Calvin Synod Herald, 1997 (97. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1997-03-01 / 2. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 3 -AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA

100th Anniversary of the Organized Hungarian Reformed Church Life in America

by Francis Vitéz, bishop

(Continued from Our Former Issue)

X. United Church of Christ and Magyar Synod

The E & R Church and the Congregational Christian Churches adopted a plan of union in 1948 to form a new denomination, namely, the United Church of Christ. In the new denomination, the Magyar Synod would have lost its existence. The Magyar Synod, at their annual meeting, held in 1961 in Perth Amboy, NJ, voted against the merger because her existence would have been severed. The General Synod, held in 1961 in Denver, at the protest of Dr. Stephen Szabó, declared that the Tiffin Agreement was still in force and that the Magyar Synod could survive.

XI. Plan of Union with the Presbyterian Church

In 1962, a Plan of Merger was prepared for the Magyar Synod, the Free Hungarian Reformed Church in America, and the congregations belonging to the Presbyterian Church to merge and affiliate with the Presbyterian Church. Unfortunately, this plan was not realized. Thus, only the three congregations of the Reformed Church in America would have been left out until their decision to join.

The plan was accepted by the Presbyterian Church and printed in their General Assembly Agenda. But at the last minute some ministers protested and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church skipped that paragraph as it was untimely.

With this union, our plan for unity would have been reached, we would have been a federated church with the Presbyterian Church, and in time, when our congregations would make their decision to dissolve, we would have been members of the Presbyterian Church.

XII. The Present Situation - One more plan for union

The Magyar Synod, at their annual

meeting held in East Chicago on May 20, 1966, voted to change the name from the Magyar Synod to Calvin Synod, since not only Hungarians belonged to the Synod.

In 1994, a new plan for unity and cooperation was prepared between the Calvin Synod and the Hungarian Reformed Church in America in which the two church bodies would form a union of co-operation on a denominational level, but each Synod was to be governed as before. A committee for Home Mission, a Committee for Foreign Mission, a Theological Committee and a Committee on Finances would be implemented. The new “Denomination” would be headed by a special governing board.

This plan is under discussion at the present time and we hope that it will be realized in the near future.

In a nutshell, this is the history of the Hungarian Reformed Churches in the United States.

Here we are now at the 1100th Anniversary of our forefathers settling in the Carpathian Basin, at the year of the Third Hungarian Reformed World Federation observance, at the 100th Anniversary of the organization of the first Hungarian Reformed Classis and at the 100th anniversary of organized Hungarian Reformed Church life.

At these important milestones our question is: are these the closing events of Hungarian national and American and Hungarian Reformed church life or are we preparing ourselves for national and religious renewal and will we accept the challenges of the 21st century, trusting in God for a brighter future?

Lord, help us!

“If God is for us, who is against us?” Romans 8:31.

□□□

The resurrection of Jesus was an incredible event for the disciples and for all mankind. Let us look at this event through the eyes of some of the eyewitnesses.

There were the guards who were terrified when they experienced the earthquake, to see the angel moving the stone from the tomb and then to see the risen Lord. They reported this event to the authorities; then they were paid to spread false testimony.

There were the women of Jerusalem who came and saw the empty tomb, and the angels told them of Jesus’ resurrection. When they were leaving, they met the living Lord. #

The disciples that evening, were in the upper room behind locked doors when Jesus appeared to them. When Thomas arrived, they told him the news, but he did not believe.

Two disciples that same evening were on the road to Emmaus. Thßy did not recognize the risen Jesus until they arrived and He blessed the food at their meal. They immediately returned to Jerusalem to tell of their experience.

On the seventh day after Easter, the eleven disciples were again together in the upper room. Jesus showed his hands to Thomas who then recognized Him and said: “My Lord and my God.”

When the seven disciples went fishing, Jesus appeared to them. They were frightened, but He showed His hands and He asked for food. They gave Him fish and honey.

The disciples went to Galilpe where He appeared to them. He charged them to go and proclaim the Gospel and to make disciples of all nations. Before their very eyes, He was lifted up and returned to Heaven to prepare a place for His own... For you and for me also.

Hearing so many witnesses, how do we look at Jesus and His resurrection.

The time is here now. Let us all rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord. Let us come to Him with faith and hope that our Easter may be blessed here and in eternity.

After so many sad Good Fridays, let us be people of hope and of resurrection, and let us proclaim with conviction; He has risen and we are His people, people of resurrection!

A very blessed Easter to all.

Francis Vitéz, Bishop