Calvin Synod Herald, 1983 (83. évfolyam, 2-4. szám)
1983-08-01 / 4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD — 5 — REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA GENERAL SYNOD “14” IN QUICK RETROSPECT The United Church of Christ held its Fourteenth General Synod in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. on June 24-28, 1983. Over 2800 were in attendance, including 705 delegates from the constituting Conferences. To have that many people at a five-days gathering is a monumental task for any organization. The accommodations, such as lodging, auditorium for such sessions, etc., were excellent. The Convention Center is one of the most up-to-date facilities with all the technical and practical equipment for conventions in the whole country. That factor contributed largely to the success of this Synod. This brief report can in no way elaborate on all the “happenings”which occured during those five days, so heavily fraught with business from morning until the late-late hours of the day. The issues discussed, and the decisions reached, embraced practically the whole spectrum of our contemporary life in which the Church of Jesus Christ dwells today. The delegates addressed themselves to such challenges as peace, armament, security and freedom, contemporary sexual behavior of modern man and its relevance to life viewed from Christian perspective, etc. Whether someone agrees or disagrees with the decisions made the meeting, it has to be stated and witnessed, however, that this representative convocation is, perhaps, the most “OPEN” meeting of all major church bodies. Indeed, the “people rule”, and they certainly do, sometimes to the point of unnecessary exhaustion, but always with the ultimate object in sight. We, who through these sessions, often felt bored or offended, but never unconcerned. All were totally relevant to our lives under all circumstances. For instance, when the question of priorities came up, the Synod voted overwhelmingly in favor of having the Youth our primary priority and concern. It was in this heated atmosphere that this decision had been reached, and all felt that we were again on the right path toward the future. General Synod “14” had faithfully followed the dictates of Christian consciousness through the pooled efforts of all the participants arriving to decisions that point in the direction of “things-to come”, whatever they may be! Even the most controversial subjects had been dealt with, (not because we have the likings to delve into them, but because they are with us, and we can either shun them (if someone wishes to do this) or face them. Our Hungarian delegation had certainly been at odds with a number of them, but we were not at odds with the sincere intent to answer them! What is important is the feeling that the Church of Jesus Christ (of which the United Church of Christ is a vital part) is aware of the problems facing God’s people. Woe unto us if we shall ever overlook them! The United Church of Christ is extremely sensitive to the needs of suffering Christian brethren all over the world, including our own in Transylvania and elsewhere. It had been our good fortune to enjoy the warm friendship and Christian relationship with our “motherchurch” during those five days, and, we are conveying this sentiment to you and to our churches which are the constituting members of this denomination, both by historical right and present day preference. This great church body gives us all the chances to serve our Lord and our people in the way and manner which we have learned from our forebearers. At the concluding service, Dr.Avery Post, President of U.C.C., reflected upon the denomination as being “fragile”, which indeed it has been and still is. But, what is fragility, or any human weakness, compared to the fathomless love and grace of God, which He made manifest in His Church to save them, and through them, the world. Rev. AARON ELEK McKeesport—Rankin, PA Churches United The merger is the culmination of almost two years of cementing relationships between the two congregations, under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Eva M. Fabian, pastor of the McKeesport Church who has been serving as the supply pastor of the Rankin Church. While sharing the common ministry, the members of the two congregations have worshipped together on occasion, sharing the sacrament of holy communion They have had common celebrations and meetings that have strengthened their Christian fellowship. Leaders of both groups have spent many hours working out the formal plan of consolidation and the petition for consolidation which was reviewed favorably by the Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ. Significantly, the consolidation is occurring during the diamond jubilee year of the McKeesport Church which was founded in 1908. Although the Rankin Church was established some ten years later, the two congregations had common roots. “The founding fathers and mothers of both were first generation immigrants experiencing allembracing environmental and occupational changes,” Dr. Fabian explains. “The earth-shaking shock of their immigration, com bined with deep spiritual needs, led the Reformed Protestant part of the Hungarian ethnic community in both McKeesport and Rankin to organize their churches.” Both have withstood the winds of change which sometimes have blown with gale force, she points out. Natural disasters, changing economic conditions through the years, the impact of World War I which eventually cut the American churches from the Himgarian mother-church and a rapidly changing society hav e created the necessity for many changes in the church. Looking toward the future of the new church, the pastor is anticipating an increase in the outreach program, expressing concern for others in mission and social service. She notes that one project already is well under way, services to elderly people without relatives, living m the Bethlen Home for the Aged in Ligonier. “We are privileged to live in this era of massive change, with all its freshness and all its challenges. No route map and no rules are provided. But we are not called to walk by sight, but by faith. We are challenged to live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to seek tc know the will of God for us in each new situation as it arises. “While we seek to nurture our heritage as Hungarians and retain our beautiful traditions and customs,” the pastor continues, “we are moving into a time when our membership no longer is homogeneous. Our petition states that we will form a single new church, the First Hungarian Reformed Church of McKeesport and Rankin, United Church of Christ, at McKeesport. However, our charter will bear a new name, still to be selected by the members of the new church "
