Calvin Synod Herald, 1980 (80. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1980-09-01 / 9-10. szám
4 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD regulation.” Stephanus Pathainus superintended. Emericus Beythe Pastor Evangelicus Ecclesiae Németh Újvárién ct senior eiusdem destrictus. Kanizsai as pastor of Pápa found the Ispotály (Old Peoples Home), where they took care of the old people and orphans in 1615. THE MINISTERIAL PRESBITÉRIUM In addition to the congregational presbitérium, Kanizsai also set up a ministerial presbitérium for the governing of the churches and at the Synod of Szentlbrincz in 1618 it was adopted as standard practice for the future. He intended the members of this clerical presbitérium as aides to the seniors, or rather as classical and synodical deputies, and prescribed their duties as follows at the Synod of Pápa in 1619: “Their duty was that in the care of overseeing of the churches they be the watchful eyes and keen ears and fleet feet of the seniors (executive moderators). In addition to the minister, they are to diligently oversee the life and conduct of the brethren; if anyone falls into error and they view it, let them first give brotherly reproof, remind him of his obligations, correct and warn him. When one fails to heed and remains stubbornly adamant, let him be reported to the Senior. At canonical visitations let them be diligent aides to the Senior, and should he be unable to make a canonical visitation, let them make it in his stead. . . The paramount duty of presbyters is that whatever the Senior assigns them in the churches under his supervision, which he himself is unable at the time to do, they faithfully fulfill and perform. Authorization to this effect shall be in the form of a written commission granted by the Synod, signed and sealed... at regular and special meetings of Synod the places of preeminence, after the Seniors, belong to them and they are entitled to vote.” At the Synod referred to they fortwith elected eight such presbyters. Kanizsai as bishop at the Synod of Pápa in 1630 confirmed again the “sacred council” institution of synodical presbyters. He prescribed who may be its members, raised their number to 24 and outlined their duties. At first the synodical presbitérium was composed of the clergy alone it included no lay members, although laymen were members of synod: manorial lords, patrons, lord lieutenants of castle garrisons, who might be considered the forerunners of our present day lay curators. PRESBYTERS — THE PRESBYTERIAL SYSTEM Neither Lutheranism nor Zwinglianism knows the presbyterial system in its origins. Luther, indeed acknowledges that on the basis of Acta: 20:28. and Titus I: 5, 7 in the original Greek of the New Testament the term “presbyteroi” and episcopoi’ are identical, but he advocates and uses them in this sense only in his polemics against episcopal jurisdiction. That presbyters are altogether different than the ministers of a city, he seems never to have been aware, Zwingli understands the term as a minister or pastor, and not a member of the congregation appointed to the office of presbyter and a consequent preeminence in church. He says that he, the minister, is the spirit and conscience of the congregation. As a matter of fact the idea and use of the term presbyter originates with Calvin. With him the Word of God is central and basic but this must be effectuated in the life of the congregation. Calvin bases his stand on the Bible. GABOR BETHLEN - MINISTERS NOBILITY The text below is just another stroke to the magnificent picture the historian can draw of Gábor Bethlen, Prince of Transylvania (1580-1629). Readers of this paper had already and will have the opportunity to learn about Gábor Bethlen the great military leader, Gábor Bethlen the brilliant statesman and Gábor Bethlen the champion of religious liberty. In order to be able to understand and to appreciate the following text the reader should know that Gábor Bethlen was a man of faith — he read his Bible even at war in the field. Today we would call Gábor Bethlen a positive ecumenist: although a loyal member of the Reformed Church — he sponsored the first Hungarian translation of Calvin’s Institutes (made by Albert Szenczi Molnár in 1624) —, he also supported the Hungarian Bibletranslation of the Roman Catholic György Káldi and permitted the Jesuits to work in his realm. Religious liberty for Gábor Bethlen was not a slogan nor a political pretense, it was a matter of faith to be practiced and enjoyed by all. For Gábor Bethlen the Bible was as important as its preaching. He respected and loved the preachers. This act of granting them the status of nobility with all its privilages was a great gesture of appreciation. The grant was for all ministers of the Word and preachers together with their sons and daughters and their descendents. The text you find following is a verbatim translation of the original (Latin) with the omission of certain repetitions. It is apparent — as it can be read in the letters patent — that Gábor Bethlen’s act was a magnanimous expression of his respect and love for the preachers. Yet it was more than a gesture: we believe it was a deliberate act of statesmanship. By elevating the preacher into the community of the nobles of the land the preacher was made equal in status with the other nobles. Thus the preacher gained a solid position not only spiritually but also politically which also strengthened the position of Protestantism. (Continued on next page) The words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians: 4:11: “And he gave some to be apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” — made a deep impression upon him, and so in his chief work: “The Institutes of the Christian Religion” (“Institutio Religionis Christianae”) he already makes distinction between pastors and seniors (elders), that is, presbyters. When he perceives that one is called to teach and the other to guard over morals. In His congregation in Geneva he introduced the presbyterial practise and this congregation became the pattern for all others of the Reformed faith in Europe. When the Reformation under Calvin was achieved, Calvin’s idea of the office of presbyter had its influence on the Lutheran Reformation. Makár János, The Life And Works of John Kanizsai Pálfi, trans. by Professor Dr. Ferenc Kovach, New Brunswick, N. J„ 1961.
