Calvin Synod Herald, 1993 (93. évfolyam, 2-6. szám)
1993-09-01 / 5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD REFOMÁTÜSOK LAPJA- 5 -The Deans (Esperesek) In this series our Synod Herald would like to introduce the four heads of our four classees (egyház-megyék). Since our congregations spread all over the nation, it will serve a worthwhile purpose. We start with the youngest one and not from East to West, but from West to East. C \ The Reverend Péter Pol Bodor The Dean of the Western Classis of The Calvin Synod A utobiography My name is Peter Pal Bodor and I was bom on August 21,1959 in Arad, Romania. My father, Rev. László Bodor, a Reformed Minister, and my mother, Albinka nee Laczy, were serving in Ant [Bihor County, Romania] at the time of my birth. I am the second of three children; my brother, Zoltán András, was bom on January 30,1958 and my sister, Albinka, was bom on April 1, 1963. In 1961 we moved to Bodo-Falva [Temes County] where I entered school in 1966.1 had completed three years when in 1969 the family moved to Nagyzerind [Arad County] and I continued my schooling there until 1972. In those three years I was very fortunate to live in a rural area with all the benefits the country has to offer a young boy. In 1972 my father was offered the pastoral position at the Arad-Gaj Church. He accepted the position after considering the educational opportunities which would be available to us. In Arad I completed elementary school and began high school. In the fall of 1976 the Government forcibly reduced enrollment at the Hungarian schools. As the son of a Reformed Minister, I was unable to continue me education in Hungarian. Therefore, there was just one option remaining, which was to enroll at the Romanian Academy from which I received my baccalaureate degree in 1978. During the years at Arad, I was confirmed and thus able to fully participate in Church Life. The Bible Hours had a tremendous effect on me and awoke in me the longing to learn more about God and the Holy Bible. This longing strengthened my resolution to serve as a ordained minister of God. In the summer of 1978, as the result of a successful admittance test, I enrolled as a full-time student at the Kolozsvár Protestant Theological University. However, I couldn't begin my studies until 1979 because I was drafted and required to complete an abbreviated soldier's training program. The nine months service at Beszterce proved a little difficult because my theology colleagues and I were taunted for our faith and many of the others hated us for being Hungarian. The Kolozsvár Seminary was a four-year (8 semester) program which I completed in three full years, having passed all my exams successfully. I might also mention that I studied on a scholarship for all three years. During my years as a theologian, as a result of a life based on the examples of the Holy Bible, I gained a strong insight into the responsibilities of a minister. Those years will always remain a joyous and treasured memory. Unfortunately, along with the good, I also had unpleasant experiences. Each of my sermons as a legate and every public statement was strictly censored for fear of inciting the Hungarian minority. In the Fall of 1982 I accompanied my parents on a trip to Western Europe on official Church business. We did not return to Romania. We spent eight months at a refuge camp in Austria until March 22,1983 when we arrived in the United States as political refugees. I was looking forward to completing my studies in the New World where my years as a theologian and then as an ordained minister would not be influenced by the pressures of government and police censorship but rather by the irresistible grace of God. My wish was granted. First I completed a two year semester English course [1983- 1984] so I could study theology in the U.S. A. Then I moved to New Brunswick, NJ where I hoped to complete my seminary work and serve the Hungarian Reformed Church in Union, NJ. Since the conditions of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary were not acceptable to me because of financial and academic reasons, I continued my studies at the Ashland Theological Seminary, in Ashland, OH. After completing the 1984-85 school year, I moved to Roebling, NJ [Fall of 1985]. There I served the local Hungarian Reformed Church and parallel to my ministry I wrote my Master's Thesis at the near-by Princeton Theological Seminary. This meant the completion of my seminary work, and on May 15,1986 I graduated with honors and was granted the degree of Master of Divinity. On December 1,1985,Iaccepted the call of the Hungarian Reformed Church in Flint, MI. On June 15,1986,1 was ordained by the Calvin Synod, United Church of Christ. Besides the general pastoral tasks, bilingual service and bridge-gapping ministry between generations became my trade mark of my work. [Almost all American Hungarian Churches are characterized by this trend.] Since I strive to progress and improve myself, in September of 1988 I enrolled at the University of Michigan to study psychology and engineering. The later won, and in December of 19911 graduated with high honors and was granted the B.S. in Engineering Science degree. Ministry, however, remained my God given first priority. In March of 1992 I was elected Dean of the Western Classis [2 year term]. In May of 19921 was elected to serve on the Board of Mangers for the Bethlen Home in Lingonier, PA [4 year term] representing the Calvin Synod. I also serve on the Recommendation, Constitution and By-Laws Revision, Liturgy and Youth Fellowship committees of the Calvin Synod. I have been working closely with the local Community Fellowship Churches participating in our ecumenical services and mission, and as Mid-East- European consultant-translator for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee [C.R.C.] and the Reformed Churches in Romania Assistance Committee of Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, Michigan respectively.
