Calvin Synod Herald, 1995 (95. évfolyam, 1-5. szám)
1995-09-01 / 5. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 3 AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA On t(?e Language-War Against Magyars in t(?e Succession States DECLARATION OF REMONSTRATION By the two largest Hungarian Reformed church-bodies in the U.S.A., the Calvin Synod of the U.C.C. and the Hungarian Reformed Church in America Through the Budapest-based "REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA ", Issue July 23, 1995, under the title "Ecumenical Grand Assembly in Debrecen's Great Church", we have received the news that the Hungarian Ecumaneé intends to issue a PROTESTATION against the drastic integrational actions going on with full force in the Succession States; also is determined to ensue a combat for the continued existence of the Hungarian Church-Schools in Transylvania (Romania), in Slovakia, in the lands of the Southern Slavs for equilateral rights of the Hungarian language and exercise of equal human liberties for all minorities. The Hungarians have lived on their own territory for over a thousand years. On Hungarian soil the non-Hungarian minorities continued their own existence with their own language and prospered with equal rights throughout an entire millennium. The Hungarian nation never persecuted minorities or restricted their rights. The Hungarian people living now in the Successive States - in true fact - are not minorities, but only sheer natives of the land and they are integral part and parcel of the Hungarian Nation. Therefore, where and when any Succession State deprives them from their God-given rights, it should be considered a scandalous crime against the entire Hungarian Nation! We, Hungarians, living in a free land, do wholeheartedly protest against any "language-war" in any portion of former Hungary. We do demand the right of free use of their own language in schools, in churches, and in general life of co-existence. We do strongly demand the re-establishment of Hungarian schools wherever they were in existence. We do demand to stop all hindrances to the use of Hungarian language at any location. We do urgently demand to compel all respective authorities not to threaten peace and tranquility among the peoples settled in the Carpathian Basin. In the name and with the approval of Synod's Council of the Calvin Synod (Conference of U.C.C.) Signed by Rt. Rev. Francis Vitéz, bishop In the name and with the approval of the Bishop's Council Signed by the Rt. Rev. Alexander Forró, bishop THE ANNUAL LICONIER-DAYS TURNED INTO SUMMIT-CONFERENCES The picture of participants is printed on our frontispiece. A detailed description of the picture appears in the Hungarian portion of our Herald. The excellent array of speakers at the Ligonier-days included Professor Eugene Osterhaven, the two Bertalans from Washington and Toledo, Gyula Páal from Homestead, leaders of both the Presbyters Association and Ministerial Association. The speakers from Hungary were Tamás Takaró, István Bakos and Dr. John Bütösi. The new president of the Presbyter's Association is Martin Lesley (Trenton, N.J.). The new officers of the Ministerial Association are as follows: President: Antony Szilágyi (Bridgeport, CT), Associate President from Canada: Paul Kántor (Delhi, ON), Vice President: Joseph Vásárhelyi (New York, N.Y), Secretary: Louis Medgyesi (Fairport Harbor, OH), Treasurer: Barnabas Röczey (New Brunswick, N.J.). The installation of the officers was administered by Dr. Stephen Szabó. The following very constructive recommendations were passed at the Presbyter's meeting and transmitted to the Minister's meeting, where they were discussed and approved. • Recommend Continuing Education for all ministers based upon each congregation's needs, with consideration given to ministers seeking advanced degrees. • Recommend to the Ministerial Association to look into the possibilities of a student exchange program between our Theological Seminaries here in the United States and Canada, with those in Hungary for the purpose of language and cultural exchanges (i.e. New Brunswick, Princeton in exchange with Sárospatak, Debrecen and Budapest). In addition to continuous spiritual growth, our Ministers and Christian Educators must not allow themselves to be involved in any charismatic form of teaching that abandons our Heidelberg Catechism and Second Helvetic Confession. To encourage church attendance, we recommend that the Ministers and Elders personally visit all church members annually. The American branch of the Hungarian Reformed Consultative World Synod was established and the representatives were elected. Chairman: Béla Póznán (Fairfield, CT), Stephen Szabó (Paramus, N.J.), Joseph Vásárhelyi (New York, N.Y), Peter Tóth (Carteret, N.J.), Joseph Tegze (Passaic, N.J.), Stephan Nyeste (Columbus, OH), László & Éva Lukácsi (Miami, FL),Zo/fán Szűcs (Lorain, OH). The officers were inducted by Dr. John Bütösi, president of the Hungarian Reformed World Federation. The Sárospatak Choir's invitation was voted upon. They will be visiting here on the week before Easter next year. Organizing chairmen are: Szabolcs Kálmán (Cleveland, OH) and Dr. Imre Bertalan (Washington).
