Calvin Synod Herald, 1992 (92. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1992-11-01 / 6. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD-5-REFOMÁTUSOK LAPJA Timely Report on Most-Timely Project by Susanne M. Király On June 25 through June 291 attended the United Church for World Ministries Annual Conference along with more than 400 ministers, lay people, overseas guests, and missionaries. I have been a corporate board member since 1989. As board members, it is our task to spread mission awareness in furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our respective home churches in our geographical areas. There are video tapes available to be shown on various ministries of the church board as well as pamphlets describing mission projects. Once people are made more aware of the work going on worldwide, they will join in efforts to raise financial support for mission projects abroad as well as for Homeland Ministries here in the United States. speaking, the real sermon on giving began. Offerings of rice, lentils, okra, and other dishes were taken to the altar and blessed. Two boys took the offering to the church doors, rang bells and waited. Soon the beggars came to the doors of the church. They were hungry, but they were fed. The Lord says, "Feed My sheep". May each of us take His call to heart and learn from our family in Christ to love and help one another. Susanne M. Király oooo Editor's Note: Susanne M. Király is the daughter of our former Bishop Zoltán Király, who, returning from his retirement, accepted the pastoral supply work at the Lakeland Church in Florida. Impressions on the Forming of "Hungarian Reformed World General Synod" Bishop Szűcs, Dr. Butosi, Dean Tamás and I were the delegates of the Calvin Synod to the planning meeting of the Hungarian Reformed World General Synod held in Balatonfured, Hungary, mid-October of this year. It seems that the Unifying Synod for the Hungarian Reformed Churches will come into existence. During Spring, 1993, in Debrecen, they plan on having the general meeting and call the Synod into order. The headquarters would be in Budapest. As starting point, however, Debrecen was chosen to continue the spirit and historical unity of our Hungarian Reformed Churches that go back to the 1567 Synod of the above-mentioned city. I have two concerns with this development: 1. How will this affect the United Church of Christ and more closely, the Calvin Synod? How can we serve two "lords"?! We need to address this issue. 2. This has a very strong political flavor. Mid-East Europe is a "gunpowder barrel" again. In haste, this Synod could be called revisionist - or even nationalist - as it would unite churches located inside and outside of the geo-political borders of Hungary. This is not the purpose of this Synod, however. It is to minister, coordinate and reunite an almost 500 year old Hungarian Reformed unity that was forced into separation by the political effects of the two World Wars. Communism and Soviet domination had aggravated this forced estrangement even more. This Synod is a Godgiven gift which can provide the much-needed spiritual unity with our fellow Reformed sisters and brothers wherever they may live: Hungary, Romania (Transylvania), former Soviet territories, the now-forming Slovakia, former and small Yugoslavia, West- Europe, U.S.A., etc. We, the new-forming Synod and the Calvin Synod, have a moral obligation to communicate our true intentions to the world. We have fallen short of these sort of things in the past. Maybe it is time that we - all HungarianReformed Churches - learn to become better and more effective public relation people. Rev. Peter Paul Bodor, Pastor-Dean Every spring, the UCBWM has the One Great Hour of Sharing fund raiser specifically for relief work. The organization is also involved with CROP, which helps feed hungry children in the world. Even here in the USA there are children who go to bed at night hungry. CROFs goal is to make sure as many children as possible receive food. At the meeting, which was held outside of Pittsburgh at the Robert Morris College, we had two pastors visiting from South Africa, as well as international youth who shared their prayers, thoughts and testimonies of what God is doing in their countries. Youth from Lesotho, Botswana, Argentina, Germany, Hungary, Egypt and the Marshall Islands spoke of encouraging, and at times sobering issues. For example, in an Egyptian church, there is 75% active involvement of the youth, while only a few youth are attending churches in Germany. Botswana's young people who stand for Christ face similar peer pressure and apathy as do youth in the USA. The main consensus was this: all churches worldwide need to have programs encouraging active involvement of youth in order for future generations to grow in Christ Some examples of these programs are: car washes and cookie sales to raise funds for missions; get togethers with food and interesting, relevant discussions on varied topics from a Biblical perspective on missions, abortion, marriage, family life, Holy Spirit, healing, gifts of ministry...etc. In closing, I include part of a true story told by one of the pastors, Phil, who went to India to preach at a village church in one of the poorest states, Orissa. After he finished Recently, the following letter appeared in the "U.C.C. News": Don't dilute the Calvin Synod I read with great concern that three Biblical Witness Fellowship congregations had applied to become members of the Calvin Synod, and was pleased that the vote was postponed until 1993.1 have been a life-long member of a Calvin Synod UCC, and value the Hungarian identity of the Synod and its efforts to preserve the Hungarian language and traditions with the UCC. My fear is that by admitting non-Hungarian churches, this would not only dilute, but eventually destroy, the identity of the Calvin Synod. My hope is that the Synod will vote to restrict itself to Hungarian congregations, thus maintaining the unique identity it has had through the many years of its existence. Judy Shumaker Calvin UCC Toledo, Ohio OOOO Interestingly enough, the letter came from a congregation that holds no status in the Calvin Synod. The Calvin Herald will publish similar letters - either pro or con - on the subject. Time is running out on us! The 1993 Annual Synod Meeting will have to make a DECISION! It is a life and death issue for our Synod's existence! It should be deeply discussed on consistorial and congregational levels by all constituting churches in the Synod!!!
