Calvin Synod Herald, 1985 (85. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)

1985-08-01 / 4. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

— 7 —

REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

Presbyter’s Association

The American Hungarian Reformed Presbyters’ Association held its 39th annual meeting in Ligonier, Pa. on Labor Day weekend, September 1 and 2, 1985.

Anthony C. Beke was elected President to complete the unexpired term of Frank Demes, who resigned for personal reasons. Also elected and installed was Ernest Virgulák as Eastern Area Vice President to complete the unexpired term vacated by Anthony C. Beke.

During the meeting the attendees received a report on the Bethlen Home by Rev. Paul Kovács, a report on fund-raising for the Statue of Liberty by Priscilla Hunyady, a report by Rev. Imre Bertalan on the Ministerial Associations plans to have the Debrecen Choir tour the U.S.A., and a slide presentation by Dr. Alexander Havadtoy of his trip to South America highlighting the conditions under which our churches exist in that part of the world.

During the two day meeting, we were the guests of the Bethlen Home for lunch on Sunday and Monday. In behalf of the Association, I wish to express by deepest appreciation to the Bethlen Home for their hospitality.

As the new president, I plan to periodically bring news to you through this publication regarding the various topics discussed at the meeting. I hope you will look for these articles, discuss them among yourselves, and bring them to the attention of the elders in your respective congregations. Of the elders and ministers, I request that they include these topics as part of their regular consistory meetings and act on those items which they feel would be of merit within their own congregation. Anthony C. Beke

Box 335 Crosswicks, NJ 08515

Refreshing, Relevant and Reformed

If you want to read something refreshing, relevant, and Reformed the resent publication of Professor M. Eugene Osterhaven is your best choice: Garment of God: A Theology of Nature. It can be ordered from Sunday School Guide Publishing Company, 18 South Elm Street, Zeeland, Michigan, 49464.

The author should not be a stranger to us, his associations with Hungarian Reformed people span five decades. Eugene Osterhaven is a very patriotic American, Dutch Reformed in theology and background, who loves the Canadian rivers and wilderness, a twentieth century “voyageur”, always a young man (even at seventy) and he is married to a lovely lady of Hungarian origin. That he is a distinguished doctor of theology of Princeton Seminary is selfevident.

In his multifaceted Christian ministry and leadership has always been a great friend and benefactor of Sárospatak College. He is a true friend of all Hungarian Reformed people who knows our faults as well as our virtues. History will record that he was probably the first pioneer among American leaders who raised the issue of the plight of our Hungarian brethren in Transylvania at a time when most people in the Western world could not even locate Transylvania.

In his ‘theology of nature’ Dr. Osterhaven gives us a delightful master-piece, which is a theology that liberates, refreshes and challenges. It is highly recommended to all age groups: teenagers as well as senior citizens. It is structured in such a way that Sunday School classes, youth conferences and church worker’s workshops may use it effectively.

if you take the trouble to read this delightful booklet of 48 pages, I am sure you want to read Dr. Osterhaven’s two other, major works as well: The Spirit of the Reformed Tradition, 1971 and The Faith of the Church, 1982. Both

were published by Wm. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

As we all should know, Eugene Osterhaven was one of the two authors of the 20th century English translation of the Heidelberg Catechism. The beautiful spirit of the Catechism pervades this delightful booklet Garment of God. Aladár Komjáthy

Food Crisis Appeal

NEW YORK — Citing the continuing severity of the world’s food crisis, particularly in Africa, Church World Service announced that it will seek a total of $16.5 million in an extension of its 1983 Global Food Crisis Special Appeal.

Response to the original $6.5 million appeal, issued in August 1983 as the largest single appeal both in size and scope in the agency’s 39-year history, has been “overwhelming,” CWS officials said, with over $ 12 million raised to date. More than half of the total ($6.4 million) has come designated for Ethiopia and another $1.2 million for Africa in general.

“The appeal has been oversubscribed,” said J. Richard Butler, CWS interim executive director, to the CWS Committee, which voted its approval of the appeal’s extension. “As a result, lives have been saved.

“Places where death was a frequent visitor have become places where food and medicine are saving lives at this very moment,” he said. “Where land was barren and unproductive, water from newly dug wells nurtures seedlings, and gardens hold the promise of preventing famine in the future.”

Church World Service is the relief and development arm of the National Council of Churches. Roughly half ($6,866,151) of the $12,159,317 in cash and commodities received in the Global Food Chrisis Special Appeal as of March 5 have come from the NCCs 31 member church bodies and about half ($5,071.353) from public and community appeals. The U.S. government supplied $221,813 in ocean freight reimbursement.

RÁKÓCZI FOUNDATION

In Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Death of Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II.

RÁKÓCZI FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $10.000 International Literary Competition

TORONTO, CANADA — The Rákóczi Foundation, a non-profit international organization dedicated to the preservation of the Hungarian heritage and to the fostering of peace and understanding among nations and nationalities in Central Europe, recently announced its sponsorship of an international literary competition on the subject of “The Spiritual Legacy of Ferenc Rákóczi II.”

The first prize to be awarded, by a panel of prominent judges, for the best essay will be $ 10.000. The competition is open to anyone, regardless of age, educational qualifications, nationality or country of residence. The deadline date for all submissions in any language, but with a minimum of 50 typewritten pages double-spaced, is March 31. 1986.

“Prince Ferenc Rákóczi II. one of Hungary’s and Transylvania’s greatest and most charismatic heroes, died 250 years ago, on Good Friday, April 8. 1735. The Foundation declared 1985 as “Rákóczi-Year” and will celebrate this year in his honor not only with the literary competition — which will be also the basis for an international symposium on East and Central Europe — but also with a variety of activities designed to refresh the memories of Prince Rákóczi, who was one of history’s noblest freedomfighter and spiritual forerunner of the great ideals of the French Revolution.

The dream he tried so valiantly to bring into realization more than 250 years ago still lives in the hearts and minds all over the world today. He is also immortalized by the famous “Rákóczi- Marches” among them by the great French composer Hector Berlioz in the “Damnation of Faust” and by Ferenc Liszt in has splendid “Symphony No. XV” — said Nicholas Korponay, the president of the RÁKÓCZI FOUNDATION.

For more information about this international literary competition, write to:

RÁKÓCZI FOUND A TION P.O. Box 67 Stn. “L”

Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6E 4Y4