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

1997-01-01 / 1. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- -AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMATÜSOK LAPJA

Thousands Celebrate Hungarian Reformed United

Crowd Worship in Stadiums and Big Churches

(Continued from Our Former Issue)

Rev. Albert W. Kovács - Dean of the Eastern Classis - Delegate of the Calvin Synod

The meetings in Hungary and celebrations in Romania brought together representatives of the Reformed churches from many lands. The Calvin Synod’s former bishop, the Rt. Rev. John Butosi concluded his term as the first President of the Federation. From America, bishops attending were the Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz, Rt. Rev. Zoltán D. Szucs, and Rt. Rev. Alexander Forro, the latter of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America. The newly-elected bishop of the Reformed Church in Slovakia, Dr. Géza Erdélyi, attended along with the Rt. Rev. Lajos Gulacsy, bishop of the Ukrainian congregations. The bishops of the four Hungarian synods also participated, the Rev. Dr. Lorant Hegedűs, Elemer Kocsis, István Mészáros and Mihály Markus, as well as bishops from Romania: Tokes and Csiha and may area Deans and pastors.

The concluding worship was held back in Hungary on August 19th, in the huge Hungarian Reformed Church at Calvin Square in Budapest. It was attended by the president of Hungary, Mr. Árpád Göncz, as well as Otto Habsburg, a descendant of the former royal family dethroned in the battle for independence from Austria.

Bishop Lorant Hegedűs, President of the World Synod, was the evening’s preacher, followed by spiritual greetings from the many bishops present. The remarks of Bishop Francis Vitéz were particularly well-received by the congregation. The event closed with a Communion Service in which all the bishops of Hungary, America, Romania, Slovakia and the Ukraine served the elements, assisted by the Deans and several pastors from other lands.

The Hungarian Reformed Church was well-represented at the official celebration of the 1100th Anniversary of the settlement of Hungary, held at Budapest on August 20th. Mr. Göncz invited the bishops and guests to attend the

special rites in the morning, by the statue of St. Stephen, Hungary’s first king, in the square by the Mathias Church at the city fort. The Calvin Synod was represented by Bishop Francis Vitéz and Dean Albert W. Kovács.

The bishops were invited in the evening to the President’s Reception at the beautiful Parliament building, one of the world's finest capitols. Bishop Vitéz and Dean Kovács attended a spirited discussion by the bishops with the Prime Minister, about the effects of a treaty (since signed) between Romania and Hungary, about border alignment and non-intervention, upon Hungarian Reformed people in Transylvania. It would be an understatement to say they were not pleased.

Just like in America, a fantastic fireworks display from the Citadel on a hill overlooking the Danube lit up the sky to the delight of several hundreds of thousands of cheering on-lookers. Traffic in the city was at a standstill for six hours. But everyone was looking forward to the next time.

In addition to the Reverends Vitéz, Butosi and Kovács, our Calvin Synod was represented at the meetings by another former bishop, Rev. Zoltán D. Szucs, Synod Presbyter Frank A. Dudás and Rev. Bela Poznan, the Rt. Rev. Alexander Forro, Bishop of the Hungarian Reformed Church in America denomination, was chosen by agreement of the various American delegates to represent them on the Nominating Committee. Also from these churches were their Chief Elder Stephen Szabó, Rev. Peter L. Toth and Mr. Balint Balogh. Joining these delegates were others from far away Canada, Australia and Argentina, as well as Sweden, Holland, Germany and Hungary's neighbors.

Yet far more than just a central European event, all of us from America and Canada, Argentina and Sweden, felt a sense of our re-dedication to our historic

Hungarian Reformed commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, through the rebuilding and renewal of both church and school in every place, in partnership with our members and our ecumenical friends. It was a time to assess realistically the strength of the enemies of God arrayed in their atheist clothes and the power of God’s people adorned in the whole armor of God. Indeed, we declared anew in these fateful events that we are in fact the humble people of God, bound by His churches in His honorable service right where we are until His final victory, and echoed the battle cry of the Hungarian Reformed churches everywhere: “If God be for us, who can be against us?"

A new president, the Rt. Rev. Dr. László Tokes, a Bishop from Romania, was elected by the international delegates to the III Hungarian Reformed World Federation Convention. Also selected, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz, the bishop of the Calvin Synod, was elevated to be one of the four Vice Presidents. In conclusion of his five year term, the Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi, a former bishop of the Calvin Synod, presided over the business sessions held in Debrecen.

One of the major concerns expressed at the meeting was the ultranationalism in the countries surrounding Hungary, which led to restrictions on the use of the Hungarian language even in Christian churches and schools, and especially in daily business and public functions. It is extremely oppressive, since the Magyar tongue has been used by successive generations in the area since the settlement in 896 AD (the "Honfoglalás”).

Another concern was the rightful return of stolen property, since the Communists quickly confiscated the churches’ buildings and schools in the takeover of the government shortly after World War II. The present authorities have been hesitant, or even opposed, to their expeditious return. It is no secret to citizens of the former satellite nations that many of their present leaders are hold-overs from the former Red governments. They no longer operate under the hammer and sickle, and have changed their party names, but they promote the same atheistic programs antagonistic to the churches.