Calvin Synod Herald, 1988 (88. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1988 / 2-5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD-17-REFORMATUSOK LAPJA HRFA CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS The 33rd Convention of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America resolves 1. that it reaffirms its Christian ties and solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Transylvania. We regret the dictatorial approaches of the Romanian government against the people of Transylvania, causing great and unneccesary pain to them in the form of persecution, forced relocation, deportation and discrimination in the homeland, and the hardship and forced escape upon those who, finding the hostile circumstances in their homeland intolerable, leave as refugees. We offer our prayers on behalf of those who remain in Transylvania in light of increased complexities, and offer our financial and moral support on behalf of our Transylvanian brothers and sisters who crossed the border into Hungary as refugees. Through the already established refugee resettlement ministries in various parts of the U.S.A., we are prepared to continue the resettlement ministry on behalf of Transylvanian refugees. It is hoped that there will be an easing of tension. It is hoped that the easing of tension will reduce the pain, agony and suffering of our brothers and sisters in Transylvania through the cessation of the Romanian government’s hostile actions toward its minorities. May the Romanian government’s approach and actions toward Transylvanian people and other minorities be based on universally accepted principles of human rights. 2. that it expresses support to environmental protection groups in Hungary, requesting that the Hungarian government stop the commenced construction works for the Bos- Nagymaros dams. We feel that this project should be reexamined in a series of open discussions so the Hungarian people could make an informed and free decision in this matter. 3. that we express our greetings and appreciation to the Hungarian Reformed community in the U.S.A. and Canada, through whose joint efforts the Federation has been built in the past and flourishes in the present. We prayerfully embrace our Hungarian brothers and sisters of all faiths and denominations living in Hungary or anywhere in the world, who accept and cultivate their Hungarian heritage as a precious gift from God. We also express our oneness with every man and woman of good will of all nations, races and creeds. 4. that it is with great joy that we received the news from Hungary that there is a strong movement to return the ancient colleges to the care of the Reformed Church of Hungary. Since the founders and former members of our Federation received leaders and members from those parts of the country which were under the cultural and spiritual influence of those educational institutions, it is the privilege and duty of their descendents to express their appreciation by lending a helping hand. The Federation supports this hopeful trend by encouraging the members and their communities to morally and financially support these educational institutions in Hungary. 5. that, whereas precious historical documents of our Hungarian spiritual and cultural heritage are in our posession in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and, whereas plans were formulated and approved by the Board of Managers and by the Board of Directors of the Bethlen Home for a new Bethlen Museum and Archives building on the premises of the Bethlen Home; and, whereas our Hungarian churches and the Bethlen Home are known to be committed in their financial and moral support of the project; therefore we pledge ourselves in support of the new Museum and Archives Building, and request whole-hearted cooperation and asistance from our branches on the local level. 6. that we request that each representative of the Federation, i.e., Directors, Branch Managers and Branch Officers, act as historians in their respective areas with the task of collecting for the Bethlen Museum and Archives all material that is relative to our churches, Federation and societies. 7. that we commend the President of the HRFA, the Executive Committee, and the entire Board for their activities to strengthen the good public relations toward the churches, societies and press, in order to give good exposure to our society, and we encourage them to continue to do so. 8. that we express our appreciation for the interest shown by national and local, civic and fraternal leaders in the work of our Convention. We appreciate the letters sent by the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Robert P. Casey, and National Fraternal Congress of America Executive Vice- President, Robert E. Miller. We were honored by the gretings Bishop László Kürti and Elemér Kocsis sent us from Hungary. We also appreciated the presence at out Annual Banquet the Honorable Clifford Naugle, Mayor of the Borough of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, and leaders of the Hungarian Lutheran and the Roman Catholic communities in the U.S.A., as well as many other religious and civic leaders. We are grateful for the support of these leaders, and we continue to ask God’s blessing upon them, and upon the work they do. 9. that we express our thanks and appreciation to the National Officers: The Rev. Dr. Imre Bertalan, President; Mr. Joseph F. Tegze, Vice President-Secretary; Mr. William B. Puskas, Treasurer; to the Board of Directors with Vice Presidents The Rev. Dezső Abraham, Mr. George Dózsa and Mrs. Suzanne S. Virgulák; to the Convention Secretary, The Rev. Dr. Aladar Komjáthy; to the Convention secretarial staff, Mrs. Teri Pflum and Mrs. Irene Vallario, and to The Rev. and Mrs. Paul Kovács, secretary Diane Hakel and the entire staff of the Bethlen Home, for the planning, the leadership and the hospitality granted to us during the convention week of
