Calvin Synod Herald, 1991 (91. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1991-09-01 / 5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD-8-REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA From the Watchtower on the Lakeside Rev. Louis Medgyesi’s Column The 18th General Synod of the United Church of Christ met on June 26 through July 2nd in Norfolk, Virginia. Calvin Synod delegates were: Rev. Zoltán Szűcs, our Bishop, Rev. Dr. Desmond Parragh, Rev. Louis Medgyesi, and Mrs. Joseph Szonye from Passaic, NJ. Some of the most notable issues that passed approval were the concern for children in the “support of quality, integrated public school education,” a move against “sexual harrasment and abuse in the church,” the backing of “accessible universal health care system,” and other socialy oriented issues. There was one ludicrous vote against the confirmation of Judge Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court, who was just nominated by President Bush, and who was prejudged by the predominantly liberal press along with the UCC as unfit for office. Also receiving a negative vote was a “proposed pronouncement in defense of human life” which sought for the recognition of the fetus as the beginning of human life. Of critical significance to us in the Calvin Synod was the treatment of our overture on the “ordination of practicing homosexuals”. Since the overture did not arrive in the designated time frame to GS-18 it was introduced under the new business provision of the standing rules, by topic only. The wording of the new motion was condensed from the lengthier overture by the General Secretary, Rev. Albert Kovács, and signed by Rev. Louis Medgyesi, Rev. Dr. Desmond Parragh, and Rev. Steve Carmony of the Ohio Conference as per required proceedure. Then the matter was assigned to Committee #18 for review, discussion, and recommendation to the plenary session. On Sunday, June 30th, at 8 a.m. said committee met along with a large contingent of the “gay-lesbian coalition.” The atmosphere was definitely highly charged as the new motion was introduced by me. I stated that in the presentation of the Calvin Synod’s motion we were calling attention to the sin of homosexuality and we are condemning the sin, not the person. Three other proponents of our position also spoke while the vast majority opposed our overture and charged the Calvin Synod, you and I, as “backwards, living in the dark, trying to put God in a box, and blasphemous” because we dared to speak out against a shameful sin. Instead of passing our overture to the plenary session with a recommendation of opposition, Committee #18 rejected our overture outright and accepted a prepared resolution by the “gay-lesbian coalition” that affirmed ordination of homosexuals. When their recommendation finally came to the floor, the UCC 757 delegates overwhelmingly approved its passage. The summary dispatch of the Calvin Synod’s overture raises serious questions not only on the parliamentary process but more importantly about the right of every conference for equal access to the plenary session where its concerns can be aired, debated, and voted upon. Such due process is commonly practiced among us in the Calvin Synod where each Classis (Association) has a right to raise issues for debate and action through the Recommendation Committee which must present the original motion regardless whether it agrees with or opposes the issue. This was denied us by the UCC, despite the fact that some of the true liberals spoke in favor of our right to be heard. Equaly disturbing was the approach of Committee #18 toward our overture. Instead of focusing on the issue before them, opportunity was given to the questioning of the Calvin Synod’s identity and existence within the UCC as an “acting” Conference destined for assimilation into the local geographical Conferences. Apparantly, we in the Calvin Synod are not regarded as equals with other Conferences because we are “acting”. Thank God we are. (To be continued) Bethlen Home Announcement Rev. Joseph Posta pastor of the Kalamazzo (Michigan) church was elected Curator-chaplain in the Bethlen Home, Ligonier (PA). On the recommendation of the Board of Managers the Board of Directors of Hungarian Reformed Federation elected him at the recent Ligonier meeting to the position vacated by the retirement of Rev. Zoltán Kovács. He will be the right-hand man of the Home’s administrator, Rev. Paul Kovács. The Curator of the Archives of the Home is also co-administrator and co-pastor. * POSTA JÓZSEF, kalamazooi lelkészt választották meg a Bethlen Otthon megüresedett kurátori állására a nyugalomba vonult Kovács Zoltán helyére. Munkájára Isten áldását kérjük.
