Calvin Synod Herald, 1997 (97. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1997-07-01 / 4. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD- 2 -AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA fr V> Thank You! A very special “thank you" is indeed in order Again! once again to Lily Volosin for her most generous and greatly appreciated annual $400 “gift of color” to our paper. We also thank her immensely for her most generous $5,000 donation to the Kazinczy-Volosin Fund establishment in the past in care of the Synod’s Treasurer, which she also renewed! Details on page 13. We Were In the Valley of Decision, Again! “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. ” Joel 3:14 The Biblical Josaphat Valley of the Old, was for us the Valley of Loyal Hanna Creek of the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania at this time. The Annual Constitutional Meeting of the Calvin Synod Conference of the United Church of Christ was held from the 20th of May to the 24th, 1997 in Ligonier, PA. This was the meeting of our congregations with legislative, administrative and jurisdictional powers invested in our Synod for the benefit of all local congregations. This year’s meeting was again an historical meeting with a very important and heavy agenda. The opening service was followed by Holy Communion. The Rt. Rev. Francis Vitéz, bishop, presided. The sermon was preached by the Rt. Rev. Louis Medgyesi. The communion service was led by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Szabó, bishop Em., with Dr. Aladár Komjáthy assisting. All officers of the Synod participated in the solemn service. How many times in the one-hundred-five year history have we been in that “valley of decision” before? Just to mention a few: Tiffin in 1921; Cleveland in 1938; Ligonier in 1941; Perth Amboy in 1961; Philadelphia in 1962 and Denver in 1963. Now, in 1997, God has set before us the Valley of Decision once again! Shall we go our own way alone? Shall we remain in fellowship with the United Church of Christ? Shall we seek the unity of our Reformed brethren in a newly-formed eccumencial church? We have been searching with honest consideration for a decisive answer again and repeatedly for the future of our congregations and we have repeatedly decided to remain in the United Church of Christ as a unit. A special prayer was offered at the closing by the Rt. Rev. Zoltán D. Szűcs to correct the errors unto which unhealthy modern stresses carried our leaders and to bring us back to the confessional standards that are so classically expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution of the U.C.C. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST PREAMBLE 1. ) The United Church of Christ, formed June 25,1957, by the union of the Evangelical and Reformed Church and The General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches of the United States in order to express more fully the oneness in Christ of the churches composing it, to make more effective their common witness in him, and to serve His Kingdom in the world, hereby adopts this Constitution. 2. ) The United Church of Christ acknowledges as its sole Head, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Saviour. It acknowledges as kindred in Christ all who share in this confession. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. It claims as its own the faith of the historic Church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant Reformers. It affirms the responsibility of the Church in each generation to make this faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, it recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion. OUR MAGYAR SYNOD’S MOTTO: Traditions-embracing FAITH from the PAST, fervent HOPE for us in the PRESENT, in LOVE’S service for the FUTURE! Synod's Vacant Pulpits Dayton, OH Worridge, IL (Chicago West) Kalamazoo, Ml Those interested in applying for these positions are asked to contact the Bishop. __________________________________> (ISSN 0161-6900) Editor-in-Chief Rt. Rev. Dr. Francis Vitéz Editor and Publisher Rt. Rev. Dr. Stephen Szabó 415 Steven Blvd. • Richmond Hts., OH 44143 Telephone: (216) 481-3648 Published Bi-Monthly Individual Subscription - $10.00/year Group Subscription - $5.00/year Postmaster: Send Form #3579 for address changes 415 Steven Blvd. • Richmond Hts., OH 44143 Second Class Postage Paid - Cleveland, Ohio Newsletters prepared & printed by J.P.Criswell - (216) 729-1765
