Calvin Synod Herald, 1991 (91. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1991-05-01 / 3. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 6 -REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

Rev. Szabolcs Kálmán in Cleveland

The great loss of California became the great gain of our Cleveland West Side Church and Calvin Synod

been a family-oriented body, where marriages are blessed and children, God’s precious gifts, are Baptized and raised. The congregation is in effect a large extended family. In such a setting the ministerial activities of someone who would challenge it with a non-Biblical, historically unacceptable lifestyle would needlessly strain the value and belief systems of the vast majority of members. We see therefore no redeeming value in the Ordination of homosexual people. We wish to reiterate, however, the closing advise of the above mentioned II Helvetic Confession’s Introduction: “If anyone will teach us from the Scripture something better than our current position, we will gratefully and thankfully yield.”

As the world-wide AIDS epidemic forces us to bury many victims, even in our congregations, we have been challenged to deal with the question of homosexuality. We do need to recognize also that no one is beyond the love and forgiveness of God, and therefore we should be prepared to extend our caring ministry to all God’s children.

At this time of our Centennial Celebrations our 91 year-old Publication entered into all portions of dismembered Hungary. The sudden changes of present day World-history brought us face to face with a new mission. While serving our congregations on this side of the Ocean, God has also unclosed for us a very special field of new service.

Let us all be partners in this God-given challenge! His is the Glory, ours is the toil for the benefit of our own congregations and sister-congregations all over the earth.

“Let us do good unto all, but especially to those who belong to our own Household of Faith.” (Gal. 6:10)

With warmest greetings in His Service: Your Editor in Chief and Your Editor and Publisher

Thought for Christians in building His Kingdom: I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me. Hudson Taylor

Following is the translation (by Leslie Eloed) of the farewell address given by chief-elder Leslie Eloed at the farewell gathering for Szabolcs and Suzan Kalman at Grace Hungarian Reformed Church, Reseda - March 3, 1991.

It was approximately 17 years ago that we took a major step by the election of Reverend Szabolcs Kalman as a full time salaried minister. This was our last step in becoming an independent church.

The then new pastor, a 1956 refugee, had already completed his theological studies here in the United States and among Hungarian pastors was considered young. On July 28,1974 in the presence of a large congregation, he took over ministering to us. His ordination and installation followed on September 29, 1974.

The new couple, Szabolcs and Suzan, naturally brought changes and momentum into the life of the congregation, including the Kodály Choir which has now been functioning at our church since 1981, with approximately 60 singers at times.

Faith requires courage, the ability for risk-taking and the readiness to accept pain and disappointment. Those who cling to being sheltered and secure as the most important prerequisites of life, have not faith; to love and to be loved also requires courage; that kind of courage which finds certain values more important then anything else, and risking all base everything, even life itself, upon these values.

Therefore, our love should not be that of a selfish m.other clinging to her grown child, but as we say Godspeed to the Kalman family as they answer their call, let us try to let them go unselfishly and with our love.

Let us rather be like the mother who is able to give everything, not wanting anything in exchange, only the happiness of the beloved child; who is deeply rooted in her own existence, while her child is in the process of becoming independent.

Upon the departing Kalman family, as well as the future life of our congregation, the job before us, and upon all our helpers I ask God for His strengthening grace and His bountiful blessing.

Reverend Szabolcs and Suzan, I know you will do likewise. Love is the only logical solution to the question of human existence and since God is Love, it never runs out. We should live by it, so as not to become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Through the upholding of God’s Kingdom, the Church of Christ, the community of the faithful and our own Hungarian Church everyone has the opportunity — with God’s grace — to express our love for Reverend. Szabolcs and Suzan Kalman, for this foundation and their loving ministry.

But now to our sorrow the Lord is calling/sending our pastor and his family to another congregation after approximately 17 years of self-sacrificing and blessed service to us.

This milestone, this change, this searching and finding of a new minister will result in growth and development, and hopefully new momentum.

However, according to the laws of nature, this process, like any other can and will cause pain.

The loss of our beloved teacher, master, friend, advice-giving pastor may be accompanied with mourning and grief; however our joy should also be evident. The Lord is calling him to another important task, and “...the Lord’s ways are not ours.”

So let us give thanks for the past years, as we now give thanks for the opening up of new opportunities/possibilities.

Sixteen and a half years ago upon the call of the Lord Reverend Szabolcs Kalman came to our church to serve, and according to the first letter of the apostle John 4:16: “...we have known and believed the love that God hath for us...”