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

1991-11-01 / 6. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 6 -REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

liance of Hungarian Reformed Churches spoke about the goals of this new organization, namely to advance and encourage contact and cooperation between our churches worldwide.

A report from Miss Priscilla Hunyady, and Rev. Louis Medgyesi brought encouraging news about the one week long youth camp sponsored by the Calvin Synod and the Hungarian Reformed Church in America.

It was also encouraging to hear about the construction of the new archives building near our Bethlen Home in Ligonier.

My Impressions of the World Convention in Hungary

By Dr. Alexander Havadtoy

For the past twenty-five years, at least once a month, I would sit behind the microphone at the New York studio of Radio Free Europe and broadcast a sermon or a lecture. There was no one else in the room, except the voice engineer behind the glass wall separating the studio. I would often wonder: Who is going to listen to my voice? Will there be people who want to hear a church service or listen to a lecture? From time to time, I would be told by officials who financed the Radio that I had one million listeners. It was almost unbelievable to me. When I looked at my small Hungarian congregation, it was difficult to imagine one million people listening to my voice.

And now, after forty-three years, I had the privilege of returning to Hungary and Transylvania this summer. Almost everybody 1 met informed me that they had listened to me faithfully on the radio. Many people would even quote a certain sermon or story which I had delivered. Yes, the officials of Radio Free Europe were right. Not only one but several million people were listening to the broadcasts. It was therefore not surprising that so many people wanted to see the “voice” which they had heard throughout the years.

They even said many heartwarming things, such as: “If it were not for your stand and courageous sermons, many more clergymen would have been incarcerated, and many more churches would have been closed. The Communists sensed that America stands behind your words.” Such expressions were extremely humbling. I knew that it wasn’t my word that made the impact. I was a mere instrument in the hand of God.

This explains the huge crowds that came out to the II. World Reformed Conference. From Transylvania alone over 30,000 people came to the gatherings. Even from Carpatho-Ukraine, occupied by Russia, over 1,347 people were in attendance. I had the privilege

American Hungarian Reformed Presbyters’ Association

To Unite the Hungarian Reformed Presbyters of America in one organization in order to strengthen the feeling of fraternal unity; to face the common problems with a united front, striving to find solutions and plan united actions on the annual conferences, to aid the work of the Hungarian Reformed Congregations more effectively; in general — to endeavor to make the Hungarian Reformed Churches in America better and more effecient instruments of the spreading of the Kingdom of God on Earth.

Officers for 1991 and 1992 Front Row (left to right): Miss Priscilla Hunyady, Trustees; Mrs. Pamela Lovász, Secretary; Mr. Paul J. Szaniszlo, President; Mrs. Janet Vegh, Vice President Central District. Back Row (left to right): Mr. Anthony Beke, Trustee; Mr. Andrew Lovász, Treasurer; Mr. George J. Kasza, Vice President Western District; Mr. John Nagy, Vice President Eastern District. Not pictured: Mrs. Zoltán Szucs (Barbara), Vice President Lakeside District.

1991 Annual Meeting

On September 1 and 2 the 45th annual meeting of the American-Hungarian Reformed Presbyters’ Association was held in Ligonier, PA with 93 delegates present.

A church worship service was held at the Chapel of Mt. Moriah. Dr. John Butosi gave the sermon in Hungarian, and Rev. Paul Kovács preached in English.

The meeting began at 2:30 p.m. with a brief devotional led by the president, Paul J. Szaniszlo. After roll call, reports were heard from the secretary, Mrs. Pamela Lovász, and the treasurer, Mr. Andrew C. Lovász.

The president, Paul J. Szaniszlo, gave his report which included a summary of the Presbyters’ meeting at the II World Conference of Hungarian Reformed Churches in June; as submitted to him by Dr. Zsigmond Ritook of Budapest, president of the Magyar Presbyters. Mr. Szaniszlo also reported of his trip to Hungary and his attendance at the opening and closing ceremonies of the II World Conference of Hungarian Reformed Churches.

The delegation also heard reports from the vice presidents. From the Eastern District, Mr. John Nagy gave a report of his trip to Czechoslovakia. He gave a background of his family and church he attended — a very interesting report. Mrs. Janet Vegh from Columbus, Mr. George Kasza from Allen Park, vice president of the Western District.

Representatives from other churches gave reports of their church’s activities. The assembly also heard from churches that were not in attendance in previous years. All reports were very interesting.

The main speaker for the afternoon was the Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi. His topic was “Lay Ministry”. Some of the highlights were: “every Christian is a minister; God calls us for the up-building of the Church; God calls us to be sent to a mission; and the Church is a mission”. Some of the duties of a lay minister is “to do supply preaching in churches without ministers, serve as an assistant to the pastor, and to minister to a parish which cannot support an ordained minister”.

The meeting re-convened at 8:30 Monday morning with a short devotional. The first item on the agenda for the morning was a report by Mr. Edmond Vig on the II World Conference of Hungarian Reformed Churches held in Budapest and Debrecen. The report was very interesting. Afterwards reports from the auditing and resolutions committees were presented. Dr. John Butosi gave a brief informative talk on the Hungarian Reformed World Federation. All churches are urged to join the Federation.

We were honored with a special guest, Bishop Lorant Hegedűs, Bishop of the Reformed Church of Hungary. He spoke to us in Hungarian about the churches and its people in Hungary. The meeting adjourned at about 11:15 a.m. As a conclusion of the Presbyters’ meeting, the Presbyters joined the Pastors of the Ministerial Association at the Chapel for divine worship and Holy Communion.