Calvin Synod Herald, 1989 (89. évfolyam, 1-2. szám)
1989-09-01 / 2. szám
SYNOD SPEAKS UP! We are preserving our voice as a power through our Calvin Synod Herald. We hope July-August Issue pleased you. The Sept.-Oct. Issue reached you now. Repeatedly we ask you to renew your congregational subscriptions. In case of congregational subscriptions (if it is more than 100 copies sent to individual addresses) on special rate it is only $3.00 per copy. Our 1982 Synodical Meeting made a decision, that ‘each congregation of the Synod should subscribe at least for the Consistory’s members and presidents of church-organizations’. We are only four months away from the 90th Anniversary Year of our Paper and 100th of our existence in America. Let us all make now this important step! We also appeal to our individual subscribers. Come along with us. Our Paper is one of the oldest in the Nation. Love it! Protect it! Read it! Spread the good-news to others at this historic period of our life! CALVIN SYNOD HERALD ______ — 3 - __________ Whereas we, The Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ, though small in number (41 congregations), yet with our special flavor and strategic position are proudly an integral part of the United Church of Christ; Whereas we are minority churches in transition and in economical struggles, yet in spite of these our congregations all participate in Our Churches Wider Mission; Whereas we continually carry out some special missions due to our unique informational channels, connections and responsibilities, like eight heart-lung machines to Hungary (over $60,000 per machine), maintaining ministries in Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela, financing Bibles to Transylvania, Transcarpathia and Lithuania; Whereas the United Church of Christ has sent $5,000 to The Transylvania Refugee Aid to the Hungarian Reformed Church in Hungary and the smallest tribe, The Benjamin of the United Church of Christ, The Calvin Synod Conference sent over $30,000 for this refugee aid; Whereas the cruelty, inhumanity and persecution of the minorities in Transylvania triggered the worldwide condemnation of the Ceausescu regime’s barbarous acts both by religious and political leaders and rendered homeless tens of thousands of refugees; Whereas we are unmisunderstandably told by our Lord that “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me." (Matt. 25:40) Whereas The Calvin Synod Conference of the UCC has not received mission credits from the UCC for its so necessary and special missions; Whereas we try to fulfill our missions far beyond our capacities and cannot believe that our brothers and sisters in the UCC would intentionally try to embarass us by not giving us mission credits for our special missions in the United Church of Christ; Whereas no other groups in the United Church of Christ has the connections, informations and knowledge to carryout these missions; THUS We, The Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ respectfully and prayerfully overture the XVII General Synod of the United Church of Christ to 1. Join the World Alliance of Reformed Churches as well as other Christian communities and caring world leaders and be on record of taking a strong stand against the inhumanities of the Ceausescu government in Transylvania, making our position clear to our political leaders as well as to our World Alliance, and 2. Raise our voices, prayers and moral support, as well as, our substantial financial aid in behalf of the persecuted and homeless Transylvanians and Transylvanian refugees now in Hungary, and send our aid to The Hungarian Reformed Church’s refugee work in Hungary for their efforts far surpassing their capabilities, and 3. Officially recognize with Christian love the unique mission efforts and accomplishments of The Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ by granting them “special support” status for their missions and mission credits as Our Churches Wider Mission. Synod General 17 launches UCC into new era in 1990s The election of a new president and treasurer and the choice of Cleveland as a new headquarters city, all on one emotional Monday, swept the 32- year-old United Church of Christ into a new era during the church’s 17th General Synod, which met in Fort Worth from June 29-July 4. In the midst of those internal changes, however, the Synod’s 758 delegates reaffirmed the UCC’s historic commitment to social justice, world mission and ecumenical involmement — including the approval of a major statement on faith and economics. New officers elected Paul H. Sherry, 55, head of Chicago’s Community Renewal Society since 1983, will take office on October 1 for a four-year term as the church’s fifth president. He will succeed Avery D. Post, 65, who will retire after an unprecedented third term. Doris R. Powell, 39, of Berkeley, Calif, was elected without contest as director of finance and treasurer. She will replace Charles H. Lockyear, who will retire in October at age 69, having served since 1961. She will administer budgets of $14.6 million for 1990 and $15 million for 1991. Cleveland chosen The UCC headquarters has been in New York City since 1961. The 448 to 294 vote for Cleveland followed a four-year study process involving two consecutive headquarters committees. The vote authorized the UCC to purchase a building at 700 Prospect Ave. in downtown Cleveland from Ohio Bell for $5.25 million in Jan. 1992. Until then, the UCC national offices will lease space there as needed. Recognized the special mission efforts of the Calvin Synod and its 41 churches. Reaffirmed a partnership relationship with the Middle East Council of Churches and supported work with the Reformed Church of Hungary to explore reestablishing the Reformed Collegium of Sárospatak, offering I high school and seminary education. ____ REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA General Synod Speaks Up! Our Synod's overtures sent to General Synod “17”
