Calvin Synod Herald, 1980 (80. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1980-11-01 / 11-12. szám

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPIA

7

Reformed Church, RÁKÉ

CHURCH NEWS FROM TRANSYLVANIA

During the past summer I had the privilege of visiting our people in Transylvania. There is good news and bad news I have to report on.

The good news is that the earthquake damaged church buildings are almost completely restored. It happened more than three years ago that 72 Hungarian church edifices were damaged or destroyed by an earthquake which have been consistently and irritatingly denied by Romanian authorities. During my stay in Transylvania I personally visited the places where the damage was the greatest and the help most needed. Those who were benefited by our Synod’s financial support one way or anther ($26,000), are deeply grateful for our actions and encouraged by our concern. Although the repair work is still going on in a few places, now it is clear that all damaged or destroyed edifices will be restored! The church buildings are stronger now because of the earthquake!

Of course, the church is more than building. People make the church. In this respect the good news is mixed with the bad. In the Transylvanian Church District, twenty congregations ceased to be “mother churches” (served by full-time pastor) in 1978-79, while twelve “mother churches” were established in places where there were no full-rime pastoral services previously. The “degraded” churches include: Dombos, Komlód-Oroszfája, Szamosköblös, Kisiklód, Ördögkeresztúr, Czege, Alsóilosva, Nagyajta, Égé, Székelymagyaros, Szentlászló, Siménfalva. Űjszékely, Kis-Reformed Church, HIDVÉG

sólymos, Gagy, Magyarsülye, Kendő, Bágyon, Felérd, Csúcsa. The ‘‘new mother churches” established in 1978-79, are as follows: Kolozsvár-Tóvidék, Kolozsvár- Téglás-út, Kolozs vár-Donáth-út, Brassó-Gyárváros,

Kézdivásárhely-Kanta, Sepsiszentgyörgy-Olt utca, Marosvásárhely-Meggyesfalva, Marosvásárhely-Állomás, Bukarest-Dél, Székelyudvarhely-Szombatfalva, Kőhalom, Kissármás. (No data from the Nagyvárad district)

But definitely bad news is the fact that of the 62 applicants only 7 were admitted to the Theological Seminary of Kolozsvár. From 1949 to 1975 the number of theological students who were commissioned to serve upon completion of their studies was 604, which is 24 per year. However, in 1979 the government-approved number was lowered to 13, and now to 7, which means that in the last two years the student body increased only by 20 which is 40% of the previous yearly number. This IS disturbing, because the reason of this unwarranted decrease cannot be lack of applicants and the growing number of retiring ministers would justify increase.

In closing, I must mention that the European Area Council of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches had a meeting at Poiana Brasov in early September. In the planning stage it was promised by church and state authorities that delegates would be free to visit Reformed congregations, But then the signals were changed all along the line. Therefore the President of WARC, Dr. James McCord decided not to attend the meeting.

Dr. John Butosi