Calvin Synod Herald, 1977 (77. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1977-09-01 / 9-10. szám
REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 7 Since there were many young people in the churches at this time, the Christian Endeavor flourished. The language of this organization was purely Hungarian. The organization was active until the onset of World War II, when many of the young men were drafted and slowly the organization taded. Following the end of the War, the young people of our Magyar Synod (now Calvin Synod) set about organizing themselves nationwide. They were under the care of the Synod but they had their own officers. Youth groups from within the churches met regionally also. For their national meeting, a Youth Camp was organized under dual leadership. For years only the Junior and Senior High young people attended camp, but plans are being made for a separate camp for College students also. On request of the Synod, I prepared a booklet for the use of youth meetings which is a four year plan. The Camp set up was for continuing Christian education and also contained a leadership training program. In 1974, the 25th Anniversary of the Youth Camp was observed. The young people attending this camp were not only from our Calvin Synod, but from churches in the United Church of Christ but not belonging to Calvin Synod. The young people in the Free Hungarian Reformed Church were organized into the Bethlen Youth Federation in 1934. This group is still in existence and active regionally with a three day camp at Labor Day. Plans are beng made to consolidate the two youth groups regionally and for camp. Young people belonging to Hungarian churches in the Presbyterian Church are part of the youth organizations of the respective presbyteries. This in short presents the Religious Education system of our Hungarian congregations. Being aware of our respective denominational affiliations and facilities, but through our mutual background, we want to weave into this colorful picture our Hungarian Reformed traditional colors and assets and thereby enrich the lives of our young people of Hungarian background, as well as the American Protestant young people. Francis Vitéz CONSULTATION ON CHURCH UNION PRINCETON, N.J. — A conference to “take stock of where we are in the quest for the unity of the church” in the last quarter of the “ecumenical century” will be held at Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J., September 23-25. The Consultation on Church Union and the university are collaborating in the conference. About 30 ecumenical leaders representing a variety of approcahes to unity are being invited to attend. Focus of the discussions will be eight papers on the theme: “Ecumenical Convergence: The Way Ahead.’’ Presenting the papers will be Prof. Albert Outler, Dallas, Texas, a United Methodist ecumenical scholar and teacher; Prof. George Tavard, a Roman Catholic ecumenical leader on the faculty of the Methodist Theological School in (Delaware) Ohio; Dr. William Rusch of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A.’s Division of Theological Studies; the Rev. Lewis Wilkins, Nashville, Tenn., a synod executive in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.; Sister Ann Patrick Ware of the National Council of Churches’ Faith and Order staff; United Methodist Bishop James K. Mathews of Washington, D.C.; Prof. J. Robert Nelson, a leader in World Council of Churches Faith and Order work and a professor at Boston University School of Theology; and Dr. Gerald F. Moede, general secretary of the Consultation on Church Union. Dr. Moede said a major purpose of the consultation is to examine the various strands of unity activity and see how they relate to one another. “The ecumenical movement needs a diversity of approaches,” he said, “but is there not also a need to begin to examine the elements of a common goal, or at last a common vision?” “It is clear,” the COCU executive continued, that no one group can, or should try, to monopolize the formation of a common vision, but can we not begin to pool our thinking regarding whence we have come — and where we might be going? Can we not at least begin to try to illuminate the question together, so that we do not pass each other as ships in the night?” Dr. Moede noted this is a particularly appropriate time for such a conference since 1978 will mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of the World Council of Churches, and this year is the 30th anniversary of the birth of the Church of South India. There have been 64 major church unions around the world in the past half-century, he added, and 34 negotiations are under way now, including COCU which involves ten U.S. churches bodies. HUNGARIAN PROTESTANT BALL CALVIN SYNOD MEETING NOVEMBER 11, FRIDAY at 9:00 p.m. APRIL 17-18, 1978 NEW YORK - ROOSEVELT HOTEL Grand Ballroom LIGONIER, Pa. HOLIDAY INN MOTEL 212-734-8144
