $750 was added to the office worker’s honorarium. (Motion to establish Bishop’s Fund by $2.00 extra assessment was defeated.)

6. At the Annual Synod Dinner a Certificate of Recognition was presented to the Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Szabó at the milestone of 50 years in the ministry and 30 years in Cleveland. Then Dr. L. Vatai spoke on “Ady.’’

7. Elections. Synod re-elected the present officers for another two year term. The Rev. Francis Vitéz was elected editor of the Calvin Synod Herald — Reformátusok Lapja.

8. YOUTH CAMP pamphlet was distributed by Rev. A.

E. Antal (soon will be available in local church, too) Theme: “The End of the World — When? How?” The 50 dollars registration fee is to be sent with form to Camp Laurel Wood, 223 East Main St., Ligonier, Pa. 15658 no later than Aug. 1. Camp date: Aug. 14-20. Synod approved the Rev. A. Szilagyi serving as assistant camp director, also the subsidizing of two buses: one from the East and one from West. From here on classes will prepare the camp programs on rotating basis. (Continued on page 8)